And the winner is....

Golf Betting Lines

06/15/2007 - Oakmont, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - "These players are not good enough for this golf course."

That's what one caddie, who will remain in anonymity said at the beginning of the week. Even the "King" himself, Arnold Palmer, addressing the media on Wednesday echoed those same sentiments.

The United States Golf Association is always trying to identify the best player in the world by setting up a rigorous test of golf. They certainly did, as Oakmont Country Club has certainly showed its teeth after day one.

Here's a tip for all of you crazed autograph hounds. PRACTICE ROUNDS. That's right. No, you're not going to get Tiger Woods, but how about Luke Donald, Mike Weir and Ernie Els. Even the young guns of professional golf, Justin Rose, Charles Howell III and Sean O'Hair. Or better yet, the characters of golf, Boo Weekley, Brandt Snedeker, Woody Austin and who knows, maybe Chi Chi Rodriguez will appear.

Players will sign just about anything while walking from the practice range to the first tee during their practice rounds. Forget about Thursday through Sunday, that's their time to work.

What makes practice rounds so special, how about O'Hair inviting a 5-year-old boy under the ropes, shaking his hand, signing his hat and pulling a ball out of his pocket and placing his moniker on the sphere for another souvenir. Do you think that child will remember that the rest of his life? You can bet his parents will as they fumbled to take pictures.

The media center is a hoot. Longtime journalists Furman Bisher, Dave Anderson, Peter Kessler, Tim Rosaforte and Jaime Diaz all sharing stories from yesteryear.

Being a part of the press corps certainly has its privileges. Even before you reach the golf course, you're shuttled from a preferred parking lot, or even better, the media hotel, right to the front door of the course. Next is the media tent, where you're rewarded with press badges, allowing access to the players lockers, interview rooms, practice range and best of all, walking inside the ropes.

But that's not all. The USGA hands out food vouchers to the dining area. This is not your run of the mill fare. Top notch cuisine to satisfy even the most finicky of palates.

As NBC analyst Johnny Miller strolled into the dining facility, a young local radio show host told a story of how his grandfather gave Miller, who needed a ball marker on the first tee during his famed final round 63, a dime to mark his ball. After urging the young lad to remind Miller of this occasion, he finally walked over to the 1973 U.S. Open champion and the duo reminisced of the special day.

Oh, there's more. The courteous USGA staff and volunteers, such as the "Minnesota Ten," who travel from the land of 10,000 lakes to help serve the media, bending over backwards to accommodate the press.

Let's not forget your own personalized spot in the 50,000 square foot press center and finally, a little piece of merchandise to remember your visit.

I must say however, that the most enjoyable time was having Mr. Palmer affix his signature on a U.S. Open flag and telling my friend back home about the gift that awaits him.

Getting back to the golf and the course. Oakmont is an amazing place. Players are second-guessing themselves, wondering which way the green breaks, club selection as the wind gusts and deciding where to lay up after hitting into the thick, gnarly rough.

How tough is Oakmont? Well, when round one was complete, only two of the 156 players broke par and that's mainly due to heavy downpours late Wednesday afternoon. It will certainly get harder as the championship moves on.

And the winner is...Oakmont for now.