US OPEN: Shots From The Practice Round...

I just returned from a fun few hours at Torrey Pines before the insanity that will be Thursday and Friday at the U.S. Open. Wednesdays are the last days to take pictures without getting punched by Steve Williams, so here's a few random shots from the 100 plus I took...

First, TW on the putting green. Yes, he made it. No, that's not his water.

After a few minutes, I looked around to see how crowded it was. I'm now a little nervous about tomorrow...

On the range. No rust on that swing, I promise.

Looking back from the flag at 12 to the tee waaaaayyyyy back there, over the canyon to the right of that radio tower, 614 yards away. What a beast.

I took this one of Charles Howell III while he stood on the forward tee at #14 (the tee that would make it driveable).

After thinking about it for a while, he hit a 6-iron to the middle of the fairway. Not exactly goin' for it, but Vijay was still on the green, so probably a wise move.

More interesting than that was the headcover on his backup driver in his bag. It's like the Bridgestone rep told him, "You break it, you buy it" or something.

It reminded me of The Office episode where Michael Scott wraps his foot in bubble wrap after burning it on his George Foreman Grill. His explanation:

"I enjoy having breakfast in bed. I like waking up to the smell of bacon. Sue me. And since I don't have a butler I have to do it myself... most nights before I go to bed I will lay out 6 strips of bacon out on my foreman grill. Then I go to sleep. When I wake up I plug in the grill. I go back to sleep again, then I wake up to the smell of crackling bacon. It is delicious, it's good for me, it's a perfect way to start the day. Today I got up, I stepped on to the grill and it clamped on to my foot. That's it. I don't see what's so hard to believe about that."

Finally, I ran into Geoff Shackelford. If you've never been to his site, Geoffshackelford.com, you're missing out on some of the best intelligent golf criticism out there. For the less intelligent commentary and flat-out lies purporting to be truth, no need to go anywhere...

More updates to follow throughout the week...