Unless you’re related to Dustin Johnson, you were probably hoping he would skull his bunker shot into the Pacific swell. (Kidding!) No disrespect to DJ who played a fantastic tournament to capture his second consecutive title at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, but I would have loved to see David Duval win. The CBS commentators would have, too. During Duval’s post-round interview — when he was still one stroke back — Peter Kostis got all sappy and said, “Thanks for your play.”

Which just shows how far Duval has fallen. (Let’s pin a pretty ribbon on you for participating!) He went from winning the British Open and being the world’s number one golfer to plunging into the dismal land of near obscurity for nearly a decade. But he’s not a quitter, as he repeatedly reminded us at the US Open last year after he started his final round with a triple-bogey, but went on to make three consecutive birdies coming down the stretch. I was quick to dismiss him because, well, I can be cynical sometimes and I hadn’t heard his name uttered in, like, five years.

When his name appeared on the leaderboard on Thursday, I wasn’t a believer. Not that I didn’t want to, but after finishing tied for second at Bethpage last year, he failed to make a cut for the remainder of the season. He was forced to return to Q-school and finished T90. I was tossing around some commentary to Golf Magazine’s Mike Walker as he was live-blogging the first round. Here’s what I said:

You really think Duval can keep it up for the rest of the week? I’d love to see it. But again, last week he went 68-75-76. And at the Bob Hope: 74-65-73-69. Not exactly a bastion of consistency. Who knows, maybe this will be his breakout tournament. It would certainly be nice to see him complete his comeback.

I’m glad he proved me wrong. While several in contention floundered down the stretch, you know, like carding 9s on that pesky par-5 14th, Double-D didn’t blow it. So now the question is, with this runner-up finish, can he keep the momentum going? It seems like once he’s in contention, he manages to grind it out. The problem is these days he rarely gets there. But perhaps this time he won’t disappear into MC land and he’ll complete the fairytale story with a win, hell, maybe it’ll even be at the US Open at Pebble. The golfing world and fans would love to see it. But I have one tiny request for Duval: Please don’t break out the mock turtleneck.

[Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Image]

According to industry insiders, Anthony Kim isn’t a saint, but he’s also not “the current John Daly.”

During AK’s rookie year in ‘07, he was infamous for hitting bars post-rounds, not practicing and staying out all night mid-tournaments. But he made it well known in ‘08 that he’d learned from his mistakes and reformed — he said he’d quit his excessive partying ways and since then, was maintaining a stringent practice and workout routine. Given his very public affirmations, he should realize an alleged minor slip-up becomes major news.

If there’s truth to Robert Allenby’s accusations, it doesn’t surprise people. Even though AK publicly proclaimed he’s cleaned up his act, he still has a huge party reputation. And during this year’s NBC’s pre-US Open Bethpage Black event — Michael Jordan, Fred Couples and Rocco Mediate attended, too — AK was rumored to be hitting it hard once again.

Sure, he’s had some come-to-Jesus moments with several of the veteran players on Tour — they basically told him he would just be an average golfer if he continued his reckless boozing and tail-chasing.

So if AK did indeed beat Allenby hungover and with little sleep, that could be disastrous for him — if he gets in his head that he can play well with a Jager bomb regimen, he could be in for a serious backslide.

Is he destined to be the next John Daly-like train wreck? No. He’s a 24-year-old kid who likes to have a good time. But AK should be aware that once he goes public about his reformation project, whether he’s partying once a week or 24/7, it’s going to be heavily scrutinized.

[Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images]

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).

It was reported yesterday that Tom Watson would need an invitation to play in the PGA Championship at Hazeltine next month. It’s the only major he’s never won. Well, I doubt he cares about that minor detail. He already has 8 other major championships on his resume. Let’s be real, the chances of Watson winning the PGA and completing the career grand slam are about as likely as me going out and shooting 59 at Bethpage Black tomorrow.

Not to take away from his stellar play at the British Open — if you haven’t noticed, I’ve sang his praises loudly. But remember that at a links golf course, especially Turnberry, we’re more likely to see an unlikely winner (or runner-up). Watson himself even said that he doesn’t go to Augusta because he can’t play it anymore unless he’s “absolutely perfect” (read: he has no chance).

In fact, I’m not sure if he should play. It’d be kind of depressing if he played poorly. Like really, really poorly. I’d like to keep him at the high standard I have now. I mean, I wouldn’t mind seeing him at Hazeltine. Who knows, maybe he’ll surprise us…again. After all, he has shown us that the unthinkable is possible (even an almost win qualifies). But ehh…

Let’s give the guy some breathing room before we start asking him to perform more heroics. I think he’s had enough excitement to last him quite a while. Don’t forget, he’s rather fragile at his age.

[Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images Europe]

[Saucon Valley Old Course, 10th hole]

Despite the LPGA Commish fiasco, the US Women’s Open still managed to provide all the excitement that comes with a Major championship. Thanks to Eun-Hee Ji’s clutch play down the stretch and Mike Davis’ brilliant risk-reward setup philosophy.

I was at Saucon Valley for the first three rounds. On Saturday, the players had the option to have a go at driving the green on the par 4 10th. When I first saw the tees had been pushed to the forward box, I thought, “What the heck?” Then I watched Alexis Thompson and Song-Hee Kim play the hole and realized I should have known it was meant to give players options.

The length of the course was shortened on each successive day: 6714, 6708, 6486 and 6337 yards. It didn’t play any easier. I mean, did you see those pin placements?!? Changing the yardage was definitely a different approach, but Davis did it to add excitement. Also it forced players to make what is sometimes a difficult decision - to play “smart” or go for the green. If they went for it, it was a bit of a mental challenge because they had to trust their swing, especially the players in the final groups coming down the stretch. As we witnessed, errant tee shots had the potential to lead to large numbers from around the greens.

On Sunday, the back nine at Saucon Valley played significantly shorter with the option to drive the greens on both the par 4 10th and 15th. The par 3 17th was only 126 yards and downhill. I would imagine most players had a pitching wedge into the green. But the pin was challenging in that it was tucked in the back left corner. To get it close, the ladies had to aim at the pin or just right of it to catch the downslope and let the ball funnel down toward the hole - which resulted in many makable birdie opportunities.

The shortened par 4s reminded me of the shortened 18th hole in the final round at Bethpage Black. Many criticized that it only measured 354 yards and the guys hit irons from the tee and pitched up to the green. Perhaps it wasn’t climactic, but I didn’t think It took away that much from what was still an exciting finish at the men’s Open.

In the final round, it appeared Ji was out of contention when she made double-bogey on the par 4 10th (a la Paula Creamer’s triple in the third round). But what we witnessed was exactly what Davis intended. Pretty brilliant if you ask me.

Ji rebounded and quietly made her move starting on the 13th hole. She birdied three of the final six - including a finish that in a way “saved” the tournament that was tainted by the “player revolt.” IMHO. To make a 20 footer under pressure - at the US Open, no less - was the ending we all needed. Johnny Miller likened it to Tiger Woods’ thrilling putt to clinch the title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Like the setup at Bethpage, Davis’ risk-reward design at Saucon Valley was a true test of golf and identified the most consistent player and deserving champion. The shortened holes on the back nine opened the door for players to make a run and shake up the leaderboard. Indeed that’s what happened and probably to some extent how Davis envisioned it. It came down to the final putt on the final hole. Now that’s what I call an epic win.

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.