USGA puts additional pressure on final groups

It's not as if the last two groups in the U.S. Open didn't have enough to worry about over the final nine holes. Both twosomes were timed for slow play by the U.S. Golf Association.

Tiger Woods and Tim Herron, playing in the next-to-last group, were timed for three holes. And neither player seemed to appreciate it following their rounds.

"If the greens are flat, fine, put us on the clock," Woods said. ``But if they're severe it takes time to figure out the slopes. I understand the pace of play rule, but there are exceptions to it."

Players in a group being timed have 40 seconds to hit the ball once it is addressed. After one warning, a one-stroke penalty is assessed to the slow player.

"In a tournament like this it's hard to put anyone on the clock when you go double-bogey, bogey, bogey and you're trying to grind," Herron said. "I don't know if the USGA was trying to penalize me or what they were doing."

Phil Mickelson, who played in the final pairing with champion Payne Stewart, said he was put on the clock all four rounds by the USGA.

"When that happens you just take the precaution," said Mickelson, the Open runner-up. "What's funny is when I get on the clock I have to walk slower because if I walk quick up to the ball the timer starts quicker."

ATTITUDE CHANGE: Payne Stewart said he tried to please everyone after winning his first Open in 1991. He vowed to change this time around.

"I think I'm more prepared to deal with everything that goes along with holding onto this trophy for a year," Stewart said. "I don't plan on changing my schedule."

Stewart, 42, said he'll continue to work out, spend time with his wife and family and play in tournaments that he enjoys playing in -- nothing more.

"I don't look forward to running after the elusive dollar because I've been invited to go play here and here and here," he said Sunday night. "I have so much fun being at home, being a father, getting up in the morning, making breakfast, taking my kids to school."

RYDER CUP: Payne Stewart likely accomplished one of his goals by winning the Open -- a spot on his first Ryder Cup team since 1993.

Stewart has been on four Ryder Cup teams, but was passed over the last two times -- 1995 and '97.

"I've contended all year that the Ryder Cup has motivated me," Stewart said. "That's one cup that isn't sitting on my table now. It's on the wrong side of the ocean. Hopefully, I can do something about it."

Stewart's win at the 99th Open moved him into third place on the list of Americans eligible to compete against the Europeans in September. The top 10 players in the point standings make the team, along with two captain's picks.

LUMPY'S LUMPS: Tim Herron has a top 10 finish in the 10th major of his short career.

The 29-year-old, nicknamed Lumpy, hadn't fared too well in big tournaments prior to his sixth-place finish Sunday in the Open. In nine previous majors, Herron missed the cut in five.

"I was uncomfortable with my swing, but nerves really didn't set in," said Herron, who played in the next-to-last group with Tiger Woods and finished at 6-over 286.

"You would have seen (nerves) in my putting, but my putting was actually pretty good," he said.

Herron's previous best in a major was a tie for 13th at the 1997 PGA Championship.

WE SURRENDER: Pinehurst No. 2 played hard this week. Just how hard?

Ask Chris Perry, who crawled on his hands and knees as he approached the 18th green.

"I thought it would be kind of funny to throw up the surrender flag the last 10 feet and just crawl to the green," said Perry, whose 6-over 76 Sunday left him at 17 over for the four-day event.

"It was pretty comical and a good laugh, for myself even, but I knew that the crowd would like that."

Last year at the Olympic Club, three golfers finished at 20 over or worse. At No. 2, a whopping 16 golfers who made the cut were 20 over or worse, including players such as Tom Watson, Tom Kite and last week's PGA Tour winner Ted Tryba.

Tryba was 19 under in winning the FedEx St. Jude Classic. He ballooned to 28 over this week -- a swing of 47 strokes.

DALY DISASTER: John Daly didn't walk off the course after his 11 on No. 8. Instead, he'll walk away from the U.S. Open.

"It's not worth it. This is my last U.S. Open -- ever," Daly said Sunday as he walked to his car after an 83 that left him in last place at 29 over par. "I've had it with the USGA and the way they run their tournaments."

Daly, who battles alcoholism and a gambling problem, shot a first-round 68 and trailed the leaders by one shot. Things then fell apart for the game's longest hitter.

Daly's 11 on the par-4, 485-yard hole was the highest score on any hole in the four-day tournament. He finished the front nine with an 11-over 46.

"The USGA loves to embarrass guys who play in their tournaments," said Daly, a former PGA and British Open champion. "I don't mind hitting the ball bad, but when I feel like I've hit the ball pretty good for four days and shoot an 81, it's not golf.

"It's crazy. My hat's off to whoever wins, and it's a major, but ... I don't consider the U.S. Open a major anymore."

The U.S. Golf Association said the course was fair.

"I'm sorry John feels that way," said Marty Parkes, USGA senior director of communications. "If he can qualify his presence means a lot to any golf championship and the fans love him. But we're not going to change everything around at the U.S. Open because of criticism from one player."

COSTLY ROUND: So you want to play the course where some of the world's best players were brought to their knees?

Pinehurst No. 2 will reopen to the general public Tuesday. The cost for a round -- $225.

"I will spend the next eight weeks tearing (the venue) down, which may very well be the most depressing thing in my life," championship director Jon Wagner said Sunday.

  AP