If you’re looking for a true test of golf in the New York area, Bethpage Black is the course to play. It challenges every part of the game from tee to green. On the first tee, golfers are greeted by the notorious sign: “Bethpage Black is an extremely difficult course, which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers.” In other words, put away the ego before teeing it up.

Bethpage has established itself as a beast of a golf course. From the elevated tees and greens to the steep sidehills, it’s quite the hike. Golfers who play the long ball have an advantage. Also, the rough is incredibly thick and the ball sits down in it, which creates the makings for a tough shot out. And if you hit it in the extra-tall stuff, then you might as well declare a lost ball. That said, hitting fairways and greens is especially important at Bethpage, as errant shots aren’t forgiven.

The 2002 and 2009 US Opens were held at Bethpage. Poor weather plagued the tournament this summer, which turned the course into a marsh — it was like Woodstock for golfers! But it didn’t take away from the magical environment and experience. I was lucky enough to attend and I braved the mud and rain 7 of the 8 days. I was taken aback by the great energy that comes naturally with a major championship and there’s just something special about Bethpage that awed me.

Like the other ‘09 major championships, it came down to the wire. David Duval almost made the comeback of the decade. Phil Mickelson almost brought the trophy back to his family. Tiger Woods almost completed one of his famous Sunday comebacks. But in the end, the unassuming Lucas Glover prevailed.

I’ve never played the course, but I hope to soon. The only kicker, and it’s a big one, is that it’s practically impossible to grab a tee time — unless you’re willing to camp out in your car and wait for an attendant to hand out tickets around 4:30AM. Yes, it’s going to extreme lengths to play golf, but it’d definitely be worth it, not to mention quite the experience.

Tiger Woods has a way with words. When asked what he thought of Liberty National, he replied, “It’s interesting.” In a good way? Again, “It’s interesting.” In other words, he thinks the course is in fantastic shape, the views of the Statue of Liberty and NYC are beautiful, but he doesn’t like the layout.

That’s been the general consensus among players. One player I chatted with on Tuesday said some of the holes were “goofy” and “unfair.” Another was overheard half-jokingly announcing, “If I ever design a golf course, this is an example of what not to do.” Others have been hesitant and giving the diplomatic or indifferent answer, which goes something like this: “«shrug» «avoid eye contact» «exert self-restraint» It’s OK. It is what it is.” A caddie I met on the ferry described several holes as “stupid.”

But all of them have added that the course is in great shape and the views are spectacular. Get used to hearing that because it’s going to be discussed on the telecast a gazillion times. And though it’s true, there’s only so much to be said about the scenery — kind of like the mud and rain at Bethpage.

Anyway, what’s with the complaints? What are the players concerned with?

The crosswinds from the Hudson will play a huge factor in determining the degree of difficulty. Geoff Ogilvy tweeted, “Mid pro am tweet. If we play the course with these tees and these pins, and this wind nobody will get anywhere near even par.” And Camilo Villegas posted, “I’ve been asked a lot what i think about Liberty National…’Its interesting…’ and if the wind blows like it did today…Its Crazy…”

Right now the conditions are soft, so the wind is reasonable to handle. But if things start to firm up, balls will be rolling off greens left and right. That said, a stellar short game will come in handy.

The fairways are really narrow — that was the first thing I noticed. The guys who drive ‘em straight will have an advantage. It won’t be easy to recover from errant shots. For example, on the 8th hole, a 611-yard par 5, if they miss it from the tee either left or right, they’ll have to chip out and still be left with 230 yards into the green.

Then, there are the greens. Let me tell you, they’re slopey, scary and sizable. If you don’t hit it in the right section, good luck. It’ll be interesting to see where they’ll place the pins. Regardless, I have a feeling it’s going to be a nightmare for the players.

There’s been a lot of chatter about the 14th hole, a short par 3, that sits alongside the water with an awesome view of the NYC skyline. It’s arguably the best hole on the course, but it has the makings for some large numbers.

Expect the cutline to be four-over and the winning score to be give or take 8-under — depending on how hard the wind is blowing. Cross your fingers it stays under control and conditions stay soft.

So it sounds like we’re in for a week of whining. Well, only time will tell. Needless to say, it’ll be “interesting” to see how things play out.

The majors yielded some unlikely or should I say interesting champions, so to speak. And it’s not a bad thing. I mean, God forbid, Tiger didn’t win his 15th to move one step closer to tying (and surpassing) Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 career major titles. Because he’s broken just about every other record and we can’t bear that it’s taking him, oh so long, to achieve the most-coveted of all. So, that’s not a bad thing either.

Since we have to wait 8 grueling months before the Masters, let’s take a look back at this year’s majors. I graded them with a 4-star rating with 1 being the lowest and 4, obviously, the highest.

The Masters: While the ending was rather anticlimactic, it was a thrilling Sunday at Augusta. Only two holes separated 48-year-old Kenny Perry from the Green Jacket, his first major title and becoming the oldest player in history to win one. It would have been one of the best Cinderella stories in golf’s history. Unfortunately his nerves caught up with him and he finished with consecutive bogeys, which landed him in a three way playoff with Angel Cabrera and Chad Campbell. By then, Perry had lost his momentum. In other words, he let the moment define him. So did Campbell. Cabrera just kept playing golf, one shot at a time. He was a fun winner, but Perry’s heartbreak overshadowed his victory. Just imagine had Campbell won — now that would have been a major travesty — if we’re talking in terms of snore alert. The whole Kenny Perry thing still eats at me. And because I’m a sap, I cried for him.

Rating: 2 stars

The US Open: I was at Bethpage Black 7 out of 8 days and had an absolutely amazing time. I felt like a little kid at the candy store. So, It really pains me to say it was the least climactic of the majors. Stormy weather forced delays and less than ideal playing conditions. Players, fans and volunteers alike stomped through the soggy, muddy and messy grounds at Bethpage Black. Here’s what we learned: Mother Nature wins every time. In my opinion, it was a fantastic tournament. Unfortunately it was dampened because the biggest story line was the weather.

Tiger Woods started the tournament poorly and never gained enough momentum to stage a real comeback. Phil Mickelson, the fan favorite (something I’ll never be able to understand, especially since NY fans are pretty savvy when it comes to sensing BS), was supposed to take the trophy home to his family. He had a shot, but pulled a Phil and came up short. Then, there was David Duval, who was resurrected after disappearing off the face of the leaderboard for nearly a decade. Instead, good ol’ Lucas Glover played 72 steady holes of golf and turned out to be the most uninteresting winner of the year.

I had no dire complaints because I was sitting in the 18th green grandstands. So, regardless, it was exciting. I even teared during the trophy presentation (again, I’m a sap). There’s something about the conclusion of major sporting events, where I imagine the emotions running through the champions — the shock, the adrenaline, the excitement — and just how incredible it must feel to have their hard work materialize.

But I digress. If you were watching on TV, I’m sure it was boring as hell.

Rating: 1 star

British Open: An eight foot putt stood between Tom Watson and the story of a lifetime. No one could believe the 59-year-old legend shot 65 in the first round. And no one thought he could hold the lead after 36 holes. When Sunday came along, he made us believe — before the final 18 began, we had basically written the fairy tale ending — the one where the good guy prevails over the bad guy and takes home the girl.

Instead, Stewart Cink drained a clutch putt on the 72nd hole and Watson missed one. Our hearts sank as we watched Watson collapse in the four hole playoff. Because we wanted our story (perhaps even more than Watson), Stewie was dubbed the villain who denied Watson the Claret Jug.

Even though we didn’t get the outcome we wanted, there’s no denying the British Open was the best major of the year; not to mention the most memorable I’ve seen in my lifetime. Oh, the agony, the tears, and the drama — Turnberry made for the perfect theater. That’s all I have to say…or I might start mourning the loss again. And last month I cried enough for Watson to last a lifetime.

Rating: 4 stars

The PGA Championship: Had it not been for the final 9 holes, this would have easily been the least interesting major. And had the rest of the field not showed up to play on Saturday, I might have fallen asleep amidst the telecast. So, let’s be thankful Tiger didn’t perform his usual final nine — or for that matter, weekend — heroics. Mostly, we have Y.E. Yang to thank for the mind-blowing 3-hybrid he hit into the 72nd hole — the shot that brought down Tiger and his perfect streak of winning when he held the lead after 36 and 54 holes. Don’t get me wrong, I was rooting for Tiger until around the 60th hole when I realized Yang actually had a damn good chance to win.

Now, we have the first Asian-born major champion and golf has been affirmed as a global sport. More important, we have proof Tiger is, in fact, human (a friendly reminder in case you haven’t heard it enough recently).

Rating: 3 stars

So there you have it. I cry a lot at post-majors — for the winners and the losers. In all seriousness, the year of the Bridesmaids was a good one. Well, unfortunately for the champions, the back stories and the runners-up upstaged their glory. Perhaps we never got the outcome we expected or wanted, but we still got compelling narratives. Not to mention, it’ll be even more exciting when Tiger wins the Masters next April. The anticipation is part of the game. And the chase keeps the game interesting.

How would you rate the majors?

The PGA Championship at Hazeltine starts tomorrow. It’s that time again — yeah, my favorite guessing game. I pick…Adam Scott! I kid, I kid. But he has played decently at past PGA Championships, notwithstanding last year. (His best finish was T3 in ‘06 at Medinah.) He just can’t putt for the life of him! More important, he needs to get this girl out of his head before he can think about winning again. Maybe this new distraction is helping, though.

I’ve only heard a few times Hazeltine is playing really long — 7,674 yards to be precise. So obviously the bombers have an added advantage; same goes for the good ball strikers that hit a high fade. But what it really comes down to — especially in majors — is putting. Even if you’re not hitting the ball that well, it drives confidence and momentum. It’s all about having the right mindset in golf, yeah? Yeah.

Here’s who I like (read: I’m not saying they’ll win necessarily).

Tiger Woods: Obviously. Two wins in a row, four PGA Championship titles, runner-up when it was last played at Hazeltine in ‘02, yada, yada, yada. He has to win or else it’ll only be the fourth time in his career that he hasn’t won a major. God forbid. It’s not like he hasn’t already won 5 tournaments this year.

Padraig Harrington: Your defending champion. After the heartbreaker last week, he’s a sentimental favorite, not to mention he’s just so likable. Even Tiger speaks up and commends him; perhaps more than I’ve heard him praise anyone. Paddy is a good putter, too.

FIGJAM…I mean, (gosh, why do I keep doing that?) Phil Mickelson: Break out the tissues if he wins. He’s such the people’s favorite.

Sergio Garcia: Like woah! I’ve never been a fan. I don’t think I ever got over his waggle-stuttering at Bethpage in ‘02. Ugh, then there’s the whining and bashing Augusta. But I’ve heard he’s actually a really good guy; in fact, one of the nicest to play with. If he’s learned how to putt since Sunday, then he’ll win or finish second behind Tiger. ZING!

Martin Kaymer: My dark horse pick. He won back-to-back weeks last month…on the European Tour. Does that count? Maybe for something. But it seems like most of the guys that have had loads of success there can’t seem to win on the PGA Tour (e.g., Miguel Angel Jimenez). Well, the PGA Championship has a history of producing unlikely winners. Rich Beem, anyone?

I like Ian Poulter, too. He was my favorite for the British Open, but he practically finished DFL. As an aside, his tweets are a-mazing. Check out this one.

My blogger’s pick is over at Dogs That Chase Cars. Go HERE (that is, when Shane posts it).

I’m heading to Saucon Valley in…well, as soon as I finish this post. I attended the Men’s US Open last month at Bethpage Black, and I’m just as excited for the US Women’s Open (added bonus: no rain in the forecast, fingers crossed). To attend both this summer is a huge privilege. Three months ago, had someone told me I’d be doing this, I would have looked at them like they were crazy. Despite the LPGA’s leadership debacle, I think everyone is a professional and it won’t taint the grandeur this week (any more than it already has). In fact, I expect the vibe to be enthusiastic. I’m ready to catch some excellent golf at a fantastic course.

I’ve heard nothing but praise for Saucon Valley - and that it’s long. The course is set up to play 6,740 yards, par 71. The graduated rough concept will be in place. I expect it’s up and those who find themselves in the long grass will have trouble. That said, the players who hit the long ball will have an advantage. Those who bomb it off the tee won’t have to hit woods on their approach shots and will be able to control the ball better on the fast-rolling greens. However, I’m a strong believer that accuracy trumps length at the end of the day. I’ll have more to say once I actually walk the course this afternoon.

In related news, Natalie Gulbis and Michelle Wie, two of the most recognizable names in women’s golf, are not in the field this week. The USGA addressed a glitch in the qualifying procedure. On Wednesday evening, a presser was released announcing the decision to move from two-stages of qualfiying to a single stage.

For a more comprehensive look at the US Open, take a gander at the Constructivist’s and Hound Dog’s previews. Without further ado, here are some players who I’ll be watching for near the top of the leaderboard this week:

Jiyai Shin: I bet she’s on everyone’s list this week. She might have a disadvantage being a shorter hitter, but she sure is accurate. She’s the third best golfer in the world. She ranks first in driving accuracy and third in greens in regulation. Jiyai also has momentum on her side, winning two weeks ago at Wegman’s. To put it simply, she’s having an awesome year.

Lorena Ochoa: She’s the world number one ranked golfer and she has two wins already this season. However, as of late, she hasn’t done anything noteworthy, but she’s still placed in the top 25 in the past three tournaments. I wouldn’t bet against her.

Yani Tseng: She stripes it off the tee - leading the Tour in driving distance. Yani won the Corning Classic in May. In the past two tournaments, she’s placed T6 and T2. She’s a name you’ll always see in the hunt.

Suzann Pettersen: She hits the long ball, ranking fourth in driving distance on tour. She fell ill during the LPGA Championship and had to W/D. It appears she’s recuperated as she placed T6 last week at the Jamie Farr Classic.  She’s placed in the top-10 in six other events, bu hasn’t won this year…YET. She’s due. Why not it be the most coveted of them all?

Stacy Lewis: This rookie won Q-school in December. In her past two tournaments, she’s placed in the top ten. It looks like she’s getting closer to fulfilling those high expectations. She’s also an excellent ballstriker so the course should favor her game. She has a good record at the US Open, finishing third last year.

Here’s to a memorable week at the 64th US Open! Stay tuned for more from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

I know, it’s a little after the fact, but I just have one more thing I need to get off my chest before I let go of the US Open. I thought there was an excessive amount of whining and complaining. Sure, the conditions were less than ideal. It rained a lot and it was super muddy. There were delays. Not a single round was completed in the same day. Balls were plugging in the fairway. The greens were bumpy. There were times the grounds crew had to squeegee the greens before the players putted. And even that didn’t help much. So all of those things sucked.

But to say this was the worst US Open? Rather extreme. It was a strange one, no denying that, but all things considered, I thought it was fantastic. Look, the USGA can’t control the weather. If we’ve learned anything, Mother Nature always wins. It’s golf. What do you expect? You play OUTSIDE - rain or shine. I agree the players should have been pulled off the course earlier on Thursday. But the pros choose to play golf as their job and the pay ain’t bad either. And to those who have a problem playing in inclement weather every once in a while, then get a job that doesn’t require being outside. However, overall, few complained (at least publicly). The press did it for them.

I’m going to assume that many of the critics didn’t wander far from the press tent - which is a shame because they missed out. Perhaps that’s also why they were so disparaging.

It really bothered me how much Bethpage was slammed as a venue. As if the same thing wouldn’t have happened in Dayton, San Diego or Orlando, under similar weather conditions. I heard some say the Open shouldn’t be held there again. Several griped the 18th hole was too short on the last day, which made the ending even more anti-climactic. I’ll concur, but it didn’t take away that much. I sat in the grandstand behind 18 and watched the leaders come in. It was still exciting. Others argued the drainage at the public course isn’t up to par. It could have been better, but there was so much rain anyway (again, no control over the weather). And don’t get me started if anyone was insinuating Bethpage wasn’t good enough because it’s a public track.

Regardless, Bethpage was and still is a great venue for the US Open or any other major tournament (like the Ryder Cup). It’s the “people’s course.” It parallels New York in that it’s tough and gritty, but holds its own. On the outside, both might not look “perfect,” but the experience is amazing - if you can survive. And if you can’t handle it, you’ll be chewed up and spit out.

As it happened, we witnessed that at Bethpage. I’ll bet Lucas Glover never uttered a negative word all week. Instead, he quietly played his way to the winner’s circle.

Ryan Moore might not look like your average PGA Tour golfer. By that, I mean he doesn’t have logos plastered all over his golf bag or clothes. And it’s by choice. He was sponsored by Ping (among others) until he made the decision to drop them this season. I’ll take a leap and say he’s giving up a good sum of money.

When I spoke with him last week, he mentioned casually that he didn’t have sponsors. He said something like, “Look at my bag, it’s just something I picked out.” It’s green and blue and the only inscription is his name. Along with that, he can play with the golf clubs he so desires - right now they are Ping irons and 3W, a Titleist putter, an Adams hybrid and driver. The only “new” part of his equipment is the head of the driver.

Then there are his clothes. He gestured at them and said, “Right now [the shirt] is from American Apparel and [the pants] are from Urban Outfitters.” What about the hat? “It’s from a company called Goorin based in San Francisco.” His tattered “sneakers” are not skater shoes (as I heard many people dub at Bethpage). They are Puma Hoppers and, for the record, they DO have spikes. He’s not trying to make a cliche statement - he just wears what he feels comfortable sporting - which includes a beard.

He explained, “I wanted to just play golf again.” OH SNAP. How many touring pros can say the same? I’ll go with none - at least that I know of. Raise your hand if you find that admirable. «Both hands raised»

Last Wednesday I asked him how he thought the obnoxious and vocal New York galleries would react to his casual, slightly disheveled appearance. He shrugged and said, “I know I’m going to get ridiculed for how I look and what I’m wearing, but it doesn’t bother me.” Indeed, the spectators made countless remarks. They sneered things like, “That guy is a golfer? He looks like a truck driver!”

So go ahead, judge him. But he’s comfortable with who he is and that speaks volumes about his character. In the end, only the results count and it seems his philosophy is starting to work pretty darn well - Ryan shot two-over-par and finished T10 at the US Open. I wasn’t surprised…at all. He told me before the tournament began, “Something just clicked last week and made me feel like I used to. It just fell into place.” I took his word and picked him as one of my sleepers (thanks for making me look smart, Ryan).

Though he doesn’t have his first win on Tour yet, I have a feeling it’ll come soon. Perhaps even at the Travelers Championship in Hartford this week.

Over the past few weeks, Ian Poulter has been an absolute Twitter addict. I’d say it started during the NBA Finals when he tweeted a picture of Hulk’s hairpiece at Game 4 of the Magic vs. Lakers series.

The U.S. Open rolled around and you could say he stepped it up. During his practice rounds, he showed how tough Bethpage Black was set up here and here. He told us how the 18th hole was playing. He gave us a glimpse of his yardage and green books and his biggest fan.

He kept us updated during Thursday’s wash-out. How did they putt on those greens? Not very well. And he informed us about what the U.S.G.A. was telling the players while play was delayed. He sounded a tad frustrated, but he was a riot - not to mention honest. It was true - personally, I couldn’t see how the players would get back on the course without a canoe and paddle either. (I understand that it was a tough call and I won’t get into that right now, but ultimately the right decision was made.) And in fact, it turned out that the grounds crew at Bethpage were magicians.

He showed us his popcorn at the movies and provided a rave review of Hangover - plus photos. The confusion and error over tee times. And his thoughts on the never-ending and strangest U.S. Open. I have a feeling that he was tired (understandably so).

Poults even had a little contest to give away two tickets for Sunday! He asked fans to send him a tweet and he’d pick the best one. I’m sure he received hundreds, if not thousands. And he even met the lucky winner. How many players would take the time to go out of their way to make such a kind gesture? At a major championship, no less! I’d say very few.

He had countless amazing updates that it’s difficult to say which was the most priceless. But if I had to pick, I’d say this one from Sunday takes the cake. I’m going to spell it out because it’s downright hilarious.

Perfect drive on 10th 235 yards to go into the wind. And that’s what you get… Perfect 3 wood straight right into bunker. It’s B#LL SH#T

That was the caption attached to the picture he took of his muddy ball during a tournament round! (To clarify, he waited to tweet it between rounds.) Say what? Did that actually happen or was he messing with us? Yes, it did. Is that even allowed? I mean, who cares -the guy has guts. I was laughing out loud (perhaps even ROTFL).

Some probably think he took it a little too far this week. Maybe he did, but I enjoyed his coverage of the tournament. I was already a fan, but now I’m a huge one. I’m sure the same goes for many others. We caught a glimpse of his vibrant personality (if you couldn’t already see from his choice of clothes). Most of all, he gave us a real look inside the ropes.

It’s like we were there! Congrats on the low round of the day with a 67, Poults! And keep it up - the play and the tweeting.

At the U.S. Open, American Express is providing programs and benefits for cardmembers and fans. In the Championship Experience Tent, which is near the main entrance (on the left when you’re walking in), there are some very cool activities in the facility.

First, there’s the Complimentary Swing Analysis, where cameras capture your swing. A PGA pro analyzes it and gives you a ten minute private lesson. I had one on Wednesday, and it was great, well, except my swing looked terrible.

There’s also the Player Tracking and Viewing Area that was created for an indoor spectator experience. I’m sure it was packed yesterday; that is, before play was suspended and probably after while many fans waited around for hours to see when it would resume.

American Express never ceases to impress with the benefits and service provided to its cardmembers. If you are one, you can borrow CourseCast TV and Radios (pictured above). The TVs also provide radio service via Sirius XM to listen to the play-by-play commentary and updates.

When you’re anywhere on the golf course, the hand-held televisions deliver live telecast of the tournament and player info. It shows you where the players are at ALL times - it’s perfect for stalking figuring out their status, like which hole they’re on or if they’re practicing. No, seriously, it is helpful. I had trouble sometimes finding the guys that I wanted to follow because the course is huge and you just can’t always estimate which hole they’re playing.

Oh, here’s my favorite part - you can get your picture taken in front of a replica of Bethpage Black’s famous sign: “WARNING: The Black Course Is An Extremely Difficult Course Which We Recommend For Highly Skilled Golfers.”

Stop by the tent and check it out. It’s worth your time.

IMPORTANT UPDATE (SATURDAY AM): I borrowed one of the handheld TVs on Friday, and indeed it enhanced the viewer experience. I was able to check the leaderboard throughout the day to keep track of what was happening. Several times I saw that a player was making a move, so I went to follow the group. It was a similar story with the TV coverage - I could watch without listening to the enlightening commentary while I was also checking out the action on the course and practice areas. But I could put on the headphones and listen if I chose. It was like I was two places at once! So if you’re at Bethpage on Sunday (and very possibly Monday), go to the AmEX tent to try one.

Here’s the first hole at Bethpage Black in “Round” One of the U.S. Open aka “Woodstock for golfers” or “The Great Flood.”

The picture says it all. I don’t have to tell you that it was painful and conditions were impossible. You’ve either heard it or caught the highlights on Sportscenter already. Better yet, you’re following Ian Poulter on Twitter and got the play-by-play from him. If you’re not, I recommend that you start now. The guy gets funnier by the minute and tells it likes it is.

At noon, I didn’t think there was any chance that the course could be playable. The greens were completely under water. There were streams running through the fairways, the walkways - you name it. By the end of the day, a better word for “puddles” would have been “marshes.” Speaking of which, hitting it in the fairway for the players is now more crucial than ever. Um, can anyone say, “ground under water?” I’ll be really, really impressed by guys that make par after an errant tee shot a la Tiger on the first hole of the tournament.

I am stupid, make poor decisions and stayed at the course until play was officially called around 2PM. Since I was already there, I tried to make light of the situation, which was obviously making fun of it (and myself).  I came prepared wearing golf shoes, rain gear and armed with an oversized umbrella! My friend Ray and I walked around for probably three hours (I know, we’re such troopers), entertaining ourselves with how absurd the whole thing was. I mean, we were willingly at a GOLF COURSE in the torrential downpour - one that was outside, no less. Enough said.

Nature: 1, Bethpage: 0.

Well, there’s still Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday…