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to the left, making for a more aesthetically pleasing approach shot. Another new wrin- kle is a small tee box crammed between the 9th green and Carmel Beach. Depending on the wind, it could turn the 10th hole into a thrillingly drivable par-4. But the USGA is concerned about on-course congestion and has not committed to using the new tee box during the tournament. "We'll have to wait and see," says USGA Executive Director Mike Davis, trying to suppress a smile. "It could be great fun." All courses evolve over time, but Pebble Beach remains largely the same test since it was when it enjoyed its national debut with the 1929 U.S. Amateur. (Bobby Jones, a year before he won the Grand Slam, famously lost in the first round and, with time to kill, had a meeting of the minds down the road at Cypress Point with Alister MacKenzie, which led to their collaboration at Augusta National.) For its first Open, in 1972, the USGA was so concerned about protect- ing Pebble's reputation it trucked in sand from Del Monte Beach in Monterey to make the bunkers deeper and fluffier and harder to solve. Before the final round, the already wind-baked greens were rolled and triple-cut, leading Jack Nicklaus to ask USGA executive P.J. Boatwright, "What'd you do with all the grass?" Even so, the dean of golf writers, Dan Jenkins, pronounced that Open to be "the most glamorous thing that's happened to golf since beltless slacks." Thankfully, fashion has moved on since then, but Pebble retains its timeless allure. Can Woods or Mickelson turn back the clock? Will a younger star usher in a new era? There are so many delicious scenarios heading into this U.S. Open, but only one thing is certain: Pebble Beach will deliver the right champion, as it always does. The 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach takes place June 10-16. For more information, go to www.pebblebeach.com. 164 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 Woods was overwhelming in victory in 2000. Can he summon similar magic 19 years later? Gardner& Associates I N T E R I O R D E S I G N 2 6 0 3 7 A t h e r t o n D r i v e , C a r m e l , C a l i f o r n i a 9 3 9 2 3 ( 8 3 1 ) 5 9 5 - 4 4 9 6 | g a r d n e r i n t e r i o r d e s i g n . c o m Jericho Construction Ron Bird Photography Photo: Pebble Beach Company