Never ceases to amaze me how fast each championship flies by. This was no exception. Still wondering what to make of the finish.

I think I was as surprised as anyone to see Craig Stadler buckle. And Loren Roberts down the stretch with his bunker shots? I never would have imagined.

But no one can say Doyle didn't earn it. The guy, for lack of a better cliche, rose to the occasion. The guy is unbelievably humble and thankful that he's in a position to make the kind of living he does now. What more can be said about him.

This week was special for me for many unsaid reasons. I'll just leave it at that. It will be one of the championships that I'll tuck away in the back of my head, for sure.

It's a little bittersweet, too, knowing that Arnold Palmer is done. Just like that.

But, with the utmost sincerity, I thank everyone who took the time to read the blog and check out the site. It may not have been updated as frequently as I had hoped, but we'll strive to do better. I happen to subscribe to the KLM method (Kan Learn More) off the viewership -- even if I can't spell sometimes.

Next year we hope to add a few more wrinkles. Thanks again.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 09:47 PM

This is too much. Pulled off Stadler and Roberts after the ninth hole. There is just too much movement. I can say that Stadler was not happy with his double bogey on 9 (would you be?). Tossed his putter roughly 15 feet in the direction of his caddie.

Looks like my Norman pick probably won't happen with Doyle safely in the clubhouse.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 05:06 PM

Bruce Lietzke, the 2003 champion, double eagled the par 5 sixth hole. It was the first double eagle in Senior Open history. He holed out from 219 yards with a rescue club.

Wondering how many other double eagles have been made in a USGA Open championship? One. T.C. Chen did it in the first round of the '85 Open at Oakland Hills.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 01:57 PM

Another hole-in-one today, this one by former major league baseball pitcher Rick Rhoden. Nailed his on the 170-yard second, using a 6-iron. It's the 13th in Senior Open history and third in the championship. Somehow Walter Hall's in the second round escaped me. As you'll recall, Curtis Strange -- who said he's quitting golf after missing the cut -- had one in the first round.

Of the 13 holes-in-one in Senior Open history, eight have been scored in the last three years and six in the last two years.

Probably more than you cared to know, but there you have it. I couldn't think this stuff up without the help of a press release, of course.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 12:31 PM

Several observations while being out and about today:

Allen Doyle probably uses the shortest clubs relative to his height. He said he likes them that way because he feels like he has more control over the ball. He also may have one of the more stranger swings. Most of the time he goes three-quarters of the way back. But, hey, he gets the job done and he's a heck of a nice guy.

My dad commented to me recently that he's a fan of Doyle's because he can remember Doyle thanking the gallery for allowing him to play after a victory.

Doyle had an exciting par save on No. 9. Drained a 51-footer.

Always like listening to photographers out on the course. Can hear them chatter about lighting issues and what holes are starting to show shadows. Or, when talking to them directly, they'll explain the lighting isn't that good when it's a bright, sunny day.

Sometimes when I see Craig Stadler miss a short putt, or hit an errant drive, I just want to not cross paths with him. The look on his face says a million words. Like, 'I am not happy right now.' You almost expect to see him put one of his clubs in orbit.

Have to believe Loren Roberts is running on adrenaline after his hospital visit the other night for a kidney stone, which passed at 3 a.m. Friday. He got to sleep, he said, around 3:30 a.m., then woke up two hours later for his tee time.

Still think Greg Norman will factor in this until the end. Don't know why. Just do.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 08:34 PM

Well, Greg Norman's eagle certainly puts an uncertainty in the coverage plans. The thought was to walk with Watson and Roberts, but that looks like it'll change a little bit. May have to walk with them a few holes while keeping an eye on Norman.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 02:26 PM

Just sitting here waiting for the leaders to go out later. Having assigned myself the game story to write, there's not much of a need to walk all over the course. I'm paying attention, but will really lock in around the guys who are at 2 under and lower.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 11:36 AM

Some of the best quips today didn't make into stories. The first comes via Fuzzy Zoeller, who missed the cut. While waiting on the 15th teeing ground, Zoeller and Brad Bryant were having a light-hearted conversation. Bryant, who also missed the cut, said that "Plan B is working better than Plan A."

To which Zoeller said: "Kick the [ball] in. All I want to see is a score. I don't care how you get it in there."

But the best belonged to Arnold Palmer. Asked why he played this year, he said for three reasons: No. 1, because the USGA wanted him to; No. 2, as a favor to local dignitaries who wanted him to play. And the third reason? Jack Nicklaus.

"Jack the other night had his little night off, and as I said to him, he went fishing and I came here and sweated my [butt] off. That means he's just a little smarter than I am."

Palmer was referring to a dinner that many players attended in honor of Nicklaus, who served as honorary chairman this week. The next day Nicklaus headed to Iceland to go salmon fishing.

Here's to Terry Florence. Needing to at least par his final hole, the 18th, to make the cut, Florence did just that. Talk about pressure.

Always find it interesting to see travel information taped to the lockers of players who don't make the cut. I realize it's a necessity, but for the guys on the bubble, that's the last thing they want to see.

Talk about a treat. In the players' dining, they have a hard, scooped ice cream freezer. Several flavors are featured. Couldn't tell you because I couldn't get close enough as I chased Tom Jenkins for a couple of quotes.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 08:07 PM

Each year he comes, does his duty and entertains the fans. He's always positive, always patient, always signing his name. And each year there's always something inside me that says, 'This ain't it. He'll be back. He'll play because he wants to.'

But this time that feeling isn't there any longer. It's the end for Arnold Palmer. He's said the same in the past. This time, this is it. he said so a few minutes ago.

He walked up the 18th green, donning his cap for a gallery that gave him a standing ovation. He's been a ceremonial golfer probably since the mid-1990s. He's known it, but he would never disappoint those who get a thrill out of seeing him.

After two-putting his 6-footer on the 18th green, he bowed three times toward the gallery.

Then the legend walked away from competitive golf. Forever.

Farewell. The game will miss you.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 06:01 PM

Not quite sure what to make of the scores. They are a bit low. A marshall remarked yesterday that he thought the winner would shoot around 16 under. I told him it probably won't get that low, because the USGA will change the hole locations. On top of that, the course is going to get firmer from all the sunshine. As I write this, Roberts and Levi stand at 8 under. We'll see ......

Yesterday had a fan of the site e-mail me asking what an ace was. It's a hole-in-one. My apologies for writing in lingo-ese.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 11:20 AM

Feels like a meat locker about now. The media center air conditioning unit has been a little erratic. Right now it's set for about 50. What's it have to do with golf, you say? Hard to type on deadline when the fingers are frozen.

It is nice of the thermostat freaks to turn the thing off when players walk in.

Stadler thought: there is no one on any tour who plays faster than this guy. Guy never waggles over ball, nor does he take time. Gets up and hits and that's that. Many a player should take note.

A huge hockey fan, he spoke afterward one-on-one about the state of the NHL. Just proves that there's more to golf with some of these guys, as much as they play.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 09:08 PM

Observations from the course.

Walking with Greg Norman's group, which featured Mark James and Jerry Pate as well, I've never heard so much "Please stand stills" from caddies. Pate's caddie, Chris Frame, probably averaged a couple of those on every hole. It made Tiger Woods' caddie, Stevie Williams, seem timid.

After sticking his approach shot to 3 feet of the hole on 15, Norman marked the ball and tossed it toward his caddie, David Renwick. The moment was for the 'Caddie Bloopers' in a store near you soon. Norman tossed the ball wayward, Renwick reached, but it bounded down the front slope of the green. Both laughed.

Wherever he goes, Palmer draws a crowd. He knows he's not as competitive as he used to be, so it's rather nice to see him mix with the gallery while he plays. Always has a positive word for everyone.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 03:48 PM

One of the toughest parts of covering a championship is when the leaderboard fluctuates all over the place. Such was the case earlier. At one point, Gilder, Davis, Norman, Mast and a couple others were crammed near the top.

Unlike many other writers, I choose to be on the course because you never know what insight you'll pick up. Television won't do that for you. Fortunately, after watching Arnold Palmer a couple of holes, I guessed right, heading to Norman who was on the 12th hole.

Got lucky. Just worked out in my favor. Doesn't always happen.

Face in the crowd: NHL legend Scotty Bowman. He's working as a scoring supervisor this week. He walked with Palmer this morning. Largely unnoticed, one fan jumped in his path and blurted out, "Thanks for memories, Scotty."

Bowman simply smiled and thanked the fan back.

Overheard: someone in the gallery yelled out, "You're still the man, Fuzzy!" To which Zoeller replied, "I'm here with the Great White Shark, but yep, I'm still the man," bringing laughter all around.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 01:36 PM

And we have our first ace. Curtis Strange on the 202-yard 13th.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 09:23 AM

.... to tee off. Interesting to listen to Greg Norman today. The guy is very well spoken and seems to have his ducks in a row.

Even a few months removed from back surgery, he intends to win. Now, saying it and doing are two completely different things. But he's intent on playing in next year's U.S. Open, figuring this would be the lesser of all the available evils to do it.

Four guys I could listen to talk golf all day: Hale Irwin, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman and Fuzzy Zoeller. Irwin and Palmer for their take on the state of the game, how to act and professionalism. Norman for simply being well-spoken and his take on things, and Zoeller for his humor. The guy has more punchlines than many others on either tour.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 06:46 PM

Bleary day today at NCR. After a torrid heat stretch, Mother Nature decided to play nice. It's cool(er) but rainy. Players are out in full force, but today is a day where they'll maybe only play nine.

It's a different atmosphere because many of the players are staying in the same hotel. It's unlike the U.S. Open, where a bunch of the name players rent homes. They prefer their privacy. It's hard not to walk down a hallway or through the lobby here and not run into someone.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 10:33 AM

Reason 1,000,115 why Arnold Palmer is so beloved: without much of a warmup, he went to the first tee and proceeded to take five drives. He quipped to all, "One of these will go straight."

John Jacobs, in his group, missed the fairway on his drive and said that he at least warmed up, unlike Palmer.

Funny back-and-forth between a young fan and Palmer. The kid, about 12, was holding a pro-Palmer sign when The King of Golf walked over. Palmer asked the kid if he even knew who he was. The kid, a bit in awe, said his grandfather put him up to it, bringing a huge laugh.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 03:07 PM

Today is the first of two 'interview' days. This is where the USGA sets up formal interviews with players, instead of making reporters chase all over the place for them. On tap we have Tom Watson, Mike Reid, Raymond Floyd, Peter Jacobsen and Arnold Palmer. Doesn't matter what he's done lately but Palmer always receives the most attention.

Tomorrow we have Loren Roberts, Dana Quigley and Greg Norman. Hale Irwin may even come in, but we'll see.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 11:39 AM

It's hard to believe anyone, let alone some guys close to 70, putting a full 18 today. It is hot. And by hot I mean humid I-look-like-I-just-got-out-of-the-swimming-pool hot. There were very few players I saw who didn't look like they could have used a clothes change.

The heat index topped out at 114 today. Standing on a fairway felt like 214 degrees. But the day is not over yet. On a personal note, it's a different kind of heat after arriving from another championship held in Boise, Idaho, last week. There it was a dry heat that routinely went past the 100-degree mark. Still, hot is hot, humidity or not.

Raymond Floyd received the most attention today among the gallery. Some followed him around the course.

Not everyone in the field has arrived yet of course. Of course meaning that some were stranggling in from the British Senior Open. Tom Watson, who won, was seen in a nearby hotel lobby late last night. That's dedication.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 04:29 PM

Welcome to the U.S. Senior Open blog, where (as 1986 champion Dale Douglass said today) everything hurts.

On a more serious note, as we did at the U.S. Open and Women's Open, we will be blogging about anything golf and anything ancillary to the championship. Normally you'll find little nuggets of information that otherwise wouldn't make it into story format. We'll try to be consistent in our updating, but also attempt to keep it interesting.

To quote Jackie Gleason ... away we go.

Posted by Ken Klavon at 02:05 PM