Sudden-death playoff suspended until Monday to settle Singapore Open

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Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano let a four-shot lead slip away on the back nine Sunday.

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Series: European Tour

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Juvic Pagunsan will finish their battle for the Barclays Singapore Open title on Monday morning after bad weather forced the suspension of their sudden-death playoff at Sentosa Golf Club.

Both players had finished tied for the lead on 14 under par, forcing a playoff, and teed off at the par-5 18th for a second time on Sunday, with the young Filipino Pagunsan splitting the fairway and Fernandez-Castano finding the sand.

However, lightning forced the duo off -- and though they returned more than an hour later to both hit lay-ups, thunderstorms returned to call a halt to proceedings for the day.

Anthony Kim produced the round of the day as a 64 that contained eight birdies and a bogey saw the American climb into a share of third on 13 under par. He was joined by Louis Oosthuizen, the South African compiling a fine 65 that included seven birdies and just one dropped shot.

Dutchman Joost Luiten, Danny Lee and Edoardo Molinari all ended 12 under following rounds of 67, 68 and 71 respectively, while James Morrison finished a shot further back in eighth thanks to a 1-over 72.

Justin Rose was tied for ninth on 10 under par after shooting a final round of 69, the Englishman collecting three birdies and a bogey, while Graeme McDowell shot a fine 66 to end 8 under par.

Fernandez-Castano had earlier let slip a four-stroke lead over the final nine holes as he ended with a round of 72.

With the tournament reduced to 54 holes after Saturday's play was ravaged by the weather, the overnight leader entered the final round with a three-shot advantage over Edoardo Molinari. And an eagle, a birdie and a bogey over the front nine on the Serapong Course saw him consolidate his lead, reaching 17 under at the turn to move four clear of the chasing pack.

However, three bogeys coming home as Fernandez-Castano missed a succession of makeable par putts saw the Spaniard's cushion trimmed to one.

Pagunsan then held his nerve to birdie the last with a fine 10-foot putt before Fernandez-Castano found the water off the 18th tee.

However, he brilliantly drained a 20-footer to escape with a five and set up a playoff after Pagunsan had signed off with a 67 that featured five birdies -- including a chip-in at the first -- and one bogey.

"It was a tough day out there -- one of the toughest I have ever had," said Fernandez-Castano. "The heat was brutal and my game was not good.

"I was feeling the pressure because it has been a long time without a victory and I want this one desperately," he explained. "I felt the pressure at the end. My game was just not there, the putter wasn't working and I made it tough for myself but at the very end to make that par on the last made my day.

"Those three pars to finish -- I know this doesn't sound great talking about three pars -- but considering the position I was in, the way I was playing and the way my mind was, it was big challenge and I managed to hang on. "

Pagunsan, who was in danger of losing his Asian Tour card before the event, is looking forward to what will be a $1 million shootout.

"It's going to be more exciting on Monday," said the Filipino. "My confidence is getting stronger and stronger. We are almost the same distance (with the third shot). We don't know what will happen. I don't think it'll be an advantage to play first (as his ball is further from the hole). He's a tough player.

"When I saw the leaderboard on the 17th hole, I was just one shot behind and I told my caddie to give myself a chance to tie the leader on 18. I just tried hard to win," he added. "I hit the third shot from 85 yards over the pin and spun it back. I made a good putt. It was from about six or seven feet.

"It was a nice putt as I saw that Gonzalo's drive was in the water. In my mind, I thought I was going to win, no playoff. But he made the putt also. I'm still here and will wait for a result," he explained. "I'm really happy with how I played. Even if I win or not, I've already saved my card for next year."

Ravens' Key Offseason Dates

Posted Jan 7, 2014

Garrett DowningBaltimoreRavens.com Staff Writer@Ravens All Garrett Downing Articles



Take a look at some of the most important dates over the new few months.


The Ravens are in the unfamiliar position of starting the offseason in early January after missing the playoffs for the first time in six years.

The one benefit to starting the offseason now is that the coaches and scouts have a chance to get a jump on their offseason priorities.

Here are some of the key dates on the calendar for the Ravens over the next few months:

Jan. 25: Senior Bowl, Mobile, Ala.
The offseason pre-draft scouting process kicks into high gear with the top all-star showcase of college football’s seniors. The actual game is a [add] small part of the event, as the week of practice will give Ravens scouts and coaches a chance to get a close look at the pro prospects in action.

Jan. 26: Pro Bowl, Honolulu, Hawaii
Kicker Justin Tucker, right guard Marshal Yanda, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs and defensive tackleHaloti Ngata will get a nice trip to Hawaii to play in the NFL all-star game. The Pro Bowl has gone through a format change this season, as it’s no longer AFC vs. NFC. The players will be separated based on the captains (Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice) picking for two teams, so there’s a chance fans could see Yanda lining up across from Ngata.

Feb. 2: Super Bowl XLVIII, East Rutherford, NJ
The Ravens won’t be playing in the game this year, but some of the players may make the trip up north for the week’s publicity and media coverage.

Feb. 17: Teams can begin using franchise tag
This is the first date that teams can use the franchise tag on unrestricted free agents. The Ravens have a number of key free agents, including tight end Dennis Pitta and left tackle Eugene Monroe, so they could decide to use the tag on one of them if they can’t reach a long-term deal.

Feb. 19-25, National NFL Scouting Combine, Indianapolis
Nearly all of the Ravens’ coaches, scouts and front office personnel will descend upon Indianapolis for a week of scouting all the top players in the country. More than 300 NFL prospects will spend the week in Indianapolis trying to get noticed by pro scouts by putting up impressive numbers in the various drills and on-field workouts. At this year’s combine, the Ravens will also flip a coin with the Dallas Cowboys to determine whether they get the 16th or 17th draft pick.

March 3: Deadline to use franchise tag
Teams must designate the franchise tag by this date, or they will lose their opportunity to use it for the 2014 season.

March 8: Teams can start negotiating with free agents
NFL rules now allow teams to enter into negotiations with free agents three days before they can actually sign new contracts. Before this point, teams are not allowed to have any preliminary negotiations with prospective players or their agents.

March 11: New league year, free agency begins
The free agency signing spree will begin at 4 p.m. The first few days of free agency are typically dominated by the big money deals that the Ravens shy away from giving free agents. Once the initial wave of free agency passes, General Manager Ozzie Newsome has a great track record of finding quality free agents at a discount. Before the start of the new league year, the Ravens also have to give qualifying offers to their restricted free agents to prevent them from then becoming unrestricted.

March 23-26: NFL Owner’s Meetings, Orlando, Fla.
Team owners, head coaches and front office personnel will travel to Orlando for the annual league meetings. At these meetings, owners vote on potential rules changes and discuss other issues around the league. The NFL also announces at the league meetings the number of compensatory picks each team has.

April 21: Voluntary offseason workouts may begin
The Ravens can begin their voluntary offseason conditioning program, which is typically attended by young players in their first contracts. Some veterans also attend, as the Ravens have a history of getting strong attendance during the offseason program.

May 2: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets
This is the final date for teams to sign restricted free agents away from their current club. If the Ravens’ place tenders on their restricted free agents, then the players can wait until this date to sign it and see if they get offers from another team.

May 8-10: NFL Draft, New York City
The NFL Draft has been pushed back by two weeks this year. If they stay put in the first round, the Ravens will have their highest pick since 2006 when they drafted defensive tackle Haloti Ngata No. 12 overall.

Late July: Training Camp Opens
The 2014 season will unofficially begin when training camp opens at the Under Armour Performance Center. Exact dates for training camp have yet to be determined, but last year the Ravens opened camp July 25. The Ravens will enter into training camp this year looking to rebuild the offensive line and get the running game on track.

遼、序盤フラフラも後半はベタピン連発！4アンダー20位タイ発進

2013年10月18日10時15分
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後半にスコアを伸ばし好スタートを切った石川遼(Photo by Scott HalleranGetty Images)






＜シュライナーズ・ホスピタルズ・フォーチルドレン・オープン　初日◇17日◇TPCサマリン(7,223ヤード・パー71)＞

　ネバダ州にあるTPCサマリンを舞台に17日(木)に開幕した、米国男子ツアー第2戦「シュライナーズ・ホスピタルズ・フォーチルドレン・オープン」の初日。石川遼は5バーディ・1ボギーの“67”で回り4アンダーの20位タイと開幕戦に続き上々のスタートを切った。

【関連ニュース】松山英樹がスタート直前に欠場を発表 米ツアー本格参戦2試合目

　INから出た石川は序盤はショットが安定せず、スタートの10番ではいきなりバンカーからバンカーを渡り歩くピンチ。ここはなんとかパーをセーブしたものの、17番パー3ではティショットを池に落としボギーとするなどガマンの展開が続いた。

　それでも、直後の18番で約130ヤードのセカンドをベタピンにつけてバーディを奪うと、ここからショットが復調。5番のバーディを皮切りに6番、7番はいずれもベタピンにつけるスーパーショットを見せて3連続バーディを奪うと、最終9番パー5も見事2オンに成功してバーディを奪ってみせた。

　首位は11アンダーまでスコアを伸ばしたJ・J・ヘンリー(米国)。1打差の2位にはアンドレス・ロメロ(アルゼンチン)、8アンダーの3位タイにはジェームス・ドリスコル(米国)、ジョナサン・バード(米国)、ジェフ・オーバートン(米国)がつけている。松山英樹はスタート直前に疲労からくる胃腸炎のため欠場している。

【初日の順位】
1位：J・J・ヘンリー(-11)
2位：アンドレス・ロメロ(-10)
3位T：ジェームス・ドリスコル(-8)
3位T：ジョナサン・バード(-8)
3位T：ジェフ・オーバートン(-8)
6位：ウェブ・シンプソン(-7)
7位T：スティーブン・エイムス(-6)
7位T：ジョン・センデン(-6)
7位T：ブライス・モルダー(-6)
7位T：スコット・ブラウン(-6)
7位T：ヒース・スローカム(-6)
7位T：チェッソン・ヘッドリー(-6)

20位T：石川遼(-4)他16名

白佳和、親友のアドバイスを胸に逆転優勝を狙う！

2011年08月20日17時27分




リーダーズボード
順位 選手名 スコア1 チョ・ ミンギュ -12
2 白　佳和 -10
3 ドンファン -8
吉永　智一 -8
5 Ｍ・ママット -7
武藤　俊憲 -7
Ｎ・ベーシック -7
8 宮里　聖志 -6
9 田保　龍一 -5
10 C・プラポール -4


順位の続きを見る





明るく、楽しく、上を向いて初優勝を狙う！（撮影：上山敬太）








＜関西オープンゴルフ選手権　3日目◇20日◇小野ゴルフ倶楽部(6,929ヤード・パー71)＞

　兵庫県にある小野ゴルフ倶楽部で開催されている、国内男子ツアー「関西オープンゴルフ選手権」の3日目。単独首位でスタートしたネベン・ベーシック（オーストラリア）が、この日は大乱調でスコアを6つ落とし5位タイに後退。代わりに2位からスタートしたチョ・ミンギュ（韓国）がトータル12アンダーで首位に。2打差の2位には白佳和がつけた。

池田勇太、スーパーリカバリーでギャラリーを魅了

　トータル6アンダー4位タイからスタートした白は、1番でボギーを叩くがその後前半でスコアを2つ伸ばして折り返す。後半もボギーを先行させるが16番で3メートル、17番で5メートル、18番で4メートルのバーディパットをねじ込み終盤3連続バーディを奪取。スコアを4つ伸ばしてトータル10アンダーとし2位に浮上した。

　「厳しいセッティングの中、よく我慢できた」と自分のゴルフを評価した白。パットの調子もいいが、ティショットも好調で、この大会でのフェアウェイキープ率は64.29％で1位。そしてこの暑さのおかげで、日本ゴルフツアー選手権で痛めた背中も調子が良いという。

　明日の最終日、心がけるのは「明るく、楽しく、上を向いてラウンドをする」こと。それというのも白は「いいところでネガティブになってしまう」悪い癖があるからだ。そんな白に昨年からよく行動を共にしているJ・チョイ（米国）が送ったアドバイスが「なんで球を打つとき以外もそんなに暗くなっているの？ 打つときの20秒だけ集中すればいいんだよ」。明るいキャラクターで知られるチョイからのアドバイスに「打つとき以外はキャディとしゃべったりして楽しく回るようにした」という。

　そのチョイは第2ラウンドで熱中症による体調不良で棄権してしまったが、親友のアドバイスを心に刻み続ける白。明日は逆転でツアー初優勝を目指す。

【3日目の順位】
1位：チョ・ミンギュ(-12)
2位：白佳和(-10)
3位T：ドンファン(-8)
3位T：吉永智一(-8)
5位T：マーダン・ママット(-7)
5位T：武藤俊憲(-7)
5位T：ネベン・ベーシック(-7)
8位：宮里聖志(-6)
9位：田保龍一(-5)
10位：チャワリット・プラポール(-4)

31位T：池田勇太(＋1)他6名

チョ・ミンギュ、単独首位で最終日へ「明日はもっと頑張る」

2011年08月20日17時53分




リーダーズボード
順位 選手名 スコア1 チョ・ ミンギュ -12
2 白　佳和 -10
3 ドンファン -8
吉永　智一 -8
5 Ｍ・ママット -7
武藤　俊憲 -7
Ｎ・ベーシック -7
8 宮里　聖志 -6
9 田保　龍一 -5
10 C・プラポール -4


順位の続きを見る





国内ツアー初優勝を目指すチョ・ミンギュ（撮影：上山敬太）








【もっと写真を見る（7）】




＜関西オープンゴルフ選手権　3日目◇20日◇小野ゴルフ倶楽部(6,929ヤード・パー71)＞

　兵庫県にある小野ゴルフ倶楽部で開催中の、国内男子ツアー「関西オープンゴルフ選手権」3日目。トータル9アンダー単独2位からスタートしたチョ・ミンギュ(韓国)が、3つスコアを伸ばしトータル12アンダーで単独首位に立った。

白佳和、親友のアドバイスを胸に逆転優勝を狙う！

　チョは初日首位タイスタートを切ると安定して上位をキープ。単独首位に立つのは自身初で、最終日最終組でプレーするのは2010年の「セガサミーカップ」以来2度目。首位で最終日を迎えることに「プレッシャーはあるけど目標は同じ。毎日、毎日、頑張る、頑張る。明日はもっと頑張る」と語った。「賞金王を目標に頑張っています。賞金王になったら米国ツアーにチャレンジしたい」という大きな夢をもつチョ。23歳の韓国から来た新鋭が初の栄冠をつかむことができるか。

　3位タイからスタートした武藤俊憲はスコアを1つ落とし、トータル7アンダー5位タイに後退。「なんとかなるでしょ。そう思ってやるしかない」と笑顔で語った。この日、3つスコアを伸ばしてトータル6アンダー8位に浮上した宮里聖志は「やることははっきりしている。ある程度攻めていかないと。人生で一番パターが入ったらいいですね」と攻めのゴルフで逆転優勝を目指すと話した。

【3日目の順位】
1位：チョ・ミンギュ(-12)
2位：白佳和(-10)
3位T：ドンファン(-8)
3位T：吉永智一(-8)
5位T：マーダン・ママット(-7)
5位T：武藤俊憲(-7)
5位T：ネベン・ベーシック(-7)
8位：宮里聖志(-6)
9位：田保龍一(-5)
10位：チャワリット・プラポール(-4)

31位T：池田勇太(＋1)他6名

＜中間速報＞チョ・ミンギュ、前半終わって首位キープ！

2011年08月21日12時38分
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リーダーズボード
順位 選手名 スコア優勝 チョ・ ミンギュ -14
2 白　佳和 -10
3 Ｎ・ベーシック -9
吉永　智一 -9
5 ドンファン -7
6 近藤　共弘 -5
上平　栄道 -5
星野　英正 -5
ハン・リー -5
田保　龍一 -5


順位の続きを見る


＜関西オープンゴルフ選手権　最終日◇21日◇小野ゴルフ倶楽部(6,929ヤード・パー71)＞

　兵庫県にある小野ゴルフ倶楽部で開催されている、国内男子ツアー「関西オープンゴルフ選手権」の最終日。単独首位でスタートしたチョ・ミンギュ(韓国)が、前半で4つスコアを伸ばしトータル16アンダーで首位をキープ。2位の白佳和に5打差をつけて後半のプレーに入った。

　31位タイスタートの池田勇太は、17番までを終了。5つスコアを伸ばしトータル4アンダー10位タイまで浮上している。

＜速報＞チョ・ミンギュがツアー初優勝！池田勇太は12位タイ

2011年08月21日15時09分
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リーダーズボード
順位 選手名 スコア優勝 チョ・ ミンギュ -14
2 白　佳和 -10
3 Ｎ・ベーシック -9
吉永　智一 -9
5 ドンファン -7
6 近藤　共弘 -5
上平　栄道 -5
星野　英正 -5
ハン・リー -5
田保　龍一 -5


順位の続きを見る


＜関西オープンゴルフ選手権　最終日◇21日◇小野ゴルフ倶楽部(6,929ヤード・パー71)＞

　兵庫県にある小野ゴルフ倶楽部で開催された、国内男子ツアー「関西オープンゴルフ選手権」の最終日。単独首位でスタートしたチョ・ミンギュ(韓国)が、スコアを2つ伸ばしトータル14アンダーでツアー初優勝を飾った。

　2位は白佳和、3位タイにはネベン・ベーシック(オーストラリア)と吉永智一が入った。池田勇太はこの日スコアを5つ伸ばし、トータル4アンダー12位タイに終わった。

【最終順位】
優勝：チョ・ミンギュ(-14)
2位：白佳和(-10)
3位T：ネベン・ベーシック(-9)
3位T：吉永智一(-9)
5位：ドンファン(-7)
6位T：近藤共弘(-5)
6位T：上平栄道(-5)
6位T：星野英正(-5)
6位T：ハン・リー(-5)
6位T：田保龍一(-5)
6位T：宮里聖志(-5)
12位T：池田勇太(-4)他3名

Why Can't Justin Rose Win the Big One?

Why Can't Justin Rose Win the Big One?











Travis Mewhirter March 26, 2013 12:00 PM




COMMENTARY | Unless you currently reside under a sporting rock, you are well aware that the greatest holiday of the year, March Madness, is in full swing.




And as paper shredders feast on broken bracket upon broken bracket -- thank you, Florida Gulf Coast, Harvard, and Wichita State -- there was still golf being played, while the second greatest holiday of the year, the Masters, looms just around the corner.

Tiger Woods gobbled up all the scraps of attention left over from the NCAA tournament with his 77th PGA Tour victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, his second in a row and third this year, and resumed his all too comfortable position as the No. 1 player in the world and in the FedEx Cup standings.

So, naturally, everybody is talking Tiger. But another name should have turned a few heads this weekend:Justin Rose.

Rose finished in second -- his third top 10 finish this season -- alone behind Woods to ascend to No. 3 in the world, the best ranking of his career. And with this success comes the nagging question: Why can't Rose win the big one?

Ardent golf supporters may remember Rose when he was 17 and made history as the youngest player to ever compete in a Walker Cup. Others might remember him from his first major start in the Open Championship in 1998 where he finished tied for fourth.

Now, however, Rose may be known as the newest president of the club that Phil Mickelson served several terms for: Greatest Player Never to Have Won a Major.

It's baffling to think that Rose, now 32 and in his ninth year on tour, hasn't won a major yet. He was still a teenager when he stormed Royal Birkdale back in 1998 to finish in the top five. He was barely allowed to legally drink for his next top five in the 2003 U.S. Open at Olympia Fields. And, in 2007, his worst finish in a major -- his first year making the cut in all four of them -- was 12th.

It seemed only a matter of time before the gates were opened and major championships came by the pair.

But they haven't.

All in all, Rose has 35 career major starts dating back to 1998, making the cut in 22 of them. In that 22, he has posted 16 top 25 finishes, seven top 10s and four top fives.

But, again, he hasn't won.

Whether it's fair or not, winning the big ones is the barometer used in judging a golfer's career success. If that wasn't the case, and we used regular-season tournaments as our measuring stick, Sam Snead, who won seven majors, would be the only possible candidate for the best golfer in history.

But that's not the case. So we look to Palmer, to Woods, to Jack Nicklaus, and to Gary Player as golf's Mount Rushmore.

Many might say that Bubba Watson has had a better career than Rose because of his awe-inspiring win at Augusta National last year, when he bent a pitching wedge so sharply out of the woods that it's a wonder how his grooves weren't inspected for spin-inducing technology. But this is flawed logic.

Watson, as genial and affable a character as there is on tour, has had a career that can't even hold a candle to Rose's. Same goes for other major one-timers such as Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Graeme McDowell, even tour brawler Jim Furyk -- all great players, but all slightly overrated because of their one shining moment.

The good news for Rose: He is absolutely dynamite at Augusta. In seven starts, his worst finish is T39 (2003), and he has graced the top 20 in four of the last five, although he didn't play in 2010.

The better news for Rose: The Masters is just three weeks away, and the timing ostensibly couldn't be better as he is rapidly approaching the zenith of his career. With his second-place finish at Bay Hill this weekend, he moved up to the No. 3 ranking in the world, his highest ever, sitting behind just Nike posterboys Woods and Rory McIlroy. Not bad company to be in.

But, for now, without a major win under his belt, he resides with different company: his Greatest Player Never to Have Won a Major club.

And lord knows he wants to get kicked out.

Travis Mewhirter has been working in the golf industry since 2007, when he was a bag room manager at Piney Branch Golf Club in Carroll County, Maryland, and has been involved, as a player, since 2004. Since then, he has worked at Hayfields Country Club, where the Constellation Energy Classic was formerly held, and has covered golf at the high school, college, and professional levels.

Five golfers who could claim first major at Masters

Five golfers who could claim first major at Masters












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Could Matt Kuchar claim his first major title at the Masters?(Getty Images)

PGA.COM March 26, 2013 12:48 PM


By T.J. Auclair PGA.com Rod Crowley, a contributor for BleacherReport.com, offers up a list of five golfers who could claim their first major title in two weeks at the Masters.


Writes Crowley:

Tiger Woods has hit his form at the perfect time as he aims to secure his fifth Masters win in a couple of weeks.

His win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Monday and a subsequent return to the number one spot in the World Rankings have been enough for bookmakers to expect him to finish atop the leaderboard in the opening major of the year.

Woods odds to win his 15th major are just plus-350 (7/2), giving him an 18 percent chance to be on top when the final round concludes on April 14 at Augusta National.

However, a strong field will assemble in Georgia, with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson among the favorites to add to their trophy cases. There is also the usual multitude of top players who will be looking to make a name for themselves on golf's biggest stage.

Here are five PGA challengers ready to make their presence felt on the Augusta leaderboard as they look to end their wait for glory in a major.

Check out Crowley's list here.

For reference, four of the last six Masters champions (Zach Johnson, 2007; Trevor Immelman, 2008; Charl Schwartzel, 2011; and Bubba Watson, 2012) claimed their first major title at Augusta National.

Follow T.J. Auclair on Twitter, @tj_auclair.

Course Source: TPC Scottsdale, The Stadium Course

Course Source: TPC Scottsdale, The Stadium Course










Derek Harper, The Sports Xchange March 26, 2013 3:21 PMThe SportsXchange


COURSE SOURCE


THE RESORT: TPC Scottsdale - The Stadium Course, in Scottsdale, Ariz.

THE LAYOUT: Watching Phil Mickelson shred The Stadium Course over Super Bowl weekend in 2013 - tying the tournament record at 28-under and lipping out on 18 to narrowly miss carding a 59 in the opening round - it's easy for the amateur to daydream about going low at a PGA Tour facility.

The Stadium Course indeed offers a nice blend of playability and significant challenge to go along with a great history. Designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, the course was built in 1986 and played host to its first PGA Tour event - the Phoenix Open - the following year.

One of the advantages of playing at a PGA Tour facility is no expense is spared in maintaining pristine course conditions. While most course superintendents in the area are working with stricter budgets and balancing seeding and water schedules, The Stadium Course - and to a slightly lesser degree the accompanying Champions Course - are in nearly immaculate shape year-round.

The Par 71 Stadium Course can be stretched out to 7,216 yards (74.6/138) from the black tees. However, unless you're a bomber off the tee and enjoy long irons to the green, the 6,525 yards (71.1/129) from the blues is more than enough test for most golfers. The whites play 6,049/68.7/125, shortening many of the challenging par-4s.

For the ladies, the 5,455 yards includes several drives that require moderate carries over - or through - the desert, but nothing too daunting.

There's no denying The Stadium Course is a treat. If you're planning a visit during the peak-season rates that hover around $300, do yourself a favor and play in the morning or early afternoon, when very knowledgeable forecaddies who travel the Arizona/Wisconsin in-seasons are included with your green fee (minus tip) and really help make the experience.

The Stadium Course is littered with PGA Tour history - from the boulder fans moved to help Tiger Woods recover from a wayward tee shot in 1999, leading to a change in the rules of golf, to the famous Par-3 16th, where 25,000 raucous fans annually congregate in golf's loudest venue. Every hole seems to have a signature moment - "The Chez Reavie hole," "The B.J. Holmes hole" - and your forecaddie can add to your outing by narrating the most memorable shots from the Waste Management Open.

GENERAL MANAGER: Bill Grove

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: The direction of the grain on the greens is critical playing anywhere in the Phoenix area. It typically grows away from Pinnacle Peak in north Scottsdale and toward the valley. Get to the course early enough to spend some time on the greens and let your forecaddie drop a little knowledge that will help sink a few extra putts.

While the front nine is solid a features a few memorable holes - including the Par-3 fourth with a big, sloping green, the character of the course really begins to come out as you approach the turn. Keep an eye out on No. 9. Push your drive far enough to the right and you might take out a Tour or Web.com player minding his own business on the facility reserved for professionals.

The 10th hole is where the fun really begins. A 376-yard Par-4 from the blue tees, it requires a well-placed drive for a lengthy uphill approach shot. If you struck the drive well enough to have a look at the green, you're likely to also get your first good look at the famous grandstands surrounding the 16th hole as you approach your ball.

It takes four-and-a-half months to erect and a month-and-a-half to bring down the grandstands at a hefty price tag of around $1 million in both directions.

The first glimpse of one of the most famous holes on the PGA Tour puts a real charge into the round, but focus on that approach shot. There is a pot bunker just off the right side of the 10th green and two bunkers protecting the front left. All things being equal, miss to the left - anything right, especially to a right pin placement - is in jail trying to get back to the green that slopes back to front.

Survive that test and you're greeted with the No. 1 handicap on The Stadium Course. It's a bear of a Par-4 at 439 yards from the blues with water all down the left side. It's easy to bail toward the less intimidating right side, but there are trees and small bushes likely to prevent a clear look. There is a big premium on hitting the fairway on No. 11, and a mid- to long iron that hits the front half of the massive green will get plenty of roll.

The Par-3 12th provides a mental breather before one of the most interesting holes on the course. The Par-5 13th presents the option of going left or right around a big swatch of sand and trees. At 552 yards from the blues and 528 from the whites, the shorter route is to the right. If you don't have the distance to get there in two, play it safe to the left side and there is a big landing area for your second shot.

The smallish green is protected by a deep bunker on the front right, but you don't want to over-club with your approach shot because the hole typically plays downwind.

The 419-yard 14th hole plays back into the wind and finally brought someone in our group to whimsically ask the forecaddie, "Let me guess, it's another long Par-4 and 'get all I can get' on the drive!"

With the 16th grandstands back in view and starting to get the heart pumping, a good drive off the tee at the Par-5 15th can present the best risk-reward opportunity on the course. At 468 yards from the blue tees, the hole is definitely reachable in two. There's only one problem.

Well, 360 of them, depending on your point of view.

With a long iron or hybrid in hand, you're also looking at an island green. It's another huge putting surface that slopes back to front and there are bunkers on the left and front right, but the reality is anything off-target is likely to splash down.

But you didn't come this far to lay up, so grip it and rip it.

If you play TPC during one of the six months the 16th grandstands are being worked on, you'll come off the 15th green, walk under the stands and pop out on the tee box for a bit of that Tour feeling. From a golf perspective, it's the second-easiest hole on the course and plays only 143 yards downhill from the blues to a decent-sized green. After snapping a few pictures, hit a decent short iron and you'll have a good opportunity to tell your friends you birdied the 16th at The Stadium Course.

The Par-4 17th is another risk/reward. Big, accurate hitters will be tempted at only 292 yards downhill from the blues, but the green is protected by water to the left and in back. Another option is a layup to a comfortable distance and a very manageable approach.

The Par-4 18th is pretty finishing hole. A fairway plaque commemorates J.B. Holmes' 359-yard drive in 2008 that led to his playoff victory over Phil Mickelson. Most mortals will face around 150-160 yards into a big green with a false front on the left side. No galleries are greeting you, but a well-struck approach might draw a small applause from those overlooking the green from the outside seating area at the restaurant and bar.

OTHER COURSES IN THE AREA: It's hard to go wrong in the Phoenix area, and there are more courses than even the locals have time to get tired of.

Many of the top facilities feature two courses worthy of lining up a 36-hole day for, including Troon (Pinnacle, Monument) and Grayhawk (Raptor, Talon) in Scottsdale, We-Ko-Pa (Cholla and Saguaro) in Fort McDowell and the Boulders (North, South) in Carefree.

Talking Stick, owned by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, is another Troon establishment with a pair of consistently top-ranked tracks.

WHERE TO STAY: The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess provides an all-in-one experience for the family or business traveler. The course even skirts along the hotel on the front nine, where your family or jealous co-workers can watch you sink a birdie putt on the Par-3 fourth and then rip a drive off the tee box on No. 5.

The TPC website offers stay-and-play packages at the Fairmont or nearby locations including the Hilton Garden Inn and Zona Resort Suites. The Sheraton Desert Oasis is also about a five iron away down the block.

On the web: www.tpc.com/tpc-scottsdale.

Phil Mickelson Rebounds From Rocky Start to Salvage First Round

Phil Mickelson Rebounds From Rocky Start to Salvage First Round
Lefty Optimistic About Building on Strong Back Nine, Hopes to Go Low Friday











Mark McLaughlin April 12, 2013 11:12 AM




COMMENTARY | Give Phil Mickelson credit, he knows what to expect from his game.


p>

On the eve of the Masters, Lefty said he was worried about the rust of not playing in a tournament the week before as has been his custom. He usually plays in Atlanta or Houston ahead of Augusta but a calendar quirk had the Valero Texas Open as the run-up tournament, a course setup that Mickelson says wouldn't have prepared him well for the year's first major.

Sure enough, Mickelson got off to a poor start in Thursday's first round. A three-putt bogey on the short, par-4 third was the first of three front-nine bogeys that caused him to make the turn in an ugly 2-over-par 38.

All it took for the Mickelson roller coaster to get back on track was a laser wedge shot to four feet on the par-3 12th hole for birdie. He went on to birdie both par-5s (13 and 15) and added a bonus birdie after a pretty 9-iron approach to the par-3 16th hole.

In a little over an hour, Mickelson jumped from 2-over to 2-under and smack in the middle of the contention for his fourth green jacket.

But never one to grind conservatively to the finish, he went on to bogey 17 then lipped out for birdie on the final hole to finish with a 1-under-par 71.



He's tied for 23rd on a day that saw nine players shoot 68 or better. Mickelson described Thursday's playing conditions as a "birdiefest" to ESPN and added that Augusta National was set up too soft and forgiving.

Phil's opening round may also have been a bit soft, but it couldn't have been much worse. He hit more greens than anyone in the field (15 of 18) but struggled once he got there, taking an atrocious 34 putts. Only four players took more putts Thursday.

"I feel like I'm rolling every one on line. I feel really good with the putter," Mickelson said afterward.

That confidence leads me to believe that if he can get the flat stick straightened out overnight - anyone know if putting guru Dave Stockton is around for quick lesson? - Mickelson will be right in the mix for the weekend.

"I can't wait to get back on the course tomorrow," Mickelson said. "I think I can really light it up."



To do so, Lefty must improve on Augusta's par-4s. He was fine on most of the brutes, parring holes 1, 10, and 11, but bogeyed the 350-yard third then failed to get up and down on the 455-yard fifth, the 450-yard seventh, and the 440-yard 17th.

Dustin Johnson Finally a Factor

With his length and talent, it's a wonder it took Dustin Johnson this long to post a good score at the Masters.

On the strength of the only eagle of the day on the par-5 13th hole, DJ fired an opening round 5-under-par 67, his best score in 13 rounds at Augusta National, to sit solo third. Johnson bested playing partner Fred Couples by a shot as Freddy's Masters mojo rubbed off on the game's best 20-something this side of Rory McIlroy.

Johnson's rare combination of power and touch will come in handy if he's in contention over the weekend. He led the field in driving distance Thursday with an average blow of 317 yards and needed only 24 putts around Augusta's softened greens.

Mark McLaughlin has reported on the PGA Tour for the New York Post, FoxSports.com, Greensboro News & Record, and Burlington (N.C.) Times-News. He is a past member of the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association. Follow him on Twitter@markmacduke.

Top Five Winners From the Opening Round at the Masters

Top Five Winners From the Opening Round at the Masters











Travis Mewhirter April 12, 2013 11:24 AM


COMMENTARY | The Masters is here, and everybody is really a winner over the next four days.


>



The players win by simply getting another chance to play Heaven on Earth or, as it is formally known, Augusta National. Everybody else wins because it's the Masters, golf's unofficial opening day, the first truly meaningful tournament of the year.



But, while the Masters will be a sublime experience for all, I will narrow down Thursday's opening round to the five biggest winners of the day.



1. Tianlang Guan



What were you doing when you were 14 years old? Maybe you were in eighth grade, like our youngest competitor in Masters history, Tianlang Guan, is. Maybe you were at the top of your middle school's food chain. It was probably a phenomenal year. Maybe you were in high school, a hot-shot freshman who made a varsity team. You probably felt pretty slick at the time.



That's great and all, but here's what you did not do when you were 14 years old: You did not play Augusta National. You did not play in the Masters. You did not receive a personal invitation from Tiger Woods to play in a practice round. You did not finish your first ever major championship round at 1-over-par, one-upping a U.S. Open champ (Lucas Glover) and Open Championship winner (Louis Oosthuizen) while taking a two-shot lead on the most recent player to don a green jacket (Bubba Watson).



Even if the kid shot in triple-digits, he still would have been the day's winner. Because he's 14. And he's playing in the Masters.



2. Marc Leishman



This one shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. His opening-round 66 has him at the top of the leaderboard tied with Sergio Garcia and four up on the No. 1 player in the world, Tiger Woods. Every major championship seems to have its dark horse these days. Leishman, if he holds up throughout day two, appears to be the most recent addition to our ever-expanding list.



His best finish at the Masters is a missed cut in 2010 in which he shot 79 to follow up an even-par opening round, so a strong showing Friday would be a 180-degree turnaround from his previous appearance. Along with seeking his first major championship, Leishman could also become the first Australian to win the Masters. Imagine that: Marc Leishman, not Adam Scott or Jason Day, as our first Australian-born Masters winner. Something to think about as this one plays out.



3. Tiger Woods



Why not Garcia, Dustin Johnson or Rickie Fowler in this spot? Because this is where Tiger wants to be. He has posted a 2-under 70 opening round four times and gone on to win three of those (his other win came off a 74 in 2005 when he went on to beat Chris DiMarco). Sure, his opener was a little disappointing, considering the torrid rate he has been playing lately, but four shots back after the first day is quintessential Tiger territory.



4. Sergio Garcia



It's always with a little hesitation that I put Garcia at the top of many lists, no matter how well he plays in a four-hour span, simply because, by tour standards, the guy can't putt. There aren't many out there who can strike a golf ball like he does, as shown by his bogey-free 66, and he managed 18 holes without a single yip. If he can put together four straight rounds without fighting his putter, he could very well end his 14 years of major disappointment. But it's still day one. More proof will be needed on the greens to see if Garcia can hang around until Sunday evening.



5. Rickie Fowler



This one was a tossup between Fowler, Johnson, Leishman's dark-horse pal David Lynn, and Fred Couples. Why Fowler? He's been one of the tour's brightest young stars out of this new generation that has stormed the World Golf Ranking over the past two years.



But our 2010 Rookie of the Year -- an award he beat out Rory McIlroy for -- is still waiting for that breakthrough moment that some of his peers have been able to enjoy. McIlroy is the clear frontrunner of the up-and-coming generation, what with his decimation of Congressional to win the 2011 U.S. Open and his comfortable 8-shot triumph at last year's PGA Championship.



A green jacket could very well be the impetus Fowler needs to put his career in the same zip code as McIlroy's.





Travis Mewhirter has been working in the golf industry since 2007, when he was a bag room manager at Piney Branch Golf Club in Carroll County, Maryland, and has been involved, as a player, since 2004. Since then, he has worked at Hayfields Country Club, where the Constellation Energy Classic was formerly held, and has covered golf at the high school, college, and professional levels.

McIlroy's mistakes negate overall good play

McIlroy's mistakes negate overall good play











PGA.COM April 12, 2013 1:38 PM

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Rory McIlroy wasn't too pleased with his 72 on a day when 32 players broke par.(Getty Images)


By Tim Dahlberg, Associated Press


AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The 18-footer for birdie on the final hole slid by on the left, another chance lost on a day filled with missed opportunities. Rory McIlroy walked off the green and gave his putter a gentle spank, as if to punish it for letting him down when he needed it most.

His even-par 72 wasn't awful by any means and might have been a score he would have settled for in another Masters. But on a day when 32 players broke par, the No. 2 player in the world wasn't exactly pleased.

He got a kiss and hug from girlfriend Caroline Wozniackiafter signing his scorecard, but any overtime work on the putting green would have to wait. It was getting dark and, just as McIlroy was beginning to talk about what went wrong, the weather sirens sounded and he was hustled inside the Augusta National clubhouse.

All year long the worry about McIlroy was the way he was hitting the ball with his new Nike clubs. But in the opening round of the Masters, it was the putter that let him down.

"I felt like I played well," McIlroy said. "Just silly mistakes and a couple of 3-putts on the back nine."

A day that started with promise for McIlroy -- he was 2-under after making birdie on No. 6 -- turned bad on the final nine as he made four bogeys coming in. McIlroy played like he was rusty, the very thing he played two weeks in a row coming into the Masters to avoid.

He was six shots back of co-leaders Sergio Garcia and Marc Leishman, a margin that's certainly not insurmountable with three rounds left on Augusta National. But McIlroy will have to find a way to make the short putts he missed if he wants to be in contention going into Sunday.

The Northern Irishman came to the first major of 2013, hoping to jumpstart a year that so far has been a disappointment. He played well to get in contention at the Texas Open last week, finishing second with a final round 66, and expected to be in contention here.

But bad strokes on greens putting slower than usual made for one frustrating days.

"I'm hitting the ball well," he said. "It's just a matter of taking advantage of the opportunities and eliminating mistakes.

McIlroy looked to have gotten the worst of the draw with a pairing in the penultimate group as thunderstorms threatened. But the wind didn't gust as much as expected and the rain held off until just after McIlroy came out of the clubhouse after signing his card.

McIlroy started the day like he couldn't wait to get in contention. He barely missed holing a 50-yard pitch for eagle on the second hole and came close to making a second straight birdie on No. 3.

But after holing a putt for birdie on No. 6 he gave it right back with a poor second shot on the next hole, the first of a series of miscues that he was never able to recover from.

McIlroy conceded earlier in the week that the adjustment to his new clubs -- which came as part of a huge endorsement deal with Nike -- had taken some time. But he said his driving had improved greatly and he was gaining confidence with every round he played.

But McIlroy's problem in the first round came from his flat stick, not his driver. He hit 9 of 14 fairways but had 32 putts, including the two 3-putts.

If there was a positive for McIlroy it is that he seems to be beginning to feel very much at home on Augusta National, where he famously imploded in 2011 after taking a four-shot lead into the final round. A year ago, he was one off the lead going into the weekend, only to close with 77-76 and tie for 40th.

"Everything felt good but every time I did something good I gave it back," McIlroy said. "And around this course you can't do that."

Rory McIlroy Tops List of Best Golfers Under 25

Rory McIlroy Tops List of Best Golfers Under 25
Rickie Fowler and Emerging Crop of Talented Young Players Could Challenge McIlroy for Years to Come











Mark McLaughlin April 24, 2013 9:20 PM






COMMENTARY


b> | Tianlung Guan, the 14-year-old Chinese phenom, parlayed a historic Masters performance into an invite to this week's Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Guan's showing at Augusta National, where he made no worse than bogey on any hole and went the full four rounds without a three-putt, could arguably propel him near the top of rankings of the world's best young golfers.



But one tournament does not make for a reasonable assessment so I'll hold off on including Guan on my list of Best Golfers Under 25 until he at least obtains a driver's license.

Such an exercise gets tricky when you're evaluating players so early in their careers. It's a good bet that several golfers now toiling under the radar on the Web.com, European or other low profile professional tour will emerge to challenge this list of early arrivals. With that caveat, here goes.

1. Rory McIlroy

No surprise that the Ulsterman stands atop the under-25 set. McIlroy is so dominant among golfers of all ages that being on this list almost belittles his achievements. To put his early career into perspective, Rory won his second major (2012 PGA Championship) five months earlier than Tiger Woods won his second (1999 PGA Championship).

McIlroy, who turns 24 next month, has more PGA Tour wins (six) than every other player under 30 except Dustin Johnson. When you count European Tour victories, he has won 10 times since turning pro at age 18.

While Rory does not have a win since last September, that's hardly cause for panic. Sure, the equipment change to Nike hasn't exactly gone swimmingly but McIlroy has shown signs of form in recent weeks. Don't forget that a young Woods suffered through a similar slump when undergoing his first swing change, winning just once in nearly two years from 1997 to 1999.

The next few years will tell us if McIlroy can win more majors and stay on the rarefied career trajectory of Woods or if he will settle into a more normal rhythm of winning once or twice per year. I'm hoping for the former, if only to keep talk of the Tiger-Rory rivalry alive.



2. Rickie Fowler



Many of you took me to task for my column last month criticizing Fowler's poor game management and lack of wins. There's no debate that he's made a bigger impact on golf than just about anyone since turning pro. The problem is that he started on such a high note - losing a playoff in his second pro start and sinking clutch putt after clutch putt as a captain's pick at the 2010 Ryder Cup - much more was expected than one PGA Tour win in the ensuing two and a half years.



I believe the 24-year-old Fowler will start winning more as he continues to mature. He's still young and having the time of his life riding dirt bikes, hanging with "The Golf Boys" and making fashion statements every week with his pastel Puma wardrobe. I think the fun factor will prevent burnout and allow Fowler to stay in his prime longer than most pros.

Short of a victory, Fowler is having a consistently strong season. He's missed only one cut and has three top 10 finishes in eight starts. His putting is the best it's ever been. Fowler just needs to find a few more greens to let the flat stick make a difference.

3. Matteo Manassero

Manassero, who turned 20 last week, was almost an afterthought playing in the same group as Guan at the Masters. It didn't help that he missed the cut while the 14-year-old squeaked into the weekend.

The young Italian has made his own history, though, becoming the youngest-ever winner on the European Tour when he captured the 2010 Castello Masters as a 17-year-old. Manassero has added another Euro victory in each of the last two seasons and improved his chances of making it four straight years with a win by committing full-time to playing in Europe for the rest of 2013.

For Manassero to elevate his stature, however, he will need to play more here. In 17 U.S. starts since 2010, he's recorded just a single top 10 finish. But as the second youngest member of this list, he's got plenty of time to acquaint himself with the PGA Tour.

4. Russell Henley

Winning has come quickly for the 24-year-old Henley. He first won on the Web.com Tour as an amateur in 2011, added two more Web.com wins last year after turning pro and kicked off his PGA Tour career by winning in his first rookie start at the 2013 Sony Open in Hawaii.

Henley has posted two top 25 finishes since breaking through in Hawaii and is solid in all facets of the game, as shown by his top 5 ranking in the Tour's All-Around category. With his accuracy off the tee, he could be a factor at some of the tougher venues on tap including Quail Hollow, the U.S. Open at Merion and Congressional.

Henley's early success is no fluke. He was a three-time All-America and 2010 College Player of the Year at the University of Georgia as well as low amateur at the 2010 U.S. Open.

5. Jordan Spieth

Select few players have made it onto the PGA Tour without grinding through Q-School or apprenticing on the Web.com or mini-tour circuit. Spieth is poised to join Woods, Phil Mickelson and most recently Bud Cauley in playing their way to Tour membership.

Spieth, 19, has recorded three top 10 finishes in his first seven pro starts, earning enough prize money ($662,398) to gain special temporary Tour membership for the rest of 2013. This status enables him to accept an unlimited number of sponsor's exemptions into tournaments and should allow him to earn enough to gain full-time status by year's end. Spieth, who finished ninth last week at the RBC Heritage, is in this week's field in New Orleans.

Spieth first made headlines by finishing tied for 16th at the HP Byron Nelson Championship as a 16-year-old. The only golfer besides Woods to win multiple U.S. Junior Amateur titles, he led the University of Texas to the 2012 national championship as a freshman before turning pro at the end of the year.

6. Ryo Ishikawa

Ishikawa has built his reputation on tremendous success in his native Japan. The 21-year-old has 12 professional wins on the Japanese Tour, including a maiden victory while only 15.

He has yet to make his mark in the U.S. but it's not for lack of trying. Ishikawa played a full PGA Tour schedule in 2012 -- earning a second place in Puerto Rico and four top 25s -- and plans to do the same this year. He's missed the cut in half of the 54 Tour appearances since 2009 so consistency is an issue that will need to be addressed.

Ishikawa has struggled in 2013 as a typically strong putter has failed to cooperate. On the bright side, he was in contention at last week's RBC Heritage before closing with a wind-blown final round 80.



Mark McLaughlin has reported on the PGA Tour for the New York Post, FoxSports.com, Greensboro News & Record, and Burlington (N.C.) Times-News. He is a past member of the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association. Follow him onTwitter @markmacduke.

Merion Calling All Tin Cups for the U.S. Open

Merion Calling All Tin Cups for the U.S. Open











Travis Mewhirter April 24, 2013 9:33 PM




COMMENTARY | So, you want to be the next Tin Cup, you say? The old guys at the club convinced you to try to slug it out through local and sectional qualifying, beating out thousands for a coveted U.S. Open spot, stand toe to toe with the pros, become the darling of the golfing world, and make one of the most spectacular finishes in major championship history? Well, at 5 p.m. on April 24, all
of the potential Tin Cups were in -- U.S. Open entries were closed.



And this is why we love the Open: anybody can get in. Or, rather, anybody who can consistently put together a 75 and probably fire the occasional 60-something or other can get in. It's the most democratic event on the planet, in any sport, on any professional level. You don't see -- well, aside from the '76 Philadelphia Eagles, who actually did hold open tryouts -- NFL teams opening up roster spots to anybody who can run a sub-five second 40 or throw around weights like dolls. NBA front offices don't just invite any kid who can rain 3-pointers on the blacktop.

The U.S. Open does -- the golf version of that at least.

Last year, when the Open traveled to The Olympic Club in San Francisco, the USGA had to wade through 9,006 entries. It was just the fourth time in the event's history that entries surpassed the 9,000-entry threshold and was only 80 shy of the all-time record, set in 2009 when it was held at Bethpage Black.

For all you hopefuls and reverse-sandbaggers (yes, everybody knows that when you go out there and hack a 96 at your local qualifier, you're not actually a 1.4 handicap or below. Rick Reilly did a fantastic piece on you lot), here's how the Road to Merion, this year's venue, shakes out.

A little more than 94 percent of you will begin your Open quest with local qualifying, an 18-hole test hosted at courses all over the map. Eighteen holes, as everybody knows, is not a lot of holes. You snipe one out of bounds on the third tee and scrape together a triple-bogey and that's probably the end of the road. Hey, there's always next year. But there are always a few scratches or plus-handicappers that invariably play well -- really, really, well -- and it's on to sectionals.

We started with more than 9,000 of you in the local qualifiers. Now at sectionals, that number is already deflated to around 500 (last year's was 550). The good news -- or bad, depending on how you look at it -- with sectionals, is that this stage is 36 holes, meaning there is more time to make up for a bad hole, but also more time to have one.

At sectionals, the local qualifying champs are lumped into a field with those who received exemptions from stage one. This group includes pros from various tours around the globe and "elite amateurs who meet certain performance criteria," as described by the U.S. Open website.

This is where most of our Tin Cups will find themselves in well over their heads. Just take a look at a few of the names from the 16 who qualified from just one sectional qualifying site last year: Davis Love III, Blake Adams, Charlie Wi, D.A. Points, Steve Marino, Scott Piercy. There is a monumental difference from winning the club championship and winning a qualifying spot in the U.S. Open. Here, have a glance at some of the guys who were cut from that same qualifier: J.B. Holmes, Kevin Stadler, Jhonattan Vegas, Jimmy Walker, Ryan Moore, Ben Curtis… you get the idea.

There are always, of course, our U.S. Open darlings, wrought from the local and sectional qualifiers. Beau Hossler showed us that a kid with braces can take on the most elite field in the world after brawling through the qualifiers. Had it not been for a final-round 76, he would have hovered around the top 10 (he finished T29, 6-over).

This is what makes the Open fun. Are we likely to see another Hossler, some anonymous high school teen who climbed the leaderboard after squeaking through qualifiers? Realistically, no. But that's the beauty of the U.S. Open: we won't know. It's the mysterious element it provides, that "who in the world is this guy?" moment on Saturday when the field should have been trimmed down to former major champs and world leaders, that we love.

By June 4 we will have our field. And maybe, just maybe, we'll have a Tin Cup in it.

Travis Mewhirter has been working in the golf industry since 2007, when he was a bag room manager at Piney Branch Golf Club in Carroll County, Maryland, and has been involved, as a player, since 2004. Since then, he has worked at Hayfields Country Club, where the Constellation Energy Classic was formerly held, and has covered golf at the high school, college, and professional levels.