Jeremy, I caught that, too. Is that as critical as he's going to get? Most folks outside of a small circle will never catch the meaning of it, but it was welcome.

I also heard the offending phrase - I am not sure he was being critical, but then I am not sure what he meant at all!

faldo has had a few great contributions on architecture during this weeks broadcast.
Did anybody here his tree thinning comments yesterday?
He was referring to Walton Heath back home who have just completed n extensive clearing up programme.

I saw it last summer, and it really does look nicer.

 Juxtapose it to how Maltbie played the politically correct version on Thurs. & Fri.'s telecasts. Very Hollywood, smooch smooch kind of stuff.

Jeff,
Geoff was indeed on and answered all of the questions presented to him quite nicely. I don't think they were really trying to push any envelopes other then maybe not getting more holes in on Saturday when it got really beautiful for the rest of the day and into evening. They could've finished the 2nd round with plenty of time to spare in that time frame, but it was too late. They had already pulled the plug, which you can't blame them. The forcast had called for really severe rain, and that didn't come until Sunday.

Geoff also talked about surface drainage and how Bell and Thomas utilized it to great perfection at Riviera.

Tommy,
This GolfObserver column from Geoff expands on the comments about what happened during the week at Riviera.
Drainage, yardage, holes 6,8,10, shotlink et al.
http://www.golfobserver.com/features/geoff/geoff_nissannotes.html

Brad Klein,

Can you please explain what Ian and Paul meant and how it was devastating (to Fazio)?  I remember hearing the comments and did not get that at all.  Perhaps Geoff's approach is better.  At least I have no doubt where he stands on the issues.

maybe ZInger and Faldo are closet GCAers.....

Brad,

I was under the impression that there was an alternate fairway there originally, and that it was washed out by one of the floods many years ago.  I also thought that Geoff's primary objections were the plainess of the fairway (lack of ground movement) and the position and shape of the bunker.

I am surprised that Azinger always found the left side fairway so frightning.  My typical miss is pulling it left with a little hook, and I chose the left fairway when I played it last year.  My subsequent shot with a good angle from just short of the faiway bunker was not all that hard.  My playing companion hit it down the right and while his second shot was shorter, I believe that his angle was more difficult.  Of course, that could have been due to the pin position that day.

I've heard contradicting opinions about how to play the hole.  Does anyone know what percentage of the pros hit it to the right fairway?  How about the membership?  I had been told that there is more room to the left, and that it was a better angle.  My partner had heard that most people go right as it is an easier shot of the tee, a bit shorter, and a good angle back over the barranca to the green.

BTW, I found the tee shot on #7 much more difficult and frightening.  I too would prefer a more barren barranca, but that damned long kikuyu is no picnic either.

Lou, I think the percentage of pros who played to the LEFT fairway on #8 last year was zero.  Zip, zilch, nada.

Take a look at the link provided by Pete Pittock above.  It has a hole graphic of where each tee ball was played and what score was made upon holing out.

Good job PP and KR.  I had not seen this shot link previously.  I am surprised that many went left.  One year I think Elkington was the only one.
The problem, Lou, and anyone interested, is the location of the tee.  It was moved when the fairway was "restored."  If you look at the original aerials or Thomas' drawings, the tee was in the middle, creating an option.  Now the tee shot to the left fairway is over or to the left of trees.
Now some will not believe this, but the design plan is for the left fairway to be tents for the US Open.  This has been documented in writing.  I think I and Faldo know what Thomas would think of all of this.  The work on the shape of the new fairway, which drains poorly and creation of the bunker are minor problems to the location of the tee.  So before Lou posts why don't they move the tee, it is because they don't understand, care about options or don't want to lose that possible tent space.