We have been looking forward to comning to the US Open at Pebble Beach for over a year and so far have not been disappointed.
Our fifth day has been great fun, just like the previous four! We were at the course by 7 am and in the grandstand at Hole No, 12 as soon as we could walk out there--a bit of a hike. This morning was cold, breezy and overcast, not at all like the 2 previous sunny days. Today the other half of the field had morning tee times so now we have seen everyone play, many we had never heard of. Yesterday was the Michelson, Watney, Barnes, Watson, Furyk day, today Tiger with Els and Westwood, leader McDowell, Stricker, Lehman, Mediate, etc. Early morning is the best time to be at the course as the crowds increase all day. Hoardes follow Tiger and Phil. This morning we came back from No. 12 to the Lodge (so glad we paid extra for Lodge tickets) to sit on a comfy sofa in front of the fire with hot coffee and thaw out while watching the action on TV! Then we went out the back door to the No. 18 grandstand which is out of the wind for a couple of hours.
By noon we decided that was enough and a nice lunch elsewhere appealed to us. Leaving is a long walk up and down hills and stairs, pushing our way through the crowd surging in. Then we boarded our Greyhound shuttle bus out to the beachside parking lots and our car. Only one other couple was leaving and they were staying in San Jose! We are just outside the forest in Pacific Grove in a cottage we booked a year ago after we learned we had been drawn for tickets in the lottery. We sat by the bus driver who lives just north of Sacramento and during the ride and chat learned that the drivers are all staying in dorms at CSU Monterey Bay and cannot get into the tournament. Since we were through for the day, we offered him our tickets. Then the real fun began. He was quickly on his radio rounding up Pete and Otis, drivers who were going on a 3 hour break, and stopped to pick them up and give them the tickets. They were to meet him at his break time to pass them back. We added quite some time to the trip but also 3 new friends! Hope to get one of them tomorrow to see how they liked it! The other couple on the bus was from Louisana--LSU caps ugh!--who were so sorry they couldn't give him their tickets too but they were saving all souvenirs to make a shadow box when they get home. We thoroughly enjoyed our wonderful hamburger lunch at Tarpy's Roadhouse--they make the best burgers we've ever eaten.
Tomorrow, Saturday, Greg will arrive early to spend the day at Pebble with Bill. A better Father's Day present cannot be found. Barbara is looking forward to a day off. We plan an early dinner together before Greg heads home.