By Billy Condon
I was able to catch up with a local golf fan, Nick D. of Huntington, N.Y. Nick and his buddies had been camped out on the 17th green the since 7 a.m. and were particularly excited to see Mickelson. I got a chance to talk to Nick while we watched Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Billy Mayfair, and Phil Mickelson play the tough par three. The one downfall of this prime spot for the Long Island boys is that there is no "dibs" on grandstand seats, making them forfeit a frosty beverage in order to catch a glimpse of Mickelson.
Nick plans to attend the Open on Sunday with the intention of following Tiger as much as he can and then heading back to his spot on 17. Besides Tiger, Nick thinks that gonna Mickelson has a great chance to win as well as Rocco Mediate. His dark horse pick is Sergio Garcia. Only time will tell as the 2009 U.S. Open kicks off tomorrow.
June 17, 2009
Morning Rounds
By Billy Condon
Walking back to the Media Center I bumped into last year's U.S. Open runner-up Rocco Mediate and shook his hand and wished him luck for this week. He is sure to be another fan favorite out here.
Ok, down to business - At least for today, the weather has not been an issue out here at the Black. Sunny skies and vocal crowds have been around all day and it keeps getting more crowded. The most attention of the players playing this morning was on Phil Mickelson. Lefty has had a mass of people following him and each tee and green that he approaches people shout their support. Playing alongside Jim Furyk today, Mickelson has been chatting it up with the 2003 U.S. Open champion, and Furyk has also been speaking a fair amount with Mickelson's caddie, Jim Mackay.
Also, quite a few spectators are sporting periscopes that they bought at the 2002 U.S. Open and happen to be designed by Mickelson's father and his company, the Mickelson Group.
A few notes from walking around during this mornings practice rounds:
-They were using a large fan on the 17th green, all the rain has resulted in soft greens with the players attacking the hole locations.
-Players MUST keep the ball in or near the fairway. Jeff Brehaut got caught in the long hay on 13 and his attempt to hack it out resulted in the ball advancing two feet.
-Especially today, players are not hesitant to drop a second, third and even fourth ball and test different clubs on par threes, chipping from different lies around the green, and are investigating strategies they will take for the tricky hole locations lined up for the next four days.
-While everyone is supporting Phil full-force, the buzz around the grandstands and concession stands are on Tiger, how he will perform, and if anyone has seen him.
Walking back to the Media Center I bumped into last year's U.S. Open runner-up Rocco Mediate and shook his hand and wished him luck for this week. He is sure to be another fan favorite out here.
Ok, down to business - At least for today, the weather has not been an issue out here at the Black. Sunny skies and vocal crowds have been around all day and it keeps getting more crowded. The most attention of the players playing this morning was on Phil Mickelson. Lefty has had a mass of people following him and each tee and green that he approaches people shout their support. Playing alongside Jim Furyk today, Mickelson has been chatting it up with the 2003 U.S. Open champion, and Furyk has also been speaking a fair amount with Mickelson's caddie, Jim Mackay.
Also, quite a few spectators are sporting periscopes that they bought at the 2002 U.S. Open and happen to be designed by Mickelson's father and his company, the Mickelson Group.
A few notes from walking around during this mornings practice rounds:
-They were using a large fan on the 17th green, all the rain has resulted in soft greens with the players attacking the hole locations.
-Players MUST keep the ball in or near the fairway. Jeff Brehaut got caught in the long hay on 13 and his attempt to hack it out resulted in the ball advancing two feet.
-Especially today, players are not hesitant to drop a second, third and even fourth ball and test different clubs on par threes, chipping from different lies around the green, and are investigating strategies they will take for the tricky hole locations lined up for the next four days.
-While everyone is supporting Phil full-force, the buzz around the grandstands and concession stands are on Tiger, how he will perform, and if anyone has seen him.
Phil's Arrival
By Billy Condon
I just got out of Phil Mickelson's press conference where the bulk of questions were geared towards his wife, Amy, and her recent diagnosis of breast cancer. Mickelson said how much he and Amy appreciate all of the support they have received, including the "Pink Out" held a few weeks back. He also spoke of how appreciative they are of all the articles the media has written in not only support of Amy, but of the individual stories they all share. This week, Amy has been leaving her husband notes, cards, and texts cheering him on and hopes that he can "bring home a nice silver trophy for her hospital room" when her treatment begins July 1.
Mickelson also spoke of how excited he is to be back in New York and how Bethpage (Black) is one of his favorite golf courses. He went on to say how he has brushed up on all current news regarding the Giants, Jets, Yankees and Mets so that he is prepared to talk sports with the New York fans.
You can be sure that all of the fans this week - and when Mickelson steps up to his first tee shot tomorrow will be cheering him on 100%.
I just got out of Phil Mickelson's press conference where the bulk of questions were geared towards his wife, Amy, and her recent diagnosis of breast cancer. Mickelson said how much he and Amy appreciate all of the support they have received, including the "Pink Out" held a few weeks back. He also spoke of how appreciative they are of all the articles the media has written in not only support of Amy, but of the individual stories they all share. This week, Amy has been leaving her husband notes, cards, and texts cheering him on and hopes that he can "bring home a nice silver trophy for her hospital room" when her treatment begins July 1.
Mickelson also spoke of how excited he is to be back in New York and how Bethpage (Black) is one of his favorite golf courses. He went on to say how he has brushed up on all current news regarding the Giants, Jets, Yankees and Mets so that he is prepared to talk sports with the New York fans.
You can be sure that all of the fans this week - and when Mickelson steps up to his first tee shot tomorrow will be cheering him on 100%.
June 16, 2009
Phil Arrives on Wednesday
By Greg Midland
Phil Mickelson's caddie, Jim "Bones" Mackay, arrived at Bethpage today to scout the golf course for his boss. He walked onto the driving range as Tiger was hitting balls and fans recognized him right away. He had to disappoint them, unfortunately. "Sorry guys," Mackay said. "He's not here today." He does have an 8:00 a.m. press conference scheduled in the media center on Wednesday, however, so fans with Wednesday practice round tickets should get to see their man Phil tee off around mid-morning.
Phil Mickelson's caddie, Jim "Bones" Mackay, arrived at Bethpage today to scout the golf course for his boss. He walked onto the driving range as Tiger was hitting balls and fans recognized him right away. He had to disappoint them, unfortunately. "Sorry guys," Mackay said. "He's not here today." He does have an 8:00 a.m. press conference scheduled in the media center on Wednesday, however, so fans with Wednesday practice round tickets should get to see their man Phil tee off around mid-morning.
Range Rat
By Greg Midland
The same way that fans flock to ballparks early to watch batting practice, golf fans love to watch the world's best players hit range balls. And no one brings the crowds like Tiger. This morning, on a cool, overcast day at Bethpage, about 3,000 fans packed the grandstand and standing areas around the driving range to watch The Striped One stripe some Pro v1 practice balls. With swing coach Hank Haney watching closely, Tiger hit balls for about an hour after playing nine holes with Andrew Svoboda this morning. The crowd applauded when he took the headcover off his driver and started bombing away, but I was more impressed with his 3- and 5-wood swings. The mix of trajectories he gets with these clubs from swing to swing is incredible. I don't think he'll be using the "stinger" swing too much this week because there won't be much run on the fairways, but it's there if he needs it.
June 12, 2009
Change of Scenes
By Billy Condon
Yesterday I got my first real taste of competitive golf, playing in the MGA/MetLife Public Links Qualifier at Mohansic Golf Course in
The last “serious” stroke play event I played in was when I was around 13 at the local nine-hole course, where I came away the winner, but where the One-Ball Rule and Doubt as to Procedure were not in anyone’s vocabulary.
As a 2008 P.J. Boatwright intern, I worked on the other side of MGA tournaments setting up courses and giving rulings. Being on the other side of the ball was intimidating. After warming up on the range, I arrived at the first tee with my caddie. A deep breath and a swing later I had missed the fairway left, but I was relieved I didn’t whiff. Salvaging a bogey, I was just glad that the first hole was over. The next six holes were a struggle as I only made one par but I started hitting my stride after parring the eighth and ninth holes. At this point, my caddie and good friend Jason stepped in and made sure that I was loose and not worrying about numbers. His tactic worked as I started hitting fairways and greens, including a near hole-out for eagle on the 15th that came to rest a foot from the hole.
After a 43 on the front nine, my game came together on the back nine as I came in with a 37 and finished with an 80 on the day. It wasn’t good enough to qualify but respectable enough to get the thumbs-up from friends and coworkers, even those who lost the office pool by picking the “over.”
June 8, 2009
Low Scoring at the Halfway Point
By Greg Midland
The combination of perfect weather and receptive greens at both Old Oaks and Century is setting the stage for an afternoon shootout at U.S. Open sectional qualifying. Three players shot 68 in the morning round, including Sean Farren, the head pro at Creek Club on Long Island, and Michael Tulacz, from the Hudson Valley town of Connelly, N.Y.
Other Met Area players in good position to earn one of the four available spots in the 109th U.S. Open Championship include Saint Andrew's head pro Greg Bisconti (69), former MGA/MetLife Public Links champion Paul Dickinson of Montauk, N.Y. (69), and two former Met Open champions, John Stoltz and Andrew Svoboda, who both shot 70.
Stay tuned to www.mgagolf.org for updated scoring all afternoon and video interviews with the qualifiers at the end of the day.
The combination of perfect weather and receptive greens at both Old Oaks and Century is setting the stage for an afternoon shootout at U.S. Open sectional qualifying. Three players shot 68 in the morning round, including Sean Farren, the head pro at Creek Club on Long Island, and Michael Tulacz, from the Hudson Valley town of Connelly, N.Y.
Other Met Area players in good position to earn one of the four available spots in the 109th U.S. Open Championship include Saint Andrew's head pro Greg Bisconti (69), former MGA/MetLife Public Links champion Paul Dickinson of Montauk, N.Y. (69), and two former Met Open champions, John Stoltz and Andrew Svoboda, who both shot 70.
Stay tuned to www.mgagolf.org for updated scoring all afternoon and video interviews with the qualifiers at the end of the day.
They're Off! 77 for 4 spots
By Greg Midland
We're underway at Century Country Club and Old Oaks Country Club, as 77 professionals and amateurs compete for 4 spots in the 109th U.S. Open Championship at Bethpage. Scoring conditions are ideal, as there is no wind adn the greens were softened a bit by overnight rain showers. It should give the players an opportunity to display their talents as they compete for a coveted spot in the national championship.
The field includes Mathias Gronberg, who won this weekend's Nationwide Tour event in Maryland in a 36-hole final day. Gronberg will be playing his second consecutive 36-hole day, but this time the prize will be a spot in the toughest tournament in golf.
We did have one withdrawl: Frenchman Jean Van de Velde, who was replaced in the field by Kirk Oguri of Huntington, N.Y.
We're underway at Century Country Club and Old Oaks Country Club, as 77 professionals and amateurs compete for 4 spots in the 109th U.S. Open Championship at Bethpage. Scoring conditions are ideal, as there is no wind adn the greens were softened a bit by overnight rain showers. It should give the players an opportunity to display their talents as they compete for a coveted spot in the national championship.
The field includes Mathias Gronberg, who won this weekend's Nationwide Tour event in Maryland in a 36-hole final day. Gronberg will be playing his second consecutive 36-hole day, but this time the prize will be a spot in the toughest tournament in golf.
We did have one withdrawl: Frenchman Jean Van de Velde, who was replaced in the field by Kirk Oguri of Huntington, N.Y.
June 3, 2009
One Ticket to Bethpage, Please
By Billy Condon
The hottest ticket in town this summer is not to see the American Idols concert tour or even the Jonas Brothers, but rather one of the remaining qualifying spots to play in the 2009 U.S. Open…and StubHub won’t be able to help. The only chance to punch a ticket to the Black is to earn a spot at one of 13 sectional qualifiers being held nationwide on June 8. Vying for these spots are a cast of characters that ranges from teenagers, college All-Americans, club professionals, pros with multiple Tour victories, and guys who work 9-5 jobs but pack a summer schedule of golf. The exciting thing is that all of these people have an equal chance to qualify…whether your name is Brad Faxon, an eight-time PGA Tour winner or Mike Stamberger, a finance broker in New York City.
Here is a quick breakdown on some of the Met Area amateurs looking to qualify:
• Morgan Hoffmann – Too many accolades to list after a tremendous freshman debut at Oklahoma State (see post below). Qualifying in Columbus, Ohio.
• Michael Quagliano – Qualified for Torrey Pines last year from the Memphis, Tenn. qualifier. Looks to again qualify in the Volunteer State – why mess with a good thing?
• Cameron Wilson – At 16 is the second-youngest competitor to make it to Sectionals and who just finished his junior year of high school. A strong lefty that backs down to no one and thrives in competition.
• Max Buckley – Recently finished his freshman year at SMU. A past Carter Cup champion that did a post-grad year at the Hank Haney International Golf Academy.
• Mike Stamberger – A past Met Amateur champion that advanced to the quarters of the 2008 U.S. Mid-Am.
June 1, 2009
Top Freshman Honors for Hoffmann
By Billy Condon
Morgan Hoffmann, Oklahoma State’s freshman phenom who now holds the top-ranked spot in the R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings, was recently awarded the Phil Mickelson Award, as the most outstanding freshman in Division I men's golf. Hoffmann, who finished as the medalist in three events, including the Big 12 championship, was also named first-team All-American, All-Big 12 and Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Year. He was also named to the U.S. Palmer Cup team and a semifinalist for the Hogan Award as the top player in college golf. It is an understatement to say that Hoffmann’s freshman campaign as a Cowboy was impressive as he now sets his sights on qualifying for the U.S. Open in
Photo Credit: Oklahoma State Athletics
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)