Will We See A Red Sunday?

It is one thing for the world’s best golfers to drive well on the fairways of Shinnecock Hills at the U.S. Open, which began Thursday morning.

It is another to drive on the highways of Long Island near the haute vacation hub of Southampton. And while the roads around the golf course are endlessly snarled with traffic, turning short commutes into monumental frustration, Tiger Woods found a way to avoid all of that.

He’s staying on his 155-foot, $20 million yacht – named Privacy – which sits off Sag Harbor.

We’re impressed. First, because Tiger beat the traffic. Second, well, because he has a 155-foot, $20 million yacht that features 6,500 feet of living space and a theatre. Makes you wish Jay Gatsby were around to throw a party.

“There are a few guys this week have said it’s taken them from the hotel 2 1/2 to 3 hours,” Woods said at a Tuesday news conference. “There’s a good chance that someone might miss their (tee) time. You get a little traffic, you get maybe a little fender bender, it’s not inconceivable someone could miss their time.”

Distance from the headquarters hotel to the golf course: 14 miles.

The world’s No. 1 player for so many years, Woods now ranks 55th in his impressive return from a series of back surgeries. He’s playing the opening round – 1:47 p.m. ET on the tee – with the new No. 1, Justin Thomas, and No. 2 Dustin Johnson.

There’s a deep and talented field that runs from old head Phil Mickelson to young stars Rickie Fowler, Jon Rahm, Jason Day, and Brooks Koepka (yes, we omitted plenty). Tiger will still command the lion’s share of interest. If he makes the cut, the last two days grow even more fascinating as we watch to see if he can not only win again, but win a major again.

And if he misses the cut? There’s this yacht anchored nearby. It wouldn’t be the worst place in the world to spend a June weekend.

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman