This was as compelling a U.S. Open week than I can ever remember and I remember a whole bunch of them. Let me touch on some of them.
Tiger Woods weekend failure. We are not used to this from Tiger but then this is the newest version of Tiger and its ugly head of bogeys waggled down the winding terrain of Olympic Club. Do I dare ask, “can he catch Jack”—it seems so far off in the distance doesn’t it!
Phil Mickelson, looking for lack of another thought uneasy. Phil just did not ever look like the Phil we know when it comes to majors—always pursuing with Bones appropriate actions on the course but not this week—hopefully soon—I miss that Phil.
Casey Martin—returning to the U.S. Open same place 14 years removed and alas new dreams have taken hold for Casey who’s right leg seems just to go with him for the ride. It breaks your heart to see him struggle just to walk—I say “Go Ducks”.
Beau Hossler—stop it—a 17 year old with braces all over his teeth just finishing up his Junior year in high school is leading the Open midway through the second round—stop that nonsense—but it was true and it was mouth watering—I love the kid, he was polished on and off the course—his interviews were splendid to the point he might teach a few touring pros how to interact with the media. I say Go Beau!!
Dennis Miller—the 42 year old teaching pro who sectional qualified in Columbus and played the first two days missing the cut—his story was compelling because he tried a dozen others years to go to the Open without success—he has the story of a lifetime—he made it and over 8,700 other didn’t—nice going Dennis!!
Jack Fleck—Mr. Fleck is the 1955 Open champion at Olympic—he is 90 years old plays golf all the time and is the oldest living U.S. Open Champion—he was at Olympic all week and played a prominent part in the trophy ceremony Sunday with Webb Simpson and Billy Casper. Ironic sidebar—Fleck played the par 3 at Augusta this year with none other than Webb Simpson—some things in life are indeed meant to happen!!!!!!
Speaking of Billy Casper—the 1966 Champion of the Open at Olympic was there like Fleck all week basking in the glory of the attention he is now getting that frankly he did not get while he was playing. The fact that Billy could flat out play and better than virtually anyone during a 15 year span is not up for conjecture—51 tour titles, 3 majors and Ryder Cup success—more than all of that a true gentleman and looking fabulous at 80 years of age.
This was as memorable an Open as I can remember—right there with Payne Stewart’s win at Pinehurst in ’99, and Tiger’s duel with Rocco at Torrey Pines in 2008. It did lack a perfect last hole of the tournament ending but the immense number of storylines put it right up there for me.