US OPEN DIGEST

Other US Open stories in brief

New role for golf commentator 

TWO-TIME British Amateur champion Gary Wolstenholme who was added to the US Open field at the last minute still managed to get a valuable practice round ahead of yesterday's first round at Torrey Pines - after finding someone to carry the bag.

Sean O'Hair withdrew with a pulled chest muscle, opening a spot for Wolstenholme, who then had to search for a caddie and a tee time for a practice round.

He found the former in BBC golf commentator Andrew Cotter, who caddied for him yesterday and will do so again today.

"I am going to do it for the experience of it," Cotter said. "He has played in other majors before, so he has some experience, but we will have to see if he can handle the course with his length, it is just so long for him." Wolstenholme admitted as much and would be happy to survive the cut.

"I am just looking to make the cut," he added. "This course doesn't really suit my game with how long it is and if I made the cut that would be one of the great achievements of my career."

Jimenez unable to light up

SPAIN'S MIGUEL Angel Jimenez, aka "The Mechanic," won't be able to indulge in his passion for smoking fine cigars during the US Open.

Jimenez, who won the BMW PGA at Wentworth last month to virtually seal his place on Europe's Ryder Cup team for the defence of the trophy against the United States at Valhalla in September, is used to lighting up a Cuban cigar mid-round . . . however, Torrey Pines is a designated "non-smoking facility", a move aimed at preventing the possibility of bush fires on the nature reserve.

• THERE'S BEEN no sight nor sound of Arnold Schwarzenegger at the US Open just yet, but the Governor of California has issued each player at Torrey Pines with a personal note. In it, the bodybuilder-turned actor-turned politician tells them, "as a former professional athlete, I know the preparation that goes into being successful, and each golfer can be proud of what they have achieved . . . I applaud them for their determination and accomplishments."

 Sabbatini in camouflage

RORY SABBATINI'S fashion sense is as far removed from that of Ian Poulter's as could possibly be.

For each round here at Torrey Pines, the South African will wear a round-neck combat camouflage shirt - a la those worn by members of the US military - to promote his fundraising efforts for the "Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund", a non-profit organisation established to support men and women of the US armed forces and their families. So far, up to $60 million has been raised, with Sabbatini responsible for raising over $1 million of that sum.

• OUCH! CHRIS Devlin's opening shot in his US Open debut was a snap hook out-of-bounds on the 10th hole, his first.

The 33-year-old from Ballymena was forced to reload, putting his next drive into heavy rough down the right from where he could only play back out onto the fairway.

Once he got to the green, Devlin's travails didn't abate and, after taking three putts from 25 feet, the first score that went onto this card was a quadruple bogey eight.