One of the best sporting events ever - maybe THE best...

I just spent 5 days watching the US Open, which was probably the most amazing sporting event I've ever seen. I've never watched a full golf tournament. Usually just catch a few highlights here and there on the weekend. In the past few months though I've been abducted by the golf bug (Thanks Mike). I figured this being Torrey, once a local course to me where we used to play twilight for $17, I should watch the whole thing from start to finish. And I did.

Let's break it down...

The Coverage

http://www.usopen.com nailed this event! They had the desktop leaderboard that ran in its own window and steamed up to the second stats on leaders and the field. You could even create a custom view of players you were interested in. I also downloaded the Mobile Leaderboard to my Blackberry. Same setup as the desktop leaderboard, but was with me 24/7 so I could track the scores and figure out Tiger's tee times. Saving the best for last: the streaming video. I found this feature on Friday. It was an ESPN feed that followed only on Top 3: Tiger, Mickelson, and Adam Scott. It was commercial free and they had their own commentators - separate from the network feed. It was awesome! The only bummer was it being ESPN only, so when NBC took the coverage for the weekend, we lost our streaming feed. I was really looking forward to cooking pulled pork on Saturday and having the laptop streaming the 3rd round in kitchen with me.

San Diego was Luvin it!

San Diegans were luving the US Open at their home course. That was hot! First ever major in their home town. The players couldn't stop talking about the impeccable shape the course was in. San Diego, although a huge and growing area, always has this weird way of having a small town feel to me. This was one of those times.

OMG - How does he do that!?!

Tiger's Putts were so clutch!

Saturday - Round 3 - to Eagle into the Lead:

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Sunday - Round 4 - to force a Playoff:

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Rocco!

You gotta luv and be stoked for Rocco Mediate. He played the tournament of his life. Kept himself in the leaders group all week. Would've been the oldest ever to win the US Open at age 45. Was inches from stepping into the winners circle on Sunday when Tiger snatched it from his hands and put them both into a 5 th round of 18. The thing I like most about Rocco was the fact that he was having the time of his life. Wouldn't you! Just you and Tiger, playing 18 holes of golf at Torrey with 24K of your closest fans :) Good times!

The 91st hole

I'm glad to hear people refer to this Major as one of the best they've ever seen. It was certainly mine. To start out with the top 3 golfers in the world grouped together. To watch them watch Tiger pull away to the lead. I came across this article that had quotes from Hank Haney, his coach, about the knee and how the week went from his perspective. Amazing. We all know what an athlete Tiger is. He took it to a whole different level this week. He played us a story that was incredible to witness. That was fantastic!

Now to work on my 30 handicap :)