Women finally get an Open Test at Pebble
PEBBLE BEACH — The women finally get their shots at Pebble Beach, yet the first name mentioned in a discussion was that of a man, Jack Nicklaus — understandably. And maybe realistically. And probably sadly.
In many ways, women were second-class citizens in golf (and did you say so much else?) In Great Britain, women are restricted in some places to their own 18. Other locations allow them only on “ladies day.”
Now at a course of fame, the ladies have the opportunity to be noticed.
The 78th U.S. Women’s Open, which began Thursday, may be the game changer if only because of the location and what through the years has happened there
Shannon Rouillard is the senior director of women’s open championships for the U.S. Golf Association and is well aware of Pebble’s crashing surf and inspiring history.
“What do we think about when we think about Pebble Beach?,” asked Rouillard. “I know I think about Jack Nicklaus and the 1-iron he hit on 17; Tom Watson's chip on 17, as well; Tiger Woods' second shot on 6 and winning by 15 shots; and Gary Woodland's long birdie putt on 18. While he didn't need it to win the championship, boy, did the crowd go wild.”
The ladies don’t yet have any Tigers or Nicklaus’s, although, maybe Rose Zhang, the Stanford grad, someday may win the role. For certain if the timing were better, Juli Simpson Inkster would have done it.
Juli had it all, if in an era before women’s golf had it all. She was born and raised in Santa Cruz, literally across Monterey Bay from Pebble; was a star at San Jose State, won a couple of Opens herself (and lost another in a playoff), and was as adept at using a microphone as she was with a 5-iron. Her dad pitched in the minors, and one of her great joys was throwing out the first ball before a Giants game as a reward for her success.
Juli (if you prefer, Mrs. Inkster) was one of the former U.S. Open winners who appeared Wednesday and she was as full of opinions as always, also remembering her time had slipped before a Women’s Open came to a course she relishes.
“I think this is what's great about Pebble, is from the first tee to the 18th tee you can get a lot of different weather changes,” said Juli, a — get out in the ocean and the wind is blowing and then you come in and it's not blowing.
“I think it challenges you, all aspects of your game, chipping, putting driving. You use all the clubs in your bag, which I think is a great representation of a championship. You're going to have a lot of 3- and 4- and 5-footers on these poa greens that can grow rapidly. I think a good iron player — and I do think, once again, you've got to play the par-5s — you've got to get to No. 2 and No. 6. Those are birdie holes.”
“You've got to be ready to play when you start on 1, because 1 through 4 you need to make some birdies because you've got to just hang on that backside.”
There you are ladies, a great course for a great tournament.