CHANGES: Open setup requires entire bag

In recent years the USGA has taken a gentler approach to the U.S. Open in its setup, but that wasn't the case the last time that the Open was at Bethpage State Park's Black Course on Long Island.

In 2002, John Maginnes-- a former PGA Tour player who now can be heard on satellite radio covering the tour -- saw firsthand how hard it was. In the first round he shot 79, but in the second round had one of the best rounds of his career with a 69 in one of the wettest rounds in Open history.

Maginnes, who lives in Greensboro and played at East Carolina, was known on tour as one of the straightest drivers but was never a big hitter. It was at that Open on No. 10 when he tried something unusual all four rounds.

The carry on the difficult par-5 to the fairway was more than 270 yards, but there was a walkway for the players through the deep rough for which Maginnes aimed.

"On Saturday I was playing with Chris DiMarco, and we both aimed for the walkway," Maginnes said. "I just missed the path by a few feet, but that was my only option."

To show that the USGA has a heart, this week when the Open is again played at Bethpage, the course won't be as hard as it was in 2002. A good example is No. 10, where the carry to reach the fairway will be about 230 yards.

The hole will play longer, but Mike Davis, the senior director of rules and competition for the USGA, said that the players shouldn't have a problem with their drives.

"If they can't make this tee shot on 10, either the weather is so horrendous that we shouldn't be playing, or somebody qualified that shouldn't be there," Davis said last week.

Bethpage is longer than it was in 2002 -- it will play 7,496 yards -- but there's graduated rough and officials are hoping for fast and firm conditions. In 2002 there was plenty of rain that slowed the course tremendously.

Tiger Woods was the winner in 2002, and was the only player under par for the tournament at 3 under.

Another subtle change is the par-4 seventh hole where more fairway was added. This will allow players a better angle to the 525-yard hole, the longest par-4 in Open history.

Maginnes says that the USGA has gotten things right in the last three or four Opens because players can't just bomb it off every tee.

"Back then it was an era where Rees Jones was going toward making all courses 8,000 yards and it was a response to all the big hitters," Maginnes said about the 2002 Open. "But what they've done now is they want players to hit every club in the bag and be able to turn the ball. You don't have to make a course 8,000 yards to do that."

Maginnes, who also writes a column for the PGA Tour's Web site, said he is looking forward to seeing Bethpage again. This will be the first time he's covered an Open after having playing in it.

"Unfortunately I will now have covered more Opens then I played in," Maginnes said.

He says that Woods will obviously be a factor but stopped short of just awarding Woods the title.

"I'll tell you what, that Argentine -- Angel Cabrera -- is sneaky and now he also has a green jacket," Maginnes said about the 2007 U.S. Open champion who won the Masters in April. "All he does is come to big tournaments and win, and then you don't see him again until the next big tournament. He just has so much talent, but nobody really talks about him."

Maginnes also offered high praise to Paul Casey, who is ranked No. 3 in the world and has won on the PGA Tour and the European Tour this season.

"I think what the difference is between 2002 and this year is back then there were so many guys who absolutely had no chance," Maginnes said. "With this setup, there'll be more guys in the mix."

Playoff not about to change

Last year's U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, which was won by Woods after he beat Rocco Mediate in a Monday playoff, was one of the more exciting Opens in recent years.

The U.S. Open is the only major that still has a Monday playoff.

"We are doggedly determined to go 18 holes," said David Fay, the executive director of the USGA.

Fay said that the USGA actually loses money with the extra day of play. Fay said the USGA had to spend almost $120,000 extra for another day of golf.

"When you round it up, and throw in the ever popular ‘miscellaneous,' it came out to $513,000," he told The Associated Press. "Sure, we hope to sell a few more hot dogs and beers and shirts. But the answer is, you don't earn that money back."

Around the green

The Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club isn't until August but a special Father's Day ticket package is available. The tournament is offering two weekly grounds badges, one VIP parking pass, a golf shirt and a sleeve of Titleist Pro V1 golf balls for $200, a savings of $140. The Father's Day special is only available until Friday. For more information, go to www.wyndhamchampionship.com or call 379-1570….

A girls-only summer program presented by the Triad Youth Golf Foundation is being offered at Reynolds Park. It's for girls ages 5-17 and will be directed by Ellen Lapierre, an LPGA teaching professional. A free introductory clinic will be offered Saturday from 2-3:30 p.m. at Reynolds Park. For more information go to http://www.tygf.org/girlsgolf.html….

Dustin Groves, a senior at Wake Forest, was named to the Ping East All-Region team last week. Groves finished in the top 20 in nine of 12 tournaments this past season and was the lone senior starter for the Deacons. Groves led the Deacons with a 72.9 average. Also named on the All-Region team were Darren Blair and Matt Hill of N.C. State, Adam Long of Duke, Drew Weaver of Virginia Tech and Charles Nagy of UNC Charlotte….

Michael McGowan of Southern Pines, who won the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 2-A championship last month by seven shots, is the son of Bonnie and Pat McGowan of Pine Needles. McGowan is former PGA Tour player. Michael's grandmother is Peggy Kirk Bell, the owner of Pine Needles and a legendary teaching pro. Michael has accepted a scholarship offer from North Carolina….

Rocco Mediate, who wound up losing in the playoff to Woods at last year's Open, says he is looking forward to the atmosphere at Bethpage. The New York fans put a charge into the tournament in 2002. "Well, first of all, New York fans are some of our best fans," he said last month. "They're crazy. They're loud, and they fit right in with me. So I'm looking forward to all of that stuff. It's just that they're very proud of their golf course there. They're very proud. Bethpage is one of the best golf courses in the world, or we wouldn't be playing there."

■ John Dell can be reached at 727-4081 or at jdell@wsjournal.com.