Tiger took it back, then let it rip. The ball soared out of sight smack down the center. A packed grandstand behind him applauded its approval.

He did it again, and again, and again. After several minutes of this, two men behind me began arguing about whether to move on.

"Come on, let's stay. It's Tiger!"

"So what? What's the big deal?"

"I wanna watch his swing."

"Oh yeah? And what good is that gonna do you?"

My point exactly. If Tiger's Swedish sweetheart had been by his side at the driving range, I might have stayed there all day. Instead, I began my exploration of Bethpage State Park's Black Course, the site of this week's US Open.

Many of Tiger's Tour mates teed it up Tuesday afternoon. One player I missed was great Scotsman Colin Montgomerie. Thousands of fans received "Be Nice To Monty" pins, as part of a Golf Digest campaign to halt the heckling Montgomerie usually receives Stateside. The pins went over about as well as he does, judging by how many I found on the ground.

I found a lot more at Bethpage, too. Such as the Empire Village. And the Trophy Club. And the Champions Pavillion. These corporate hospitality zones alongside some fairways looked more like small villages. I was relegated to the $4.25 For A Hot Dog Club.

The golf was a much better deal. Spectators saw a lot more than they will when the tournament actually begins Thursday, with players often hitting two or three tee shots or approaches per hole. Once each group reached the green, they'd all scatter and balls would begin rolling every which way across the putting surface -- usually nowhere near the hole -- to get a feel for the green.

But I did find some drama, while standing behind the green on the par-3 17th. I was mesmerized watching players I could hardly see airmailing golf balls from 300 yards away and landing them right in front of me. After a few groups played through, Tour veteran Jay Don Blake knocked a tee shot that within inches of being a hole-in-one. The gallery roared, even more so when Blake reached the green and tapped in for birdie. Who said practice rounds don't count?

My round was complete when I got to walk across the 18th fairway. I turned my head, gazed up at the green and the grandstands, and realized this was the same view the leader will see on Sunday -- with several thousand more in the stands.

I bet Tiger will enjoy it, too.

E-mail Kieran Darcy at kieran.d.darcy@espn.com.