The mini-crisis, if you want to call it that, has taken a much-bigger-than-it-should life of its own in the past week.

Like with any slight tremor felt, everyone expects an earthquake to follow – all leading to the supposed uncertainty of the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place.

Ever since it was announced in the winter of 2007 that Chambers Bay had been awarded the 2015 U.S. Open by the United States Golf Association, unfounded rumors have cropped up, all stating that, “if this doesn’t happen, or that doesn’t happen” – golf’s top governing body will renege on its agreement.

A clubhouse? Yeah, it would be nice one is built by the next century. But it hasn’t been, or never will be a deal-killer.

Not enough hotels for 70,000 patrons? Golf fans would stay in Aberdeen if it meant not missing one moment of the most stringent test in the sport.

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Every week on the PGA Tour, Puyallup’s Ryan Moore is a pitchman – whether it’s about golf (he still lurks around the top 50), or fashion (including his new line of shoes) or even about technology (loves his new iPad) – in pro-am rounds before a tournament begins.

In other words, you don’t schoomze – you ultimately lose.

As one of the co-hosts of the upcoming U.S. Amateur, Moore – the 2004 winner – was at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place on Tuesday, promoting the product the world is waiting to see debut this August.

His itinerary:

• Moore arrived early to film a commercial about the championship with Mike Gregoire, the husband of Governor Chris Gregoire.

• He saw the new driving range on the south side of the property, then played nine holes each with two groups of sponsors (including a News Tribune/Olympian group with publishers David Zeeck and George Le Masurier).

• Moore signed more than a few autographs to be shipped out.

• He filmed a video diary to be aired around the time of the championship.

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University of Washington senior Nick Taylor came in to the 2009 as the No. 1 ranked amateur in the world.

And he then proceeded to take the No. 1 seed from stroke play all
the way to the 36-hole championship finals Saturday against left-hander
Brad Benjamin.

From there, Benjamin did the rest, rocking Taylor, 7-and-6, in the finals at the Jimmmie Austion OU Golf Club in Norman, Okla.

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Mike Davis, the United States Golf Association’s championship guru
who isn’t afraid to ruffle a few feathers with bold setup moves, might
be considering one for the age for the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay
Golf Course in University Place.

Changing a hole’s par during a tournament.

Huh?

That is what he told Associated Press reporter Doug Ferguson over the weekend in a telephone interview.

“One thing I’m absolutely positive we’ll do in the future, perhaps
in 2015 at Chambers Bay, is play a hole certain days as a par 4, and
certain days …

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This week: Nationwide Tour’s Athens Regional Foundation Classic, Thursday through Sunday, Jennings Mill Country Club, Athens, Ga.

Fourth-round score: 3-over-par 75.

Position: Putnam (2-under 286) finished tied for 39th, 12 strokes behind winner Patrick Sheehan.

Recap: Too many bogeys made by the Tacoma golfer –
his 14 were tied for first in the field. Putnam opened with an eagle on
the par-5 second to get to 7-under for the tournament, and within
earshot of the lead before suffering four bogeys and a double bogey on
the par-4 ninth.

Next: South Georgia Classic starting Thursday at Kinderlou …

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Talked to a few parties in the last few weeks about the standing of
Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place for the 2010 U.S. Amateur,
and 2015 U.S. Open.

The USGA, including champions director Mike Davis, came out to visit
the 18-month-old course in September, and reaffirmed changes he wants
to see completed for the U.S. Am, which is only 19 months away.

Also, I got out and played The Home Course in Dupont, the No. 2
course for the U.S. Am, and saw a couple new tee areas shaped out.
We’re only …

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This week: PGA Tour’s Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, Thursday through Sunday, TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nev.

Second-round score: 8-under-par 64.

Position: Moore (14-under 130) is tied for seventh, four strokes behind co-leaders Matt Kuchar and Marc Turnesa (126).

Recap: The home turf for Moore, the former UNLV
All-American, is proving valuable. The Puyallup native shot his first
bogey-free round of 2008, rolling in eight birdies to move into
contention. And he’s sporting a new look this week – wearing a plush
headband. “I just, you know, want to keep people on their toes …

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This week: Nationwide Tour’s Chattanooga Classic, Thursday through Sunday, Black Creek Club, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Second-round score: 10-under-par 62.

Position: Putnam (13-under 131) is tied for eighth, six strokes behind leader Webb Simpson (125).

Recap: Quite possibly the Tacoma native’s best
round of his career (six birdies, two eagles, no bogeys). From a
scoring standpoint, the 62 is his best ever, and it was exactly what
the Life Christian Academy graduate needed – he moved up 49 spots on
the leaderboard. “I hit the ball really well, and have for the last
four or five weeks,” …

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