A Good Walk, Spoiled?

Golf Digest is sponsoring a competition around the time of the U.S. Open that is just brilliant. They're having three celebrity and one unknown single-digit handicap golfer play the prepped-for-the-U.S.-Open layout at Torrey Pines within the next week. The three celebrities are Justin Timberlake, Matt Lauer and Tony Romo. The purpose will be to show just how tough a U.S. Open course is.

The general consensus is that with a gallery, TV cameras and U.S. open greens and rough, these guys won't break 100. If they don't, what the exercise will show us is how great the average PGA touring professional is at his craft and how tough a U.S. Open course is. The match will be shown on June 15, before the final round of the U.S. Open.

Yes, the three celebrities are used to performing -- Timberlake in front of screaming gaggles of young girls, Lauer in front of a camera and nationwide audience, and Romo in front of full stadiums of people devoted to the pagan religion known as American football. Does that mean, then, that they won't succumb to the overall pressue of U.S. Open conditions -- becase they're high-profile pros at something else. Then there's the true amateur, Jon Atkinson. How will he fare?

The whole concept is pretty cool, and I thank the Mikes on ESPN Radio for highlighting this competion for me this morning on the drive to work. Most of us are not single-digit handicappers, but still it will be fun to see how this foursome fares.