Golf is supposed to be for the masses. The U.S. Open is open -- anybody can qualify. So I think it's great that we're going to the Black Course at Bethpage State Park, a course for the masses. There are other munis where people sleep in their cars all night for a chance to play, but they're not waiting to play an Open-quality course. And that's what Bethpage Black is.

Every year we hear the same thing at the Open -- that accuracy and patience are more important than power and aggressiveness. Well, we hear it because it's true. Any mistake is magnified because it's so hard to pick up shots. You have to pick and choose, and hang in there mentally so much more than on a normal golf course. You have to save par because birdies aren't flying around. I think that's one reason some great and very aggressive players never won an Open. Sam Snead. Lanny Wadkins. Phil Mickelson.

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Not to say that a guy like Phil can't win -- he almost did at Pinehurst three years ago. He loves the action, and that's what makes him so good. But you have to play more percentage golf in a U.S. Open than in any other major if you want to win.

That's why what Tiger did at Pebble Beach in 2000 -- shooting 12-under and winning by 15 on a tough course -- is one of the greatest exhibitions of golf ever, one of the great moments in all of sports. He was able to do it not only because he's so great physically, but because he's also great mentally.

If Tiger wins the Open, he'll be the first guy since Jack 30 years ago to have the first half of the Grand Slam. And you know Tiger believes he can win the Slam. Look at what he said after the Masters, when he was asked about it: "I've done four in a row before. It would be nice to do four in a row in the same year."

You've got to remember, this is the biggest tournament an American will ever play. Bigger than the Masters. Bigger than the PGA Championship. And, for an American, bigger than the British Open. A lot of golfers are eliminated on the first tee because it's for the national championship. And the pressure down the stretch eliminates a lot of others who ordinarily might be able to hang in and win. That was a big part of it for me, hanging in and handling the pressure.

Understand? The U.S. Open is a big deal, a huge deal. And this year, it's at a muni. I think that's great.

This article appears in the June 10 issue of ESPN The Magazine.