United States Open Golf Tournament

Who says the USGA enjoys torturing the world's greatest players? The 156 men who tee it up today at the 109th U.S. Open will play a course that, compared with 2002, has wider fairways, slower greens and rough that's both wispier and shorter near the fairways. But there's a catch: Beth- page Black will play 224 yards longer than it did in '02.

Tiger and Phil. Phil and Tiger. They will command our attention, but they won't be the only ones. Here are five more to watch from the U.S. Open's 156-player field: Kenny Perry A bogey-bogey finish in regulation cost him the Masters, but Perry says he felt like a champion after receiving 800 sympathy cards and letters of inspiration. The patriotic Perry built a public golf course in Franklin, Ky., and chose a Ryder Cup run over the British Open last year, so a U.S.

It's easy for Andrew Parr to joke about a name that's ripe for a moniker from Chris Berman. "I tell everyone my middle name is 'Under' when I'm playing easy courses," he said. "Like, par's not going to be good enough this week." Par has been good enough to win three of the last four U.S. Opens, and Parr's play Thursday was strong enough to give him a piece of the lead at one under.

This might be as close as golf gets to a doubleheader. The United States Golf Assn. said Monday that the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open will be held over consecutive weeks in 2014 at Pinehurst No. 2, the first time in golf that women have a chance to share the stage with the men. "It's a big opportunity," said USGA Executive Director David Fay. "I really do think this will generate some buzz for women's golf and the Women's Open. And I think a lot of people will take advantage." The U.S.

Tiger Woods is often asked about the knee surgery he had after his triumph at the 2008 U.S. Open. A different procedure was on his mind Tuesday. "I need to have a sex change? Is that what you're saying?" he said. The questioner led Woods down that path by asking about the USGA's decision to play the men's and women's Opens on consecutive weeks at Pinehurst in 2014. "Do you see somebody trying to play both of them?" Woods was asked. "Would you be interested?"

They never have been thought to be friends, but Tiger Woods could not have sounded more genuine Tuesday in his concern for Phil Mickelson. Mickelson stepped away from the PGA Tour in May to care for his wife, Amy, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Mickelson was expected to arrive Monday at Bethpage, but he instead spent extra time at home in California. He is slated to meet the media today before a possible practice round.

A look at how Lucas Glover held on to win the U.S. Open on Monday . . . and what Phil Mickelson, David Duval and Ricky Barnes did to finish in a three-way tie for second, two shots behind the champion. LUCAS GLOVER He had three bogeys on the front nine, but Glover never lost the lead in the final 12 holes. He made only one birdie, and it was timed perfectly.

To the end, Phil Mickelson remained the people's choice at "The People's Open." About 30 minutes after finishing second in the U.S. Open for the fifth time -- establishing a record -- Mickelson signed autographs for fans near the clubhouse. "Right on top, Phil," said one man, indicating where he wanted his flag signed. "Right where you belong." Before play began, Mickelson said his goal was to bring home the silver trophy to wife Amy, who will undergo breast cancer surgery July 1.

The answer, unlike the golf course, was short. Which is the hardest hole at Bethpage Black? "One through 18," David Duval replied. "There's no letup." If you've followed Duval's career, you might snicker and think: Yeah, every hole's hard for him. The 2001 British Open champion has made only one U.S. Open cut since 2002, and his best finish in 13 PGA Tour starts this year is a tie for 55th. But Duval speaks for the masses, including Tiger Woods.

They spent nearly seven hours together Tuesday, Phil Mickelson and his short-game coach, Dave Pelz. In between all those practice chips and pitches at Bethpage Black, Pelz did his best to avoid the delicate topic -- the condition of Amy Mickelson, whose breast-cancer diagnosis prompted Phil to leave the PGA Tour for three weeks. "He and Amy have been through so much trauma and stress," Pelz said by telephone. "I wanted the day to be as different as possible. I wanted it to be normal."