Still Many Places Woods Hasn't Played

Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the Par-3 16th hole in the first round of the 2007 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., in this April 5, 2007 file photo. Woods spent the last two days at Oakmont, the premiere championship golf course in America that had been somewhat of a mystery to him. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File) (Morry Gash - AP)

OAKMONT, Pa. -- Given the stature of Oakmont as the foremost championship course in America, and the status of Tiger Woods as the best player in golf, it seems odd that it took 10 years for these two to get together. It's all about timing _ not to mention location.

Oakmont will host a record eighth U.S. Open in June, the first since 1994 when Woods had just finished high school and the star born at the U.S. Open that summer was a 24-year-old South African named Ernie Els.

And while Woods loves to play recreational golf, he hardly travels anywhere for that.

After his weekend at Oakmont, he now has played every U.S. Open course over the last 25 years.

But there are still places to see.

"Ever been to Merion?" he was asked.

"Never," Woods replied, and he could see where this conversation was headed. "I've never even been to Pine Valley or Seminole."

Pine Valley is annually ranked the best course in the country by some publication, and it was strange Woods has never been in the southern New Jersey area long enough to play it. Jack Nicklaus went there during his honeymoon.

Seminole should be no problem once Woods builds his palace in south Florida. He played Sunday afternoon with Bob Ford, the longtime head pro at Oakmont who spends his winter as the head pro at Seminole. Ford can probably set something up for him.

"I just don't ever go anywhere out of the way to play golf," Woods said. "I'm either at a tournament, or getting ready to play in a tournament and working on my game at home. I love to play, but I'd rather stay home with my buds at Isleworth or Newport Beach."

Merion will host the U.S. Open in 2013, so as long as Woods can qualify that year, he'll eventually get to see the plaque on the 18th fairway _ as he's walking past it to his ball _ where Ben Hogan struck his mighty 1-iron in the final round of the 1950 U.S. Open.

Nicklaus won the first of his 18 majors at Oakmont, and the course lived up to Woods' expectations, with a pleasant surprise visually. The club has removed some 8,000 trees since it last held the U.S. Open, restoring the original terrain. Woods said the openness reminded him of Shinnecock Hills. From a slight rise on the 14th fairway, you can see parts of the every hole on the back nine.