FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — For seven days in June 2002, golf sounded like a Sunday at the Meadowlands when the Jets or Giants are doing well.

"It was just electric the entire week," Tiger Woods said Tuesday of his 2002 U.S. Open experience on Bethpage Black that resulted in his eighth major championship.

He goes for No. 15 starting this morning and among the storylines this week is the unique atmosphere at Bethpage.

While not quite as unique as 2002, the first year the USGA took the Open to a true municipal daily-fee course, players already have seen and heard — mostly heard — things from galleries they're not used to.

Such as advice.

John Feinstein's book about that year's championship — "Open: Inside the Ropes at Bethpage Black" — has an anecdote with a policeman at a security checkpoint asking Scott McCarron about his strategy for the par-3 third hole.

"I realized," McCarron said in the book, "that this had to be the first U.S. Open in history where the cops guarding the golf course had actually played it more often — a lot more often probably — than the players in the event had played it."

Kenny Perry, who lost this year's Masters in a playoff to Angel Cabrera, was reminded of that continually during his Monday practice round.

"Everybody on the course said, 'This is my home course; I play here all the time; let me help you read the greens,' or whatever," Perry said. "It was kind of funny."

Geoff Ogilvy, who won the 2006 Open at Winged Foot, received his share of pointers Tuesday.

"They're not shy," Ogilvy said with a smile. "They'll talk to you and tell you their stories and request that you sign their stuff. A lot of places people are a bit shy and stuff. But not here. It's fun."

And loud.

Veterans of 2002 remembered that more than anything — the noise that washed over the grounds starting that Monday and didn't cease until Sunday when Woods finished his speech in the twilight.

"The energy that was out here, just phenomenal. We'd never seen anything like it," Woods said. "It wasn't just the four rounds we competed in; it was even the practice rounds."

Rocco Mediate finished tied for 37th in 2002 and connected with galleries then, well before his "Everyman vs. Superman" playoff loss to Woods in last year's Open propelled him to cult hero status.

"It's going to be insane," Mediate said. "I love that kind of stuff. A lot of noise. It's going to be nuts. I'll fit right in."

Mediate said Bethpage crowds don't hold back on advice, or anything else.

"They say whatever they feel," Mediate said. "And they don't care who's listening. That's what I like about it. ... They let you have it. They're either with you or they're against you."

Henrik Stenson won this year's Players Championship, but is just as known for stripping to his underwear — and not boxers — to play a shot from deep mud at March's CA Championship at Doral. He referenced the Black Course's warning sign affixed behind the first tee while discussing the crowds.

"I didn't see any signs about the galleries," Stenson said with a laugh. "Maybe that might be the next sign to come up."