Time to stop writing, and start playing.

So, here is The News Tribune's (code word for "yours truly") comprehensive guide to the best 18 PUBLIC holes in the South Sound.

Each hole on this list corresponds with what number hole it is on its respective course (we don't want to offend any of the architects).

A brief scouting report of the "TNT Links:"

1, Short par-4s are vital. They don't necessarily have to be drivable, but if they give a golfer something to think about on the tee, then they have served a purpose (Tacoma's own Michael Putnam said even professionals like having a different club in their hands now and then).

2, The par-5s here are mainly risk-reward holes, and not enormously long. Again, we are a thinking-man's publication for golfers.

3, We like memorable par-3 holes, and have selected, I think, the best in the area.

Overall, our course plays at a par-72, and at 7,315 yards from the championship tees. Fifteen different area courses are represented on our championship 18, and 21 courses have recommended holes overall.

Offer feedback on your own favorite holes. Enjoy.

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The trophy for the Washington State Golf Association men's state amateur will still have a purple-and-gold glow about it.

Richard Lee, who will join the University of Washington men's golf team, made it three years in a row for the Huskies by capturing the title Friday at The Links at Moses Pointe in Moses Lake.

Lee carded a final-round 1-over-par 73, but it was still good enough to win the title by five strokes over three golfers, including defending champion Joel Dahmen.

He finished at 13-under 275. Derek Berg, Jarin Todd and Dahmen shared second at 280.

Lee, the Covington resident who finished up at Bellevue Community College, endured a rough start with a bogey on the second hole, and a triple bogey on the par-3 third.

"My whole approach to start the round was to play steady golf, and make them come to me," said Lee. "But that’s not what happened."

He made five birdies to erase the early difficulties.

"I could have fallen apart after that start," said Lee. "I really started to grind it out. I stayed steady."

This week: Nationwide Tour's Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic, The Georgian Bay Club, Ontario, Canada.

Fourth-round score: 1-over-par 72.

Position: Putnam (12-under 273) tied for 14th, four strokes behind Justin Hicks and Casey Wittenberg (269). Hicks won the title in a sudden-death playoff.

Recap: It's become a head-scratching trend – big numbers. In the last 20 holes, the Tacoma native had a triple bogey (on No. 16 Saturday), and a pair of double bogeys Sunday (Nos. 7 and 10). In his past eight rounds, including at last week's Knoxville Open, he's had at least a double bogey in six of his eight rounds. Making it more frustrating is that the All-American from Pepperdine torched the two Canadian courses for a tournament-best 25 birdies (and was also No. 1 in putts per green hit in regulation at 1.672). His finish Sunday is his fourth top-20 finish, and best since a tied-for-seventh at the Athens Classic in April.

Next: The Nationwide Tour is off for Fourth of July weekend, and will return for the Nationwide Tour Players Cup starting July 10 at Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport, WVa.

Paige MacKenzie, the former University of Washington standout now on the LPGA, is bringing a little of that touring flavor back to the Northwest.

MacKenzie, of Yakima, will be the hostess of the inaugural "Northwest Shootout" on Oct. 4 at Meridian Valley Country Club in Kent.

Twelve LPGA Tour players, including Mackenzie, will play in a format called a "Horse Race" at the one-day event. On each hole, one team will be eliminated in the best-ball competition, until the champion emerges.

Some of the LPGA Tour participants include Northwest natives Wendy Ward and Allison Hanna-Williams, 2006 event winner Julieta Granada, rookie Hannah Jun and Irene Cho, who finished sixth at the 2008 LPGA Championship.

Craig McCrone, the general manager at Meridian Valley CC, said he hopes this event leads a renaissance for the LPGA Tour returning to the greater Seattle area.

"This is the first step in that effort," McCrone said.

The event is free to the public, and begins at 8 a.m. with a pro-am tournament. The "Horse Race" is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m., and autographs should be available much of the day.

This week: Nationwide Tour's Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic, Thursday through Sunday, The Georgia Bay Club and Raven Golf Club in Ontario, Canada.

First-round score: 3-under-par 68 at Georgia Bay.

Position: Putnam is tied for 24th, four strokes behind leader Aron Price (7-under 65 at Raven GC).

Recap: It was a round of "three" for the Tacoma native. He mad three birdies in a row (Nos. 13-15), but followed that with three consecutive bogeys (Nos. 4-6). The Pepperdine All-American bounced back by finishing up with birdies on the seventh and ninth holes, and was fifth in the field Thursday in driving distance (346.5 ypd). On another note, Putnam's celebrity playing partner this week is Rod Black, the voice of the Toronto Blue Jays for TSN and CTV Sports.

Tee time Friday: 9:10 a.m. PDT off the first tee at Raven GC (par 72).

1, FOUR'S A CROWD?
The West Coast has been a priority for the United States Golf Association in finding another site for the U.S. Open.

The USGA's highest-profile tournament has been to Pebble Beach and Olympic Club numerous times. A third course, preferably a public venue, was being sought out.

That is big reason why the USGA chose to hold its 2008 U.S. Open two weeks ago at Torrey Pines, a municipal course near San Diego.

Torrey Pines, a favorite PGA Tour stop in February with the Buick Invitational, was home to one of golf's biggest stars, Phil Mickelson. And it was one of Tiger Woods' favorite courses.

But seemingly like everything the USGA does, golf courses looking to get into the U.S. Open rotation are reviewed after they host an event, with their future decided thereafter.

Leading up to this U.S. Open, Torrey Pines certainly had its question marks. The primary ones focused on environmental issues, which were enough of a concern to stir up political factions in town.

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This week: Nationwide Tour's Fort Wayne Gretzky Classic, Thursday through Sunday, The Georgian Bay Club and Raven Golf Club in Ontario, Canada.

World ranking: 544th.

2008 earnings: $45,028 (63rd on the Nationwide Tour).

Last tournament: The Tacoma native broke a string of four missed cuts by going the distance at last week's Knoxville Open (3-under 285), finishing 59th and earning $1,550. This week, he is the CEO of "Team Putnam," paired with a semi-celebrity in Canada in the debut event for ex-NHL star Wayne Gretzky, who is no doubt the headliner athlete this week. Most of the celebrities are former and current hockey players, but others include ex-Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, Buffalo Bills starting QB Trent Edwards, and actors Kevin Dillon ("Entourage") and Alan Thicke ("Growing Pains").

Tee time Thursday: 4 a.m. PDT off the 10th tee of The Georgian Bay with Jason Schultz.

From the Associated Press:

Tiger Woods had reconstructive surgery on his left knee in Utah to repair a torn ligament, and doctors said it was “highly unlikely” there would be any long-term effects.

It was the second time in 10 weeks Woods had surgery on his knee, this time on his anterior cruciate ligament.

“We were confident going into this surgery, and I am pleased with the results,” Dr. Thomas D. Rosenberg said in a statement released by IMG, Woods’ management company.

“There were no surprises during the procedure, and as we have said, with the proper rehabilitation and training, it is highly unlikely that Mr. Woods will have any long-term effects as it relates to his career.”

The surgery came one week after Woods went 91 holes at Torrey Pines to win the U.S. Open in a playoff over Rocco Mediate, revealing later that he also had a double stress fracture in his left tibia.

The surgery, performed by Rosenberg and Dr. Vernon J. Cooley in Park City, was the fourth time Woods has had surgery on his left knee. He had a benign tumor removed in 1994, and he had benign cysts removed in 2002, along with fluid around the ACL.

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UNITED STATES WOMEN'S OPEN

Site: Edina, Minn.

Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.

Course: Interlachen Country Club (6,789 yards, par 73).

Purse: TBA ($3.1 million in 2007). Winner’s share: TBA ($560,000 in 2007).

Television (all times PDT): ESPN (Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Friday, noon-4 p.m.) and NBC (Saturday-Sunday, noon-3 p.m.).

Last year: Cristie Kerr won at Pine Needles for her first major title. She finished at 5-under 279, two strokes ahead of Lorena Ochoa and Angela Park.

Last week: South Korea’s Eun-Hee Ji won the Wegmans LPGA for her first LPGA Tour title, rallying to beat Norway’s Suzann Pettersen by two strokes.

Notes: Ochoa has six victories in 12 starts this year. She won the first major of the year, the Kraft Nabisco in April. … Annika Sorenstam, in her final season on the tour, won the 1995, 1996 and 2006 tournaments. … Bobby Jones won the 1930 U.S. Open on the Donald Ross-designed course for the third leg of the Grand Slam. … If tied after regulation, the tournament will be decided in a three-hole playoff. … The course is the longest in event history. … Michelle Wie qualified in June, shooting 70-67 on two Maryland courses. She tied for 24th — 12 strokes behind Ji — last week in Rochester. … Kerr was fifth in Rochester. … The United States won the 2002 Solheim Cup at Interlachen. … The tournament will be played in Pennsylvania the next two years, at Saucon Valley in 2009 and Oakmont in 2010. … The NW Arkansas Championship is next week in Rogers.

On the Net: http://www.uswomensopen.com. LPGA Tour site: http://www.lpga.com

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Under other circumstances, Seattle's Ryan Benzel might have been huffy about missing his return flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta on Sunday afternoon.

But Benzel, the head professional at Mill Creek Country Club, was still feeling a bit chipper after his finish at the 41st PGA Professional National Championship at the Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Ga.

Benzel ripped up the Great Waters Course with a 5-under-par 67 in the final round of the national championship for club professionals, moving up to a tie for fourth (281).

In two appearances in this tournament, he's posted a pair of top-four finishes, including his runner-up debut at the 2007 PGA Professional National Championship at Crosswater Golf Club in Sunriver, Ore.

He backed that up Sunday by moving up 12 spots on the leaderboard with his 67, which tied David Long for the best round of the day, earning him another spot in the PGA Championship, set for Oakland Hills GC near Detroit in August (the top 20 from the PGA club professional tournament automatically qualify).

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The fleeting memory of a teenager runs about the same duration as an hour-long episode of MTV's "The Hills."

That is about how long it took for Jarred Bossio to forget about losing the Tacoma City Amateur golf championship last year.

Parents, on the other hand, hold on to those memories for a while – and in this case, 365 days, as Bossio trailed the man who beat him a year ago – Tom Lewis – at Twin Lakes Golf and Country Club.

Well, turnaround is fair game, and that is what Bossio did Sunday in capturing the 78th Tacoma City Am at Fircrest Golf Club.

The 18-year-old Bossio, who just graduated from Capital High School a week ago, fired the day's only under-par round – a 70 – to finish the three-round championship at 3-under 212, becoming the second-youngest winner of the city's oldest amateur championship.

Lewis, the leader heading into the final round Sunday, carded a 74 to finish in second alone at 214. Puyallup's Derek Barron (76) was third at 218, and Kellen Eakin (78), David Talcott (74) and Sean Monaghan (72) all finished at 221, tied for fourth.

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78th TACOMA CITY AMATEUR

When: Final round is Sunday.

Where: Fircrest Golf Club (6,685 yards, par 71)

Leaderboard:
1, Tom Lewis, Olympia ............... 4-under 140
T2, Derek Barron, Puyallup .......... 2-under 142
T2, Jarred Bossio, Olympia .......... 2-under 142
T2, Kevin Kemak, Tacoma ............. 2-under 142
5, Kellen Eakin, University Place ... 1-under 143

Notes: For the first time, the TGA played its first two rounds on courses that played more than 7,000 yards – at Tumwater Valley Golf Club and The Home Course. Lewis and Kemak were the only golfers in the field to shoot under-par rounds on both courses. … Lewis is trying to become the first repeat champion since Tacoma's Jamie Follen (1990-92). … Two multiple City Am winners, Kent's Greg Ott (1996, 2001 and 2003) and Tacoma's David Talcott (2002, 2006), made the 36-player cut for the final round Sunday. … The last champion crowned at Fircrest Golf Club was Auburn's Sean Packer in 2004.

Tee times for leaders:
1, Talcott (147), John Eisentrout (148) and Kurt Niedermeier (148) tee off at 11:10 a.m.
2, Kemak (142), Eakin (143) and Casey Adams (147) tee off at 11:20 a.m.
3, Lewis (140), Barron (142) and Bossio (142) tee off at 11:30 a.m.

This week: Nationwide Tour's Knoxville Open, Thursday through Sunday, Fox Den CC, Knoxville, Tenn.

Second-round score: 4-under-par 68.

Position: Putnam (6-under 138) is tied for 20th, seven strokes behind leader D.J. Brigman (131).

Recap: The start was forgettable – the Tacoma opened with a double bogey-7 on the first hole, but he had a span of seven birdies in 11 holes to charge up the leaderboard, moving up eight spots from Thursday. Putnam continues to hit a lot of greens in regulation (31 of 36 GIRs through two rounds), which is tied for best in the field.

Tee time Saturday: 5:03 a.m. PDT off the first tee with Jeff Brehaut and Philip Pettitt, Jr.

This week: PGA Tour's The Travelers Championship, Thursday through Sunday, TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn.

Second-round score: 4-over-par 74.

Position: Moore (3-over 143) missed the cut by six strokes, and tied for 132nd. Stewart Cink leads at 130.

Recap: The Puyallup native was even-par for the tournament through 13 holes, then ran into the par-3 fifth – and left with double bogey. He was 3-over on that hole for the tournament. Moore missed his first cut since the Wachovia Championship in early May.

Next: Buick Open starting Thursday at Warwick Hills G&CC in Grand Blanc, Mich.

This week: PGA Tour's The Travelers Championship, Thursday through Sunday, TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn.

First-round score: 1-under-par 69.

Position: Moore is tied for 78th, and trails co-leaders Brad Adamonis, Brian Davis, Steve Lowery and Johnson Wagner (64) by five strokes

Recap: The good news for the Puyallup golfer, he posted his first under-par opening round since the Byron Nelson (shot 67) in late April. The bad news, most of the Travelers field is under par, and he's right near the cut line after a 69 (four birdies, three bogeys) – which might be a little disappointing after he hit 13 of 14 fairways during his round.

Tee time Friday: 10:13 a.m. PDT off the 10th tee.

This week: Nationwide Tour's Knoxville Open, Thursday through Sunday, Fox Den CC, Knoxville, Tenn.

First-round score: 2-under-par 70.

Position: Putnam is tied for 28th, four strokes behind co-leaders Arjun Atwal, Chris Kirk and Jarrod Lyle (66).

Recap: A big number – this time, a double bogey-6 on the fourth hole – continued to creep into the Tacoma product's rounds, but he made three birdies the rest of the way (Nos. 7, 10 and 17) to get in good position. He hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation Thursday, ranked second in the field.

Tee time Friday: 10:05 a.m. PDT off the 10th tee.

Pacific's T.J. Bordeaux, the ex-Bellarmine Prep golfer, took out medalist Sam Hutsby at the British Amateur, 3-and-2, in the first round of match play Wednesday at Turnberry, and is getting close to sewing up a few important spots in majors:

• If he defeats Jason Barnes in the second round Thursday, he'll earn a spot in the 2009 U.S. Open.

• If he reaches the championship match, he gets in the 2008 British Open.

• If he wins (a la Virginia Tech's Drew Weaver in 2007), he earns a berth to the 2009 Masters.

Bordeaux, who just completed his freshman year at Pacific, is one of two Americans remaining in the round of 32. To track his matches the rest of the tournament, click here.

This week: PGA Tour's The Travelers Championship, Thursday through Sunday, TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn.

World ranking: 79th.

2008 earnings: $1,107,895 (44th on PGA Tour).

Last tournament: The Puyallup native is coming off a 10th-place finish at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio earlier this month – his third top-10 of the season. He's made the cut in three consecutive tournaments, his best streak of 2008. The UNLV product finished tied for 33rd at last year's Travelers tournament, after opening with a 66.

Tee time Thursday: 5:03 a.m. PDT off the first tee with Jeff Overton and Tim Wilkinson.

This week: Nationwide Tour's Knoxville Open, Thursday through Sunday, Fox Den Country Club, Knoxville, Tenn.

World ranking: 535th.

2008 earnings: $43,478 (60th on Nationwide Tour).

Last tournament: The Nationwide reaches its midway point, and in its first 14 tournaments, 14 difference champions have been crowned. One is not the Tacoma resident, who has been spotty with his putting (30.65 putts per round, 120th on tour). He's had the past three weeks off after missing his fourth cut in a row at the Bank of American Open (1-over 145 total) earlier this month.

Tee time Thursday: 5:05 a.m. PDT off the first tee with Jim Herman and Scott Parel.

He limped around from green to tee box, slumped behind playoff partner, Rocco Mediate, at the 108th U.S. Open on the South Course at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

And, on Wednesday, Tiger Woods, who defeated Mediate in a Monday playoff to win his 14th major title, revealed he will undergo reconstructive left knee surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament (ACl), and not only miss the remainder of the PGA Tour season, he won't play in the upcoming British Open, the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup in Kentucky in September.

Here are some of Woods' comments off his Web site:

"I know much was made of my knee throughout the last week, and it was important to me that I disclose my condition publicly at an appropriate time. I wanted to be very respectful of the USGA and their incredibly hard work, and make sure the focus was on the U.S. Open. Not it is clear the right thing to do is to listen to my doctors, follow through with this surgery and focus my attention on rehabilitating my knee."

"While I am obviously disappointed to have to miss the remainder of the season, I have to do the right thing for my long-term health and look forward to returning to competitive golf when my doctors agree that my knee is sufficiently healthy."

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PGA TOUR's Travelers Championship

Site: Cromwell, Conn.

Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.

Course: TPC River Highlands (6,820 yards, par 70).

Purse: $6 million. Winner’s share: $1.08 million.

FedExCup points: 25,000. Winner’s share: 4,500.

Television (all times PDT): Golf Channel (Thursday-Friday, noon-3 p.m., 5:30-8:30 p.m. and CBS (Saturday-Sunday, noon-3 p.m.).

Last year: Hunter Mahan birdied the final hole of regulation to force a playoff with Jay Williamson, then won with a 2-footer for birdie on the first extra hole.

Last week: Tiger Woods won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines for his 14th major, beating Rocco Mediate with a par on the 19th hole of a Monday playoff. Fighting left knee pain in his first event since surgery after the Masters, Woods birdied the 18th hole Sunday to force the playoff and again Monday to send it to sudden death. Woods and Mediate shot even-par 71s in the playoff after finishing at 1-under 283.

Notes: Mediate is in the field. … J.J. Henry won in 2006 to become the first Connecticut winner in tournament history. … In 2005, Rhode Island native Brad Faxon matched the course record with a closing 61 and beat Tjaart van der Walt with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff. … Notah Begay III won in 2000 with a River Highlands-record 20-under 260 total. … The Buick Open is next week at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc, Mich., followed by the AT&T National at Congressional in Bethesda, Md. … Puyallup's Ryan Moore returns after a nearly three-week break.

On the Net: http://www.pgatour.com

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Tiger Woods made a 12-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to tie Rocco Mediate at 1-under 283. An 18-hole playoff will take place Monday at Torrey Pines South Course starting at 9 a.m. PDT, and will be televised on ESPN (9 a.m.) and NBC (11 a.m.).

Here is how the two PGA Tour veterans match up:

Age: Woods (32); Mediate (45).

Height and weight: Woods (6-1, 185); Mediate (6-1, 190).

Birthplace: Woods (Cypress, Calif); Mediate (Greensburg, Pa).

Residence: Woods (Orlando, Fla.); Mediate (Naples, Fla.)

College: Woods (Stanford; Mediate (Florida Southern).

PGA Tour wins: Woods (64); Mediate (5).

Overall wins: Woods (88); Mediate (9).

Last win: Woods (2008 Arnold Palmer Invite; Mediate (2003 CVS Charity Classic).

Career tour earnings: Woods ($81 million); Mediate ($13.7).

World ranking: Woods (1st); Mediate (158th).

Record in playoffs: Woods (10-1); Mediate (2-0).

So much of the concentration this week has centered around Gig Harbor's Kyle Stanley – and rightfully so, he was the lone local in the 108th U.S. Open.

Today, I wanted to recap the third day of action, and point out some of the behind-the-scenes stuff I'm privileged to.

1, TIGER PERFORMS MIRACLES
I am beginning to think he walks on water.

Listen, having been out on this golf course, I know how insanely difficult some of these lies are in the rough. Yes, you can get the club on the ball and advance it. Where – nobody really knows?

Ball-striking-wise, Woods' round should have been a 78 or 79. That is what the normal high-end golfers have been shooting this week hitting it in spots where Woods was Saturday.

Instead, he shot 70 – one of the best rounds of the day.

The putt from the top of the 13th green was, well, as mind-twisting as it comes. It comes down a slide of slope, and there was a 50-50 chance he could roll that off the green to that front pin placement.

Par would have been good. An eagle? Umm … yeah.

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Wish I could have gotten to this sometime later Friday, but with Stanley teeing off late, with Tiger Woods making a surge up the 108th U.S. Open leaderboard, by the time I looked up after finishing the stories for the newspaper Saturday, it was 10:30 p.m.

So … let's get into Friday.

How can a guy so easily shoot a 72 on day like Stanley did Thursday, and struggle the next time out?

It's the unexplainable about golf, and its fine line between superb and being a tad off.

Stanley, the ex-Bellarmine Prep star, started off the 10th tee, and really had a chance to do something early with a short iron in his hand from the fairway. But the wind, sometimes gusting at 20 mph, was difficult to gauge, and his approach went long and into the rough en route to a bogey.

He went long at the 10th; and came up short and right on the par-3 11th, but forged a brilliant long bunker shot to save par.

The 12th was probably the hole that stuck with me the most. The wind was blowing right-to-left, so Stanley and caddie Steve Treitler, who knows San Diego well because he works down the road at Del Mar Country Club, talked about taking a right-side line on the drive, and drawing it back into the fairway.

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Gig Harbor's Kyle Stanley shot a 7-over-par 78 today in the second round of the U.S. Open in San Diego. Combined with his first-round 72, Stanley is at 8-over-par 150 for the tournament.

His second round, hole by hole (he began his round on No. 10):

You can follow the tournament at www.usopen.com.

Don't know about you, but walking to the first tee – and your first hole ever at a U.S. Open – would give me the shakes.

Not Gig Harbor's Kyle Stanley, who smacked a drive right over the corner of the dogleg, and into the fairway.

Nerves?

"Oh, yeah," he told me following the round.

It sure didn't show.

Stanley fired a 1-over-par 72 Thursday in the first round of the 108th U.S. Open on the South Course at Torrey Pines.

It was about as stress-free a 72 as one could imagine.

Almost boring.

"It was pretty consistent, just fairways and greens, and a lot of pars," Stanley said. "I made one mistake all day, and that was on No. 6 (a double bogey)."

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Gig Harbor's Kyle Stanley more than held his own in the opening round of the 108th U.S. Open.

Stanley registered a 1-over-par 72, making three birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey on the difficult South Course layout at Torrey Pines, leaving him near the top 20 in the early going.

"I am pleased," he said. "For the most part, I played good golf today."

The double bogey on the par-5 sixth – his favorite hole at Torrey Pines – was really the only error-filled hole he played all morning. He hit a drive right, and got his second shot into a greenside bunker.

The sand in the bunker was wet, and his blast out spun down the ridge, and he three-putted for the double bogey.

But he played the back nine in 1-under, hitting a 3-iron on the 221-yard, par-3 11th close, and sank a 7-footer for a birdie.

He bogeyed the next hole, but Stanley easily two-putted from 40 feet on the par-5 13th for another birdie, and made pars the rest of the way.

"It was pretty consistent, just fairways and greens and a lot of pars," Stanley said.

Stanley's playing partner, Casey Wittenberg, also shot a 72.

A hole-by-hole look at Stanley's first round:

You can follow the scoring on the USGA's Web site at www.usopen.com.

To my loyal readers, mainly my family and office workers, excuse my tardiness on reporting from Torrey Pines. My two days have sent me off into many directions.

1, WHAT IS TORREY PINES
In a word, stunning.

I have a few friends of friends (and copy desk guru Arnold Lytle) who have been to these hallowed public-course grounds before. All raved about the scenery, and that was no disappointment.

I counted only two of the 18 holes that had a limited or no view of the Pacific Ocean.

The backdrops of some of these holes – the par-3 third, the par-4 seventh, the par-4 12th, the par-4 14th and the par-3 17th – are flanked by the sound, or by a canyon.

The tee on the par-5 13th stretches to Hawaii.

Torrey Pines South Course is brutally long (and not just the longest golf course in U.S. Open history AGAIN … that will certainly hold for a year or so), and even longer right at sea level. Throw in a little bit of a breeze, and this U.S. Open has all the elements of an over-par disaster.

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As expected, the United States Golf Association made a formal introduction Wednesday that Chambers Bay Golf Course would be the host site of the 2015 U.S. Open.

But it's not officially official – not yet.

Pierce County executive John Ladenburg was seen patrolling the media center at Torrey Pines on Wednesday, carrying a Manilla envelope with the unsigned contract in hand.

He was originally scheduled to sign the contact with USGA director David Fay this week, but Fay flew out for the memorial service of former USGA president Bill Battle, who died May 30 near his home of Charlottesville, Va.

Ladenburg and Fay are slated to meet sometime in the coming week to sign the documents.

That did not delay the USGA going forward with its appointment of Chambers Bay as its prized future site, voted on at its annual meeting in February.

"We've gotten all the I's dotted and the T's crossed for Chambers Bay for the (2010) U.S. Amateur and the (2015) U.S. Open," said Jim Hyler, the USGA's vice president. "Again, another true public course, and one that's a very exciting new venue."

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Golf writer Todd Milles, who is in San Diego covering the U.S. Open, will be taking questions during an online chat that goes from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. today. You can ask a question by clicking here or go to thenewstribune.com

Tiger Woods, the world's No. 1 ranked golfer, and eight-time USGA champion, held his sit-down, pre-U.S. Open press conference Tuesday morning in front of a packed group in the media center.

And the most popular topic of conversation?

His balky left knee.

Which isn't so bad these days. Woods had arthroscopic surgery on the knee two days after the Masters at Healtsouth Medical Center in Park City, Utah, and hasn't played competitively since.

Woods was back to preparing, starting with a pseudo-practice round last Wednesday at Torrey Pines South Course – he didn't play the full 18 holes.

He has been on the course the past three days, but has not walked a full round.

Concerned? Not in the slightest.

"I feel very good about coming in and playing," said Woods, dressed in a salmon-colored polo shirt with a black pullover. "I feel good about my practices, my preparation coming back to a golf course I've had some success at. I'm just really looking forward to getting out there and playing. It's just a matter of getting into the competitive rhythm and flow of the round quicker."

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Nick Taylor, a sophomore from Washington, and Kyle Stanley, a sophomore at Clemson, were selected as honorable mention All Americans on Monday. For Stanley, it was his second honor; Taylor's first.

Both are at this week's U.S. Open in San Diego.

Here is the UW press release on Taylor:

Washington sophomore golfer Nick Taylor was selected to the 2008 PING All-America Honorable Mention Team by the Golf Coaches Association of America.

Taylor, a native of Abbotsford, B.C., was also named to the PING All-Pacific Region Team in May. The honor caps a standout season for the Husky sophomore who shared runner-up honors at both the 2008 NCAA West Regional and the 2008 NCAA Championships.

Taylor led the Huskies with a 72.81 stroke average this season, placing as UW’s top finisher in seven tournaments and notching six top-10 finishes. He helped Washington to a fourth-place regional finish and a seventh-place NCAA Championship finish.

Taylor is the first Husky to earn All-America honors since a trio of UW players did so in 2006 including Alex Prugh (third-team), Zach Bixler (honorable mention) and James Lepp (honorable mention).

Taylor will be competing as one of 10 amateurs in the U.S. Open this week at Torrey Pines Golf Club in San Diego, Calif. Taylor will begin first round action on Thursday from the first tee at 12:41 p.m.

Taylor qualified for his first U.S. Open by winning the sectional qualifier in Creswell, Ore., June 2.

And here is the Clemson release on Stanley:

Clemson sophomore Kyle Stanley was named an honorable mention All-American by the Golf Coaches Association on Friday. Stanley led Clemson to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Golf Championships last weekend.

Stanley had six top 10 finishes this past season, including a seventh place finish at the NCAA Championships. The native of Gig Harbor, WA defeated 25 of the 30 players named first, second or third team All-American at the NCAA Championships.

Stanley led the Tigers in stroke average this year with a 72.44 average. He also led the team in under par rounds with 14 and rounds at par or better with 22. He will enter his junior year second in Clemson history in career stroke average with a 71.72 average. He trails only PGA Tour veteran D.J. Trahan in that category.

1, PLANES, RENTAL CARS and GOLF BALLS
The shakes come a few days before liftoff.

A U.S. Open isn't just a dream come true for golfers alike, it is one of the pinnacle (or Top Flite) assignments of our profession.

This will be four in a row for me, and a welcomed first on the West Coast (for those keeping count, I've seen two runner-up finishes and a missed cut by Tiger Woods in three U.S. Opens).

Tuesday will, no doubt, be hectic. One big advantage for the media is the parking and shuttle situation. We usually have little trouble finding parking, and shuttles are granted special accommodations by the USGA in getting us on the grounds.

At Torrey Pines, I not only have to be there at around 7 a.m. for Kyle Stanley's practice round, I have to be there to receive the full package of credentials (media badge, arm wrap to be inside the ropes, parking permit), and find a seat among the thousands of media members expected to attend.

The putting green seems to be a dependable locale to try and get quotes from the golfers, as is the driving range (we can walk behind the golfers as they hit balls).

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Sticking around could be a benefit for Kent's Josh Immordino.

By some stroke of luck next week, the Kentwood High graduate could be playing in next week's U.S. Open at Torrey Pines South Course in San Diego.

Immordino, the 2006 Washington Open Invitational champion who is a teaching professional at Riverbend Golf Complex in Kent, will make the trek to San Diego to hang around as one of the first alternates from the 13 sectional qualifying sites.

If an entrant has to withdraw, or does not show up for his tee time, Immordino could be in line to take his spot.

If Immordino is the only alternate on the grounds when a spot opens up, he would inherit that tee time. If one or more first alternates are down there, the spot has been pre-determined to whom it is awarded by the United States Golf Association, although that would not be revealed until an opening exists.

"If I just have the opportunity to use the practice facility, that will be a real good experience for me to go through," Immordino said.

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Puyallup's Doug Campbell and Tacoma's Brian Mogg were two of the 47 inductees (which included 1970 Wilson High boys swim team) into the Tacoma/Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday night at the Tacoma Dome's Exhibition Hall.

Campbell, a Puyallup native, was, until recently, the head golf professional at Auburn Golf Course. Mogg, a Tacoma native, is one of the best teaching instructors in the country, and is the owner of Brian Mogg Performance Center at Keene's Pointe near Orlando, Fla.

Campbell graduated from Puyallup High School in 1967, and ended up being the No. 1 golfer at the University of Washington (1971-72). He turned pro in 1973, and played on the PGA Tour from 1979 to 1982. His best finished was a tied for sixth at the 1980 Disney Team Championships with Mike Gove. He played in three major championships, the last at the 1986 U.S. Open.

He was the pro at Auburn GC from 1986 until this year. At the induction ceremony, he thanked the late Ockie Eliason, the ex-pro at Allenmore GC in Tacoma, and former PGA Tour player Ken Still as his two biggest influences.

Mogg graduated from Lakes High School in 1979, and went on to becoming an All-American golfer at Ohio State in 1983. He played seven years on the PGA Tour (1986-90) and Nationwide Tour (1991-93). His top finish was a runner-up at the 1988 Southern Farm Bureau Classic.

He was an understudy at the David Leadbetter Academy in 1993, eventually being promoted to director of instruction four years later. He broke away in 2002 to start his own school, and has been named one of the best instructors by Golf Illustrated.

Mogg is presently the instructor for PGA Tour player Bart Bryant, and LPGA up-and-comer Mi Hyun Kim. He was in town Thursday putting on a putting school, and also thanked Still at the induction ceremony as a role model.

Gig Harbor's Kyle Stanley will need an early wake-up call Thursday for his opening round of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines South Course in San Diego.

Stanley, the Bellarmine Prep product who just completed his sophomore season at Clemson, will tee off in the second group off the first tee Thursday – at 7:11 a.m. PDT – with Hunter Haas and Casey Wittenberg.

For the second round Friday, Stanley will stay with that group, and go off the South Course's 10th tee at 12:41 p.m. PDT.

The University of Washington duo of Nick Taylor and Rob Rashell will be grouped together, teeing off at 12:41 p.m. PDT off the 10th tee Thursday, and 7:11 a.m. PDT off the first tee Friday.

For more tee times, visit here.

For a U.S. Open fact sheet, visit here.

** Afternoon update: Went to visit Brian Mogg's putting clinic at Tacoma Country and Golf Club, and ran into Stanley, who now calls the private Lakewood course home.

Stanley was on the driving range, deciding on whether to carry a 2-iron or a 17-degree utility club to Torrey Pines next week.

Difficult to say which way he was leaning.

Stanley will arrive in San Diego on Sunday, play early-morning practice rounds (possibly with PGA Tour pro Jonathan Byrd, an ex-Clemson star whose brother, Jordan, is Stanley's assistant coach with the Tigers) on Monday and Tuesday, and likely will tune up his game Wednesday around the practice facility.

A friend from Hilton Head, S.C., Gary Bezilla, will be on Stanley's bag.

KYLE STANLEY
Age: 20.
Hometown: Gig Harbor.
College: Clemson (just finished sophomore season).
Past U.S. Opens: First one.
Route to 2008 U.S. Open: Exempt from local qualifying because he played in 2007 Walker Cup. Finished tied for eighth in sectional qualifying in Columbus, Ohio.
Highlight victory: 2006 Southern Amateur.
Scouting report: The Bellarmine Prep product knows how to win – seven victories as an amateur, including four American Junior Golf Association wins in high school. His last win came two months after enrolling at Clemson (Aloha Purdue Collegiate Invitational) in 2006. Impressive power off the tee, he's capable of shooting 60 or 80 depending on his nerves, and the condition of his short game.

NICK TAYLOR
Age: 20.
Hometown: Abbotsford, B.C.
College: Washington (just finished sophomore season).
Past U.S. Opens: First one.
Route to 2008 U.S. Open: Exempt from local qualifying because he reached quarterfinals of 2007 U.S. Amateur. Medalist in sectional qualifying in Creswell, Ore.
Highlight victory: 2007 Canadian Men's Amateur.
Scouting report: Really emerging as one of the better players in NCAA golf after finishing second in West Regionals and tied for second at the NCAA championships this spring. Always a fantastic ball-striker, improved putting has been the biggest reason for recent surge.

ROB RASHELL
Age: 32.
Hometown: Scottsdale, Ariz. (formerly of Richland).
College: Washington (graduated in 1999).
Past U.S. Opens: Missed cut at 2005 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 (6-over 146).
Route to 2008 U.S. Open: Exempt from local qualifying because of Gateway Tour victory. Runner-up in sectional qualifying in Creswell, Ore.
Highlight victory: 2008 Spring Series Championship on the Gateway Tour ($30,000).
Scouting report: The classic steady-Eddie player – hits fairways and greens, and never gets into too much trouble anywhere on a golf course. He finished second at the 2004 PGA Tour qualifying school, earning his card, but in 2005, he made just seven of 27 PGA Tour tournament cuts. He is now a full-time member on the Gateway Tour.

LPGA TOUR's McDonald’s LPGA Championship

Site: Havre de Grace, Md.

Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.

Course: Bulle Rock Golf Course (6,633 yards, par 72).

Purse: $2 million. Winner’s share: $300,000.

Television (all times PDT): Golf Channel (Thursday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 4-7 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m., 4:30-7:30 p.m.).

Last year: Norway’s Suzann Pettersen won her first major title, finishing with a 5-under 67 for a one-stroke victory over Karrie Webb.

Last week: South Korea’s Seon Hwa Lee won the Ginn Tribute for her third LPGA Tour victory, beating Webb with a par on the first hole of a playoff after overcoming a nine-stroke deficit in the final round.

Notes: Lorena Ochoa has won the last two major championships, the Women’s British Open at St. Andrews last August and the Kraft Nabisco in early April. The top-ranked Mexican star has six victories in nine starts this year. … Annika Sorenstam, retiring at the end of the season, swept the 2003-05 titles, winning at DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Del., in 2003 and 2004 and Bulle Rock in 2005. … Se Ri Pak won in 1998, 2002 and 2006. … Pete Dye designed Bulle Rock. … The tour is off next week. Play will resume June 19-22 with the Wegmans LPGA in Pittsford, N.Y. The U.S. Women’s Open is the following week at Interlachen in Edina, Minn.

On the Net: http://www.lpga.com

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Somewhere stuck between exhilaration and exhaustion, Gig Harbor's Kyle Stanley could barely muster words.

He was going to next week's U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

With 23 spots up for grab, Stanley, the Bellarmine Prep product, shot a 6-under 137 total to tie for eighth at the 36-hole sectional qualifying tournament Monday in Columbus, Ohio.

The sophomore at Clemson did his damage on the easier Brookside Golf Course, firing a 6-under 66 to clinch a spot. He shot 71 on Ohio State's Scarlet Golf Course.

Other locals weren't so fortunate. Tacoma's Michael Putnam (144) was tied for 53rd, and Puyallup's Ryan Moore (146) was tied for 74th in Columbus.

University of Washington sophomore Nick Taylor (6-under 138) and former Husky golfer Rob Rashell (140), now on the Gateway Tour, captured the two U.S. spots from the Northwest qualifying tournament at Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell, Ore.

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1, EMBRACED BY WOODY WOODPECKER
Monday was the monthly Northwest golf writers' meeting, and the one for June was held at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place.

Every month, a new subject is tackled. This month's was the topic of environmental awareness in golf courses.

David Wienecke, the superintendent at Chambers Bay, gave one of the more interesting presentations about the ways the future site of the 2015 U.S. Open has tried to maintain a healthy ecosystem.

Here were a few numbers pertaining to Chambers Bay:

• The amount of nitrate-based fertilizers has shrunk approximately 60 percent.

• Overwatering had been a huge issue in the past. Not only are superintendents trying to find an exact number of the minimum amount of water necessary to keep a course in working condition, they are limiting their watering days (gap of three to 10 days in between watering at Chambers Bay). The estimated savings is nearly 13 millions gallons of water a year.

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This week: PGA Tour's Memorial Tournament, Thursday through Sunday, Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, Ohio.

Fourth-round score: 3-under-par 69.

Position: Moore moved into a tie for 10th at even-par 288, eight strokes behind winner Kenny Perry (280).

Recap: The Puyallup native rolled in seven birdies in the final round to rocket up the leaderboard 18 spots. His last one came from a 190-yard approach, and he sank a 15-foot putt for the 69 – the second-best round of the day.

Next: Moore is playing in today's U.S. Open sectional qualifier in Ohio and two different venues. He is not entered in the PGA Tour's next tournament (Stanford St. Jude Championship).