"It was Saturday, and I think he just came into town. I don't think anyone knew it was him. I asked him what he would like to drink, and my eyes went straight to his eyes and I thought, 'Oh my God, Phil Mickelson!'"

	From left, Karen Cotullo, Tanya Toth and Rose Henry, owner of What's Cooking At Casey's in Oakmont, display a plate signed by golf star Phil Mickelson. Click photo for larger image.

Karen Cotullo has been a waitress for 20 years, but her most memorable day came last week. She was working the lunch shift at What's Cooking at Casey's, a casual Oakmont dining spot, when the famous golfer walked in with two companions. They took the booth in the back and ordered meatball hoagies.

"We had decided in the kitchen to leave them alone and let them have a nice lunch. They only ate half of their hoagies and wanted the other halves wrapped to go to take up to their house," Ms. Cotullo remembers. Away from the table, she was wondering how to ask for an autograph.

"I had a pen ready, a permanent marker and Rose [Henry], the owner, wanted to have a plate signed so we got a nice oval one. I had an old caddy jacket, and we had some other Oakmont things. Tanya [Toth], who is our hostess during the day, has a son in Iraq. She had a picture of Steve with his group, and she's so upset because he's in Iraq and he was supposed to be home in June. He was extended until December, and every day is so hard for her. Anyway, they were getting ready to leave, and he was so sweet I wasn't afraid to ask. I said 'Is there any chance for an autograph today?' He said, 'Yeah, I'll give you an autograph' and when I told him about Tanya he said 'Absolutely.' He turned the picture over and wrote 'Steve, thank you for all you do.'"

By this point Cotullo admits she was so excited she sat down next to Mickelson in the booth. The nice oval plate for Rose was right there. "He signed the most beautiful signature on that dinner plate you ever want to see. He must have had a practice line underneath because it was so straight."

Mickelson signed the caddy jacket and a few other things and rose to leave. He placed a folded bill in Cotullo's hand and thanked her for the great service. "I said 'You're welcome and I hope you have a great week.' I didn't ask him about his wrist or anything. After he left, I looked at my money. It was the first $100 tip I ever got."

Tracking Tiger
The name fits. Tiger Woods is as elusive as any jungle predator. He covers his tracks, disappears behind trees and gets lost in a network of rumors. But somewhere in there is the truth, the answer to the question that has taken on the air of an urban myth. Tiger Woods is sleeping where?

It began long before he arrived. Tiger Woods supposedly had rented several glorious homes in Fox Chapel, including Damian Soffer's for $50,000. When he finally came to town and was sighted working out at Alexander's gym in Harmar, the trail got hot. Tiger was definitely in Fox Chapel. He had rented Chip Ganassi's house for $100,000 because it had a heliport so he could fly to the Open. He also imported all his own furniture (which Mr. Ganassi's designer would not be happy to hear). The truth is Mr. Ganassi is really, really rich and is the kind of guy who would never charge anyone to be a guest in his home.

OK then, Tiger Woods is staying in Oakmont. And he actually bought a house just for the week -- pocket change for Tiger. He is staying in the condos across from the club. He has taken over the Inn at Oakmont and redone the decor. He's within walking distance of the course, which is why he leaves every day in a golf cart instead of a shiny new Lexus like the other players. He is living in a garage, albeit a fancy carriage house like the one in Joe Massaro's backyard. He's hiding on the Norfolk Southern presidential train that's parked on the main drag in Oakmont, the one candidates use to traverse the country and Norfolk Southern executives are using as a hotel during the Open. Was that Tiger at Bob Ford's house? Didn't he rent just down the street? Doesn't he have a room in the clubhouse? Where Tiger is staying is the best-kept secret in town, and we're not about to spill the beans, at least for now ...

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Correction/Clarification: (Published June 16, 2007) A photo caption accompanying this story on June 15, 2007 on Phil Mickelson signing autographs at What's Cooking at Casey's in Oakmont reversed the identifications of two women in the photo. At the left was Karen Cotullo, and Tanya Toth was in the middle.