ESPN.com - Golf Online - US Open Men 2000

By David Kraft
ESPN Golf Online
Thursday, June 15

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- It measures just 106 yards -- a mere sand wedge for the world's greatest golfers.

7 At A Glance
Avg.	3.048
Rank	15
Eagles	0
Birdies	21
Pars	82
Bogeys	19
Doubles	4
Others	0

So the par-3 seventh hole at Pebble Beach should be easy, right?

It was just that for the leaders Thursday in the first round of the U.S. Open. The picturesque little hole that juts out into the Pacific yielded birdies to leader Tiger Woods, Miguel Angel Jimenez and John Huston, among others.

In fact, of the top 20 players on the leaderboard when play was stopped because of fog on Thursday (all had played at least seven holes), seven had birdied the seventh. Only one -- Brandel Chamblee -- had bogeyed it.

History says it won't stay that way. Only in 1972 did the hole play easier in the Open.

The seventh may be the most fickle hole on the course, thanks to the wind. While it was calm Thursday, as it was for most of the day, seven could be had.

If it gets breezy, look out.

One player who won't have to worry about that is John Daly. He bogeyed the seventh, the first blemish of the day on his card after six straight pars. It wouldn't be his last.