Golf Central

Welcome to our special US Open edition of 7 things. Even though there's only been two days of play at Torrey Pines thus far, we've already learned a lot of things, seven things, in fact...

1. Don't mess with Tony Navarro...
... Because Adam Scott's caddie knows how to deal with idiotic spectators like a proper man. A father-and-son pair - Thomas J. Campbell, 37, and his father Thomas W. Campbell, 62-  were arrested Friday afternoon in an alcohol-related incident with Scott's caddie. The incident took place on the par-five ninth, when Navarro suddenly went toward the gallery and under the ropes to confront two berks that had been heckling Navarro and Scott (what a great name for a 70s style cop show, by the way). Witnesses told police that the younger of the two tried to punch Navarro; other witnesses said Navarro head-butted the bloke. While we don't condone violence here at IGWT, you can't help but admire Navarro's balls.
2. Journalists ask the most stupid questions
Like the one that asked Lee Westwood, who carded a one under par 70 after his first round, "Are you pleased to be under par?" What do you expect him to say mate? "Well it's the US Open, notoriously difficult, so I'd rather be four over, naturally. But hey, you can't have everything your own way."
3. Angel Cabrera shouldn't have given up smoking
How else do you explain the fact that he carded a first round 79, followed by a 76, leaving him 13 over par for the tournament. Unsurprisingly, that wasn't good enough to make the cut, but we bet Cabrera picked up a few cartons of Lucky Strikes and red Marlboros at duty free on his way back to Argentina.
4. This smoking ban malarkey is stupid
So they've decided to ban smoking in the galleries at Torrey Pines this week, because San Diego law says so. No smoking on a golf course? In the great outdoors? What really grinds our gears, however, is the fact that the law doesn't apply to those participating in the Open, so USGA officials and players can spark up whenever they wish. Miguel Angel Jimenez, known for puffing a Partagas and Cohiba from time to time, said, '"I don't think it's fair. I don't see what's the problem. Why not make everyone ride a bike here instead of driving their cars?'
5. Tiger Woods is quite good at golf (part 5062)
But you've probably already gathered that, anyway. After shooting a two-over-par 38 on the first nine holes of a second round, ask yourself how many golfers could carded a pretty much flawless five under 30 coming in? Probably only Tiger...
6. Gary Wolstenholme probably shouldn't have bothered
The 48-year-old British amateur champion forked out £1000 in flights and hotel rooms to come over to California, and he wasn't even assured a place in the field unless somebody pulled out. Someone indeed pulled out, but 23 shots over par later (83, 82), Wolstenholme was on a plane back to Blighty, probably thinking to himself, 'What a waste of money.'
7. The USGA shouldn't pair Woods, Mickelson and Scott together again...
... Because, despite the extraordinary hype that surrounded this dream pairing, let's all be honest with ourseleves and admit that it was a bit of a letdown.