Mike Kern

Atlanta Athletic Club has been around in various forms since 1898. The configuration of its Highlands Course was completed in 1970. Six years later the U.S. Open was held there. Since then it has undergone a couple of redesigns by Rees Jones, whose father, Robert Trent Jones Sr., was one of the original architects for what was then a 27-hole complex.

Anyway, that major is remembered for the shot that clinched it, a five-iron out of the rough from 22-year-old Jerry Pate on the 72nd hole from some 190 yards away that had to clear a lake fronting the green. Moments before, third-round leader John Mahaffey had put his approach into the wet stuff. But Pate, the 1974 U.S. Amateur champion, hit it to within a few feet of the cup for a kick-in birdie three and a two-shot victory over 1968 PGA champ Al Geiberger (closing 69) and 1973 British Open champ Tom Weiskopf (68).

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. -- Faith Tanner and her husband Larry had a dream. They were going to travel to every PGA Tour event in a season and work as volunteers. Together. But those plans tragically ended two years ago when Larry was diagnosed with a brain tumor and passed away soon afterward.

Yet Faith wanted something good to come out of it. So she chose to go through with it by herself this year.

PHILADELPHIA -- Justin Rose says Aronimink isn't the kind of layout you can "bully."

He should know. He's the defending champion of the AT&T National, which begins Thursday in Newtown Square, Pa. A year ago the Englishman, who turns 31 at the end of July, had just won his first PGA Tour title a month earlier at the Memorial. Then he came here and shot 10-under-par 270 at Aronimink to win by one over hard-charging Ryan Moore (final-round 65).

"It's a golf course you can't chase scores on," Rose said on a recent teleconference. "It's about keeping the ball (in the proper spots) and really taking your chances when they come. Obviously, if you're playing well you start getting some more looks at it and you can start to take advantage. But if you start trying to find those birdies, then you start making bogeys.

Trying to handicap the preseason Heisman Trophy field:

--Terrelle Pryor, Jr. QB, Ohio State (5-1): He seems to be everyone's favorite. Makes a lot of highlight reels, might need to get Buckeyes into national-title game.

--Mark Ingram, Jr. RB, Alabama (7-1): Won last year, but he might have to put up even better numbers than a year ago. Crimson Tide's offense should be team's strength this time.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Masters was first held in 1934. When the first major of the season tees off in three weeks at Augusta National, it will be the most anticipated Masters ever. Or even the most anticipated major. And there isn't a close second.