The US Open is adamant about keeping the current 18-hole play-off format, despite being the only major that does so.  USGA Executive Director David Fay, when asked if the format would change anytime soon, said, “We are doggedly determined to go 18 holes.”

One has to question why we need a full 18-hole play-off.  Last years battle between Tiger Woods and Rocco Meidate, while fantastic, is a rare occurrence.  The extra day also puts a drain on the USGA’s finances.  With the extra day, the USGA spent extra money on:

- Another day of buses: $120,000 ($45,000 for smaller buses)

- Security: $30,000

- Parking: $60,000

- Lunches and travel costs (no amount given)

Overall, the costs added up to just over a half a million dollars.

It would seem to me that with that much money being shelled out and the rarity of match-ups like last years, the US Open would follow suit with the other majors and go with a sudden death play-off.

And I’d be all for it.

What do you think?  Should the US Open keep the 18-hole format or move to sudden death?

Camilo Villegas has landed one of the top caddies in all of golf for the US Open.  Villegas found himself in need of a caddy after Gary Matthews left him for part-time work with Sergio Garcia.  But he was not without a caddy for very long.

At a charity event shortly after his caddy left, Villegas was teamed up with Fred Couples.  Since Couples will not be at Bethpage, he offered up the services of his caddy, Joe LaCava, who is considered one of the best in the business.  LaCava also works with Davis Love III.  He’ll work the St Jude Invitational and the US Open with Villegas.

When asked why he parted with Matthews, Villegas stated the Matthews wanted to start a family and work a little less.

Looks like the US Open will return to Oakmont in 2016.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on its website today that the Open will make its ninth trip to Oakmont.  The Open has played in Oakmont in 1927, 1935, 1953, 1962, 1973, 1983, 1994 and most recently 2007.  The USGA is expected to make an official announcement later this month.

After determining the course of treatment for his wife Amy’s breast cancer, Phil Mickelson has decided to return to the course for the St. Jude Invitational June 11.  He will use the tournament as a tune-up for the US Open the following week.  After that, his schedule is still uncertain.

The 36th annual Players Championship kicks off this week at TPC Sawgrass.  The top ten players in the world are all scheduled to be at this weeks tournament.

The TPC Sawgrass is typically referred to as the unofficial 5th major.  As such, it has a bit more at stake compared to other tournaments.  The winner gets 600 FedEx Cup points.  Only 5 events on tour offer that many points to the champion.  The other 4 are the Masters, the US Open, the British Open and the PGA Championship.

Despite the points that are on the line, 3 of Europe’s biggest stars have decided to skip the event.  Ryder Cup stars Lee Westwood  and Miguel Angel Jiminez are taking some time off and Alvaro Quiros has opted to play in the Italian Open instead.

Stewart Cink urged pro golfers to show more support for the sponsors of tournaments by participating in them, especially in these tough economic times.  Cink made his comments from Connecticut on Monday as he was there to promote June’s Travelers Championship at the TPC River Highlands.  The insurance company recently committed to sponsoring the tournament through 2014.

Cink, who is a member of the PGA’s Policy Board thinks not all players understand the importance of participating in tournaments like the Travelers.  Without participation from the top players in the world, tournaments like the Travelers could face being dropped from the schedule (like the Corning Classic).  When top players don’t participate, the tournaments lose revenue in the form of lost ticket and merchandise sales.

This years Travelers tournament wil be played the week after the U.S. Open and already has commitments from Sergio Garcia, Vijay Singh, Anthony Kim, Stuart Appleby and defending champion Stewart Cink.

The Merion Golf Club added 300 yards to the course in preparation for the Walker Cup Match in September (sort of a warm-up for the 2013 US Open for the course).  Merion is known for its narrow fairways, deep roughs and sculpted greens.  US Walker Cup captain Buddy Marucci is certain the the changes will challenge even the best golfers.

“Part of the genius of what has been done here is that the difficult holes were made more difficult, and the easier, shorter holes pretty much stayed the same,” Marucci said at a Walker Cup press event on Tuesday. “I think what has happened is the architecture that was there for 100 years just popped out even more, and the challenges are back to where they were.

“At some places, 300 and some yards might not be significant, but it has made a tremendous difference here, just by allowing that architecture to come back out.”

The PGA of America and US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin announced the last weeks Masters launched the point system that will determine who gains a spot on the 2010 Ryder Cup team.  The US point system will determine the top 8 players and Pavin will have 4 selections at a later date to fill out the team.  Colin Montgomerie will lead the European team.

Points are based on the following:

- Prize money earned in the 2009 major championships (Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship): One point is awarded for every $1,000 earned; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points.

- Prize money earned in 2010 “Official” events from Jan. 1 through Aug.15: One point is awarded for every $1,000 earned, excluding the major championships, events played opposite major championships and events played opposite World Golf Championships; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points.

- Prize money earned for the 2010 major championships: (Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, and the PGA Championship). Two points are awarded for every $1,000 earned; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points.

- Prize money earned in 2010 events played opposite the major championships and opposite World Golf Championship events between Jan. 1 and the PGA Championship, Aug. 16 – one-half point will be awarded for every $1,000 earned; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points.

Angel Cabrera won the 2009 Masters on Sunday in a sudden death play-off at Augusta National.

On Tuesday, Cabrera was welcomed home in Argentina as a hero.

Cabrera addressed the crowd in his hometown of Villa Alende, Argentina, saying, “Green suits me.”  He went on talk about his hard work and laid out his plan to win more majors.  “With sacrifice and work, anything can be done.  Now I’m going for the third major and I’m not going to stop until I win at least five.”

Cabrera captured his first Masters win and his second win in a major (2007 US Open) on Sunday in a 3 hole, sudden-death play-off against Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell.  Cabrera joins South Africa’s Gary Player as the foreign player to win both the US Open and the Masters.

Per ESPN, Rocco Mediate had minor arthroscopic surgery on Monday that will force him to miss the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines this coming weekend. This is the same site where Rocco battled it out with Tiger Woods for the US Open Championship in 2008 .Tiger went on to win the US Open title, but the match boosted Mediate’s status with fans everywhere. Tiger Woods won’t be playing this event either as he continues to rehab his knee post surgery.