News & Observer | newsobserver.com | 2008 NCAA Men's Bracket

It's the second day of the U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst Resort and Golf Club, and I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be.

You can have your U.S. Opens and PGA Tour events — take the LPGA, too, for that matter — because there's nothing as much fun to watch (or cover, for that matter) as the Amateur.

First of all, there's the access. Where else can you walk beside a golfer in competition in the middle of the fairway? There are no ropes, except for around the greens, and you can walk with a group from start to finish, debating club selection and shot choice along the way. It's the kind of access on-course TV reporters get during pro tournaments ("He's in jail, Bob").

Then, there's the match-play format. Tuesday is the second of the two medal-play qualifying rounds on Pinehurst's No. 2 and No. 4 courses, but starting Wednesday it's match play to narrow down the final 32 to the final two for Sunday's 36-hole final. Television killed match play at the professional level, but it's alive and well at the Amateur, just as it is at the Ryder Cup.

In 2005, I was in Philadelphia on vacation and went out to Merion for the Saturday semifinals. Not only was I able to stand at the plaque that marks Ben Hogan's 1-iron to the 18th green in 1950, I witnessed one golfer, to remain nameless, struggle mightily against Merion's famous 1th hole — the 369-yard, par-4 known as "Baffling Brook" — as his opponent stood waiting on the green. Our hero stepped into a sand trap to play his fourth shot, scooped the ball out with his wedge, turned to his opponent and said, edited for content, "Forget it — let's play some golf," heading to the 12th tee five (!) down.

He won three of the next six holes before losing the match, but I was rooting for him the rest of the way. It's the kind of thing you only see at the Amateur.

A couple notes from Monday's first round:

• Raleigh's Paul Simson, at 57 the oldest player in the field, shot an 8-over 78 on the No. 4 course. He'll have to go about 7-under under on No. 2 this afternoon to make the final 32. Looks doubtful for the current British Senior Amateur champion. Simson is playing in his 15th Amateur.

• UNC's Barden Barry went into Tuesday tied for third after a 2-under 68 on the No. 2 course.