T.J.'s Take: Torrey Pines paints quite a picture

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LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Something was different about going to work to write the column this week. For starters, instead of rolling out of bed in shorts and a t-shirt and walking over to the computer, I actually had to shower and change into some decent clothes first.

T.J. Auclair

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Looking outside the window was different, too. This week I've traded snow-covered pine trees in the Northeast for sun-covered palm trees in Southern California, gathered up my laptop and jumped into a rental car to drive a few miles to one of the most breathtaking venues on the PGA TOUR schedule -- Torrey Pines.

Lucky us, we get to visit Torrey Pines twice this year. Along with this week's Buick Invitational, the course will also host the U.S. Open in June.

It is a little cooler than I had hoped, but 60 degrees in La Jolla sure beats 3 degrees in Rhode Island. So here I am in the lobby of the Hilton hotel at Torrey Pines. Looking through the panoramic windows I have a splendid view of the resort pool (save the lone patron, a confident man in his 50s with a horrendous black Speedo), a couple of pristine, green fairways and off in the distance the Pacific Ocean, with the occasional paraglider floating by.

Aside from the sunshine, the palm trees and the overall absence of snow, another thing that made me realize I was someplace different was the sleek, green Aston Martin parked just outside the media tent with the California license plate "GRN JKT" -- it sure was a lot cooler than the maroon Impala I'm driving for the week, even if I did upgrade to get the portable navigation option. Indeed, Phil Mickelson -- a California resident -- is making his 2008 debut this week and he is a two-time Masters champion. Was that Aston Martin his? Perhaps. But how could it be? We all know he drives a Ford.

Another player coming out of hibernation this week is Tiger Woods. Over the years, Woods has made it a point to start the season at Torrey Pines and can you really knock him for doing so? After all, Tiger has won at Torrey Pines five times on the PGA TOUR, including the last three in succession.

Phil hasn't exactly been a slouch at Torrey Pines either. He's got three wins, including back-to-back in 2000-01.

What does this week have in store? Unfortunately the forecast is calling for quite a bit of rain early in the week, but other than that you can bet it's going to be exciting. It always is at Torrey Pines.

As is usually the case, you can expect players to rip it up on the North Course, much like then-rookie Brandt Snedeker did last year with a phenomenal 61. The South Course will play much more difficult, which you'd expect of a course that's going to host our national championship.

Surely the conditions will be far different in June for the U.S. Open than they are here in January for the Buick Invitational, but chances are you won't get any complaints from the players who get to have a rare look at a regular TOUR stop before playing the same course in a major the same year. While they'll be doing some scouting and some homework, there's no question every player in the field wants to add his name to the list of Buick Invitational champions, which along with Woods and Mickelson includes Davis Love III, Tom Watson, Mark O'Meara, Jose Maria Olazabal, Bruce Lietzke, Jay Haas and Johnny Miller.

If you are stuck in a cold place this weekend, bundle up, get cozy by the fire and enjoy watching the golf at Torrey Pines.

Trust me; it's even better in person than it looks on TV. And, if you get the chance, can you swing by my mother's house to shovel the snow off the sidewalks? I'll be busy walking the fairways.