Mark Purdy

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- When the U.S. Open golf tournament tees off in June at the Olympic Club, we all know the preferred final day pairing. That would be defending champion Rory McIlroy walking down the 18th fairway alongside Tiger Woods, trophy on the line.

STANFORD, Calif. -- Sunday at Maples Pavilion, we saw a splendid summation of this season's Pac-12 men's basketball competition.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Sidney Crosby is not playing in Thursday night's game at HP Pavilion. His recovery is not quite complete from the concussion he suffered in January. Thus, the Pittsburgh Penguins will play their 55th consecutive regular-season game without the NHL's most famous player.

But rest assured, Crosby's presence will still be felt on the ice. Largely because of him, for example, Douglas Murray has a ridiculously tougher job than he did a year ago.

This week, Tiger Woods will do something he has not done since 1994, the summer before his freshman year at Stanford. He will watch the first round of the U.S. Open on television.

I was thinking about that over the weekend. Mostly, I was thinking about what Woods might be thinking Thursday when, because of a troubling knee injury, golf's national championship begins without him.

Here's one thing I think Woods might be thinking as he fiddles with the remote control: Maybe I shouldn't have played in the 2008 U.S. Open after all.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- Alert the authorities. The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am is in danger of becoming way too much fun on Sunday.

Bill Murray and his partner might win the whole thing.

DETROIT -- It happened late Tuesday night. As the Detroit Red Wings scrambled to match the San Jose Sharks' late-game intensity in another come-from-behind victory, I was surprised to hear my inner voice asking my inner ear the question:

The Tiger Woods mystery trip continues.

He is back on the cart path to competition. Or not. He will return to the PGA Tour later this month. Unless he won't. He is a lock to play in the Masters. Except if he doesn't. Please send your latest Twitter rumor to yourguessisasgoodasmine.