Torrey Pines Gets ’08 Open

FAR HILLS, N.J. —  The 2008 U.S. Open was awarded to the South Course at Torrey Pines in La Jolla by the U.S. Golf Assn. on Saturday, pending approval of the San Diego City Council.

It would be the second public course to play host to the tournament. The Black Course at the Bethpage State Park in New York, where this year’s U.S. Open was played, is the only public layout to have been the site of the championship.

Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades was thought to be the other finalist.

The Open has been played in California nine times, most recently at Pebble Beach in 2000. The Open was last played in Southern California in 1948 at Riviera.

Torrey Pines, which uses the South and North courses at its PGA Tour event, was designed by William Bell Sr.