What does Pebble Beach have in store?

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Much has been made of the beauty, the majesty, the history and the quality of Pebble Beach Golf Links. In the runup to today's first round of the US Open, both players and media have been effusive in their praise of the golf course and setup. An increasing number of voices have joined the chorus calling for Pebble to be the semi-permanent home of the National Open, with the tournament returning every five years in much the same way the British Open returns to St. Andrews twice per decade. At least for now, the USGA is not prepared to take that step. However, it has announced that the Open will return in 2019 to coincide with Pebble's 100 year anniversary.

Over the years Pebble has provided several of the game's most enduring images and most memorable and historic tournaments. Nicklaus won the Amateur there in 1961 and the Open in 1972; Watson's chip-in on 17 in 1982 is one of the most memorable shots in the history of the game and it propelled him to an exciting victory over the hard-charging Nicklaus; Woods' 15 shot victory in 2000 was the most dominant championship performance in the modern era. Dramatic events and historic moments seem drawn to Pebble.

But not every championship has been epic. In the highly anticipated Amateur of 1929, Bobby Jones won the qualifying medal only to be upset in the first round of matches by Johnny Goodman. In the 1992 Open a largely pedestrian leaderboard and insanely difficult conditions on Sunday made Tom Kite's victory seem rather dull. Ditto 2000. Tiger's romp was historic but hardly compelling. The tournament was over on Saturday morning and Sunday was utterly devoid of drama.

This year Pebble needs to produce magic. Since Mickelson's win at Augusta in April, the professional game has been, in a word, boring. Rory McIlroy's coming out party at Quail Hollow was a joy to behold, but other memorable moments escape me. The PGA Tour has been too long on TPCs and too short on characters and character. Increasingly I find myself agreeing with the critics of the game who I always believed just didn't get it. Now either I am not getting it or there is truly little to get.

Maybe Virginia's wacky weather has something to do with it. The oddly debilitating and snowy winter left scars that could not heal in a too short springtime that has ended in an oppressive heat wave that suggests a summer of discontent and discomfort. Or maybe the oil spills, the natural disaster in the Gulf and the national disaster in Washington, are to blame. But there is a malaise that has settled on the country, on the game and on my psyche, and I need Pebble Beach and the US Open to puncture it and kickstart what should be a memorable summer golf season. The Old Course will do its part in July, Whistling Straits in August has geat promise, and the Ryder Cup awaits in autumn. But this week the stage is set on the edge of Carmel Bay and more than ever before Pebble Beach Golf Links needs to work its magic.