THE FACTS

* When: Today through Sunday.

* Site: Pebble Beach Golf Links.

* The Course: Designed by two amateur players, Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, Pebble Beach opened in 1919. The most notorious stretch of holes is No. 8 through No. 10, which hug the cliffs along the Pacific coastline.

* Length: 6,846 yards.

* Par: 35-36--71.

* Format: 72 holes (18 daily) stroke play.

* The Cut: Top 60 and ties, and anyone within 10 strokes of the lead after 36 holes.

* Playoff, if necessary: 18 holes June 19.

* Field: 156 (148 pros, 8 amateurs).

* Purse: $4.5 million.

* Winners share: $800,000.

* Last year’s champion: Payne Stewart, who died Oct. 25 in a plane crash.

* Last year: At Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina, Stewart closed with an even-par 70 and was the only player to finish under par, at 279. With three one-putts over the last three holes, Stewart defeated Phil Mickelson by one stroke. His 18-foot par putt on the 18th was the longest putt to decide a U.S. Open in its history. Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh tied for third at 281.

* Last time at Pebble: In ferocious winds, Tom Kite closed with an even-par 72 to win his first major championship. He had a three-under 285 for a two-stroke victory over Jeff Sluman. Colin Montgomerie had the low round of the day, a 70, to finish third.

* Changes: No. 2, traditionally a par five, has been converted to a 484-yard par four. The par-three fifth hole was redesigned by Jack Nicklaus in 1998 after Pebble Beach finally bought back the property along the coastline.

* Noteworthy: Nicklaus is the only player to win the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and a U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in the same year.

* Quoteworthy: “We all know what it’s going to be like. The U.S. Open tries for high rough and fast greens and fairways that are very hard. I’ve yet to play in one that didn’t have that.” -- David Duval.

* Former champions at this venue: Nicklaus (‘72), Tom Watson (‘82), Tom Kite (‘92).

* Former champions in the field: Lee Janzen (1993, 1998), Ernie Els (1994, 1997), Steve Jones (1996), Corey Pavin (1995), Kite (1992), Hale Irwin (1974, 1979, 1990), Curtis Strange (1988-89), Watson (1982), Nicklaus (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980).

* Television (all times PDT): today and Friday, noon-2 p.m. (NBC), 2-7:30 p.m. (ESPN). Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (NBC). Monday (if necessary), 9 a.m.-11 a.m. (ESPN), 11 a.m.-conclusion (NBC).