ELMSFORD, N.Y. (June 16, 2009) — Former Met Open (2003) and Met Amateur champion (2004) Andrew Svoboda of Larchmont, N.Y., has been working hard on his game since finding out last Friday that he was officially in the U.S. Open field. Today, he took his preparation to a whole new level, playing nine holes with defending U.S. Open champion Tiger Woods. Svoboda and Woods teed off at 7:00 a.m. on the 10th hole, about the farthest point from the clubhouse as you can get, and finished in front of a large crowd at the 18th hole grandstand.

   “I just signed up to play with him,” Svoboda said afterward on the range. “It was great.” There wasn’t much talking between the pair, as they were both intent on having their games ready for what is shaping up to be a colossal test of golf, especially with the soggy conditions in the forecast.

   “The course is playing really long,” added Svoboda. “I’m actually putting an extra hybrid club in my bag because I’m going to have plenty of 220, 230-yard approaches into the greens out there.” Svoboda is paired with Steve Stricker and Henrik Stenson, and tees off at 7:44 a.m. on Thursday for the first round.

   Creek Club head professional Sean Farren is playing in his first U.S. Open and has also been putting in plenty of practice time. “I’ve been out here every day,” he said on the driving range this morning. “I played 18 holes both Saturday and Sunday, and again yesterday.” Farren, who made it through sectional qualifying in Purchase, N.Y., last week, was hoping for firm and fast conditions like many of the shorter hitters, but it’s not looking like that will be the case.

   “It is awfully long,” said Farren. “But the rough is playable. It’s fair. I already took my 4-iron out and put another hybrid in, just to get some elevation into the greens.” Farren is out playing with Jim Furyk today—“which is great because he’s a huge Pittsburgh fan,” he said—and is playing with Zach Johnson tomorrow.

   The most experienced Open competitor among the Met Area favorites is Connecticut native J.J. Henry, who is playing in his fifth U.S. Open. However, he joked, “the last time I played Bethpage was the [1994] Ike Championship! It was a little different back then before they made all the changes.”

   Henry is looking to improve on his Open record (best finish, t-26 in 2007 at Oakmont). “For me it’s all mental. Playing on Tour now for nine years, I know what to expect. Obviously growing up here in the Met Area and coming back here to play is special. I’m looking forward to it, for sure.”