Trees are biggest obstacle at U.S. Senior Open

Corey Pavin's thought process was sound. His execution was a little off.

Standing in the middle of the 11th fairway on Tuesday morning, Pavin decided to take the two mammoth fir trees creating field goal uprights in front of the green out of play. Hitting a low, stinging fairway wood could keep the ball under the tree limbs and leave a reasonable pitch on the long par-5.

Five shots later, Pavin finally had a shot that wasn't engulfed by one of the giant trees at Sahalee Country Club.

"What am I supposed to do?" Pavin pondered with a laugh.

Avoiding the thousands of trees framing the fairways of Sahalee is a good first move.

After two weeks of playing links golf in Scotland -- first at the British Open and then the Senior British Open last week at Carnoustie -- the USGA could not have picked a more stark contrast for the players in this week's U.S. Senior Open.

Small shrubs and fescue grass is gone, replaced by lush, damp, emerald green rough and trees that create a sense of claustrophobia.

A CUT ABOVE: Good thing for Carl Pettersson that the PGA Tour amended its cut policy two years ago.

Pettersson was among those who put in writing his opposition to the tour's new cut rule at the start of the 2008 season. In an effort to avoid two-tee starts and 51/2-hour rounds on the weekend, the tour changed its policy from the top 70 and ties to the nearest number of players to 70th place whenever more than 78 players made the cut.

The policy was changed a short time later to include a 54-hole cut when more than 78 players qualified for the weekend. Two years later, that change enabled Pettersson to keep playing at the Canadian Open, where he made the cut on the number Friday, shot 60 on Saturday and closed with 67 to win on Sunday.

"I would have missed the cut," Pettersson said. "Now they have the Saturday cut instead, which ... I really don't see the point of it. But I guess it helps people get around quicker."

Pettersson still doesn't like the amended rule.

BEEM'S BACK: Rich Beem will return to the PGA Tour at Whistling Straits for the PGA Championship.

He just won't have his golf clubs with him.

Beem, who had back surgery in April, said he will be doing some work for TNT Sports during the PGA Championship, where he also will attend the champions dinner. He won at Hazeltine in 2002.

As for his golf? Beem plans to play about three Nationwide Tour events after the PGA Championship to see where his game is.

CELL PHONE-FRIENDLY: Fans will be able to bring their cell phones onto the course at August's Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C.

Tournament officials said they would allow fans to use mobile phones at Sedgefield Country Club -- as long as the devices are kept in silent mode and calls are made only in designated areas around the course. Also, fans won't be allowed to take pictures or video during the four competitive rounds.