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PINEHURST, NC - As the years second major tees off on Thursday morning, here are a few things to consider: The Golf Course For the first time since the Second World War, there is no rough at the national championship. Houston Rockets Jerseys . Instead, there is whats being called Native Areas. This is how Donald Ross created the course and this is how Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore restored it.Rather than being one-dimensional and having to hack it out of the rough, hitting it off the fairway now means a bit of a lottery. You might end up with a perfectly clean, if somewhat sandy lie or you could end up in a tangle of the wiregrass. If that happens, its like old times and youll be hacking out to the fairway. Depending on whom you talk to, its either a 50-50 or 60-40 or 80-20 situation that youll get a good result in the scrub.It will make for some interesting times. The Phil FactorWe all know that Phil has been runner-up at the U.S. Open six times and that the first of those came here, at Pinehurst back in 1999. We also know that he wants to win this tournament more than any other, to complete the Grand Slam. But we also know that Phil hasnt played very well this year and has struggled on the greens to the point that hes changed his grip coming into this week. Hell use the claw grip, which he says is better for the six to eight footers that will be key for this week. As much as Phil will tell you everything is great, that he loves the course, that his game is coming around, you have to think that the odds arent in his favour here. Oh CanadaGraham DeLaet will complete the Grand Slam here this week – not in terms of winning but just teeing it up in his fourth major. Sometimes we forget that hes still learning his chops in the majors and its a big step up to the majors. Yes, he is ultra-talented with a game that is suited well to this type of set up. In some ways, what he doesnt know may actually help him. In golf sense, DeLaet will always live and die by his putter and this week he is also going with a new putter grip, adopting a left-hand-low style that he says is working for him. History is not on his side this week – the last time a first-time entrant won the Open was way back in 1913. Of course streaks are made to be broken. WeatherRight now, Pinehurst No. 2 is baked out and dry. There is lots of run in the course and the greens are firm. But the weather forecast is for rain over the next four days, (although so far, predictions of rain havent materialized). If that comes true, it will, as Rory McIlroy said, take the fire out of the course. It will aid the longer hitters and, if there are delays, make it tougher on those who have little patience. In short, it will change the number of golfers who can win this tournament and thats why a handful of players are doing the rain dance here this week. ImaginationIts a buzz word in golf. Along with creativity. But here at Pinehurst, there really is a need to think about just how youre going to hit a shot. With so many run-off areas around the greens, youre going to have to find the right way to get the ball close to the hole. So that means a) putting it up; b) chipping it close; c) use a hybrid to bump it; or d) some other club to get it close.The guy who puts its beside the cup will be deemed the most imaginative golfer of the week (instead of the champion golfer of the year). GreensThe greens at Pinehurst No. 2 arent necessarily small in overall size, but the effective area that can be used is tiny. In fact, on some of them, less than 25 per cent of the overall space can be used for a pin. These are not unlike Augusta Nationals putting surfaces, where hitting the right area – not just the green -- is a requirement. Some are more generous than others while a few are absolutely diabolical. McIlroy said the second is just such a green. He estimated that less than 20 per cent of the field will hit that green in regulation. Who Will Win?The golfer who will win this week is one who can drive it long as the course has some length. And it will be the player who can loft it way up in the air, as youll need some height to hold the greens. And it will be the player who has some creativity (see above) for those missed green recovery shots, and it will be the golfer who has a hot putter. Put those all together and I think your winner will be . . . Sergio Garcia. (Second choice – Jason Day) Eric Gordon Jersey . He liked what he saw on Tuesday night. Not only did his team post a comeback 3-2 victory in a shootout over the Montreal Canadiens, but the rival Washington Capitals were beaten 5-1 in Buffalo. DeAnthony Melton Jersey . Both of Padakins goals came in the second period while Zane Jones added a single in the first period for Calgary (13-6-4). Hitmen goaltender Chris Driedger finished with 30 saves for the shutout. https://www.rocketsrookiesshop.com/Gerald-Green-City-Edition-Jersey/ . He could have transferred when academic sanctions barred the Huskies from the NCAA tournament his junior season.BOSTON -- Lyle Overbay watched the Red Sox receive their championship rings, knowing how close he came to getting one. Then he got back at the team that released him five days before the start of last season, hitting a tiebreaking double in the ninth inning of the first game at Fenway Park since Boston won the World Series last October. That sparked a four-run inning against Edward Mujica that lifted the Milwaukee Brewers to a 6-2 win Friday. Getting released "was disappointing because I knew that they had a pretty good chance," Overbay said. "Its no hard feelings or anything. It was just a matter of trying to squeak in for a couple of weeks, anyway." During a nearly hour-long pregame ceremony, Red Sox players received their rings for winning the clubs third title in 10 years. But then the Brewers ended Bostons streak of wins in nine straight home openers. "It was a special day for us," Bostons Will Middlebrooks said. "It was emotional. For all of the guys that were a part of it last year, its a special journey we were on." Khris Davis doubled off Mujica (0-1), who made his Boston debut, and took third when Scooter Gennett reached on a sacrifice bunt. Overbay doubled to right for a 4-2 lead, advanced on the throw and scored on Carlos Gomezs fourth single of the game. Aramis Ramirez added an RBI single. Mujica was the St. Louis Cardinals closer for much of last season, then lost that job last September and did not pitch in the World Series against the Red Sox. He signed a $9.75 million, two-year deal with Boston. "They came out swinging against Mujica," Boston manager John Farrell said. "Knowing hes been in the National League Central, theyre familiar with him. At the same time, Edwards had a lot of success against that lineup. Mislocated a couple of balls, and he paid for it." Ryan Braun was 0 for 5 and was booed each time he came to the plate in his first road game following his 65-game suspension last season. Foour days earlier, home fans applauded the 2011 NL MVP loudly during Milwaukees season opener. Danuel House Jersey. . "I certainly wasnt anticipating a reception like I got in Milwaukee," Braun said. "Ive had plenty of experience dealing with it and I think regardless of how challenging anything is, the more you deal with it, the easier it becomes to deal with." Bostons winning streak in home openers was tied with Cincinnati (1983-91) for third-longest in major league history and ended behind 11 straight by the New York Yankees (1998-08) and 10 by Pittsburgh (1945-54). "This is a really intimidating place to come," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "The adrenaline that flows in this place is amazing." Brandon Kintzler (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win, and Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth in a non-save situation. Each starter allowed two runs, Marco Estrada in 5 2-3 innings for Milwaukee and Jake Peavy in six innings for Boston. Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead in the second on Jonathan Lucroys first homer of the season and Gomezs two-out, run-scoring single. Boston scored in the bottom half with the help of an error by right fielder Logan Schafer, who misplayed Grady Sizemores single for an error that scored Mike Napoli. Middlebrooks homered in the third. NOTES: Brewers reliever Will Smith allowed two walks with two wild pitches but no runs or hits in 1 1-3 innings. ... New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady attended the game. ... Milwaukee RHP Wily Peralta stumbled and fell as he ran to the third-base line when Brewers players were introduced before the game. "I didnt see him go down but thats what I heard. He had a dirty uniform when he came back," Roenicke said. "Hes fine."... Before the game, there was a moment of silence as a tribute to Lt. Edward J. Walsh and firefighter Michael R. Kennedy. They died last week while battling a fire in a home less than two miles from Fenway Park. ' ' '