Winged Foot -- A Sneak US Open Preview

[Phil Benedict]

I have to say that one of the major issues that clearly had an impact at the '84 event was the amount of overall congestion that took place in and around Fenimore Road and the other avenues in and around the club.

Winged Foot is clearly in an area where the volume of traffic and the serpentine nature of the roads can play a major role.

Matt,

I think parking will be at various off-site locations this year.  They will bus people in from these sites.  Were they busing people in from remote locations in '84?

[Matt_Ward]

Phil:

Busing was used for the '84 event but the issue rests more with the configuration of the local streets in and around Winged Foot.

What's amazing is how much better the overall parking and participation there is for golf fans going to the annual Barclays Classic.

Gents:

For those wanting to know -- here is the breakdown for the June 5 sectional qualifier at Canoe Brook.

Number of qualifying spots – 18 (all positions tying for the 18th spot are played-off at sudden death immediately following play.

The following players have withdrawn from the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying Round (Changes as of Tuesday, May 30)

Bernhard Langer – replaced Ben Whelan

Jonathan Byrd – replaced by Anthony Imburgia

Fran Marrello – replaced by Bobby Myles

Steven Bowditch – replaced by Mark DiGiacomo

[Matt_Ward]

Sectional Qualifying Storylines for 2006 U.S. Open

June 5

Summit, N.J. (Canoe Brook C.C.): 153 golfers for 18 spots

Several New York-area residents will be trying to make it a special week at Winged Foot.

Charlie Meola grew up on the public courses near his house in Mamaroneck. But every once in a while he'd work up the nerve to take a few clubs and a handful of balls, cut through a couple of yards and sneak into Winged Foot Golf Club. Meola, now 31, has since returned to play the famed courses by entering through the front gates. The Mahopac Golf Club pro moved a step closer to playing Winged Foot in one of golf's majors. He fired an even-par 71 in his U.S. Open local qualifier at Siwanoy Country Club.
 

Ben Hoffhine’s apartment on Fenimore Road in Mamaroneck is as a little more than a mile down the street from Winged Foot Golf Club, and it’s likely there isn't a golf pro in the world who lives closer to this year's championship site. Hoffhine, the head pro at Wykagyl C.C. in New Rochelle, shot a 70 to earn medalist honors at his local qualifier at Atlantic Golf Club.
 

Another qualifier from the Atlantic G.C. site was Andrew Svoboda, a Winged Foot member (4-time Club champ) and former Met Open champion who advanced to the quarterfinals of the ’04 U.S. Amateur at Winged Foot. Svoboda has since turned pro.
 

Heath Wassem, the head pro at Fenway Golf Club in Scarsdale, also advanced at his local qualifier at Cherry Valley Club in Garden City. Fenway is located not far from Winged Foot.
 

Rick Hartmann of Sag Harbor, N.Y., is the pro at Atlantic Golf Club in Southampton. He played in the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and finished tied for 46th. He is paired with Michelle Wie on Monday.
 

George Zahringer of New York is the oldest winner of the U.S. Mid-Amateur. He was 48 when he won in 2002 at his home course, The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, Conn.
 

USA Walker Cupper Nicholas Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla., will be trying to advance to his first U.S. Open. He advanced from a Weston, Fla., qualifier. Thompson now plays on the PGA Tour.

Brock Mackenzie of Yakima, Wash., was a member of the 2003 USA Walker Cup team. Mackenzie qualified for the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills as an amateur.

Geoffrey Sisk, 41, of Marshfield, Mass., will be attempting to qualify for his fifth U.S. Open. Sisk made the cut at Shinnecock Hills (T40) in 2004. He also made the cut at Pinehurst in 1999, finishing tied for 30th.

Michelle Wie, 16, of Honolulu, Hawaii is attempting to become the first female to ever play in a U.S. Open. Wie was medalist (shot even par 72) at her qualifier at Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu, Hawaii. Wie won the 2003 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship as a 13-year-old, becoming the youngest winner of an “adult” USGA championship.

Former major winners Mark O’Meara (1998 Masters and British Open) and Mark Brooks (1996 PGA) are in the field.

Hunter Mahan of Plano, Texas, won the 1999 U.S. Junior title and was the runner-up at the 2002 U.S. Amateur. He has competed in one U.S. Open (2003).

Ricky Barnes of Stockton, Calif., was the 2002 U.S. Amateur champion. He competed in three U.S. Opens as an amateur, but has yet to qualify since turning pro in 2003.

Former Walker Cupper (1995) Kris Cox of Dallas, Texas, will look to draw on his good memories of Canoe Brook, where he shot a course-record 64 on the South Course to help him qualify for the Open in 2004.

Ben “Bubba” Dickerson of Plano, Texas, won the 2001 U.S. Amateur, but turned pro after the Masters and thus forfeited his exemption into the ’02 Open. He is hoping to qualify for his first Open.

Austin Eaton III of North Sutton, N.H., won the 2004 U.S. Mid-Amateur and was a semifinalist last summer at the U.S. Amateur.

David Gossett of Germantown, Tenn., won the 1999 U.S. Amateur and made the cut at the 2000 Masters. He is paired with Michelle Wie in this qualifier.

John Nieporte of Boca Raton, Fla., would like to have a special Father’s Day at Winged Foot. His father, Tom, is Winged Foot’s longtime head professional.

Jeff Overton of Evansville, Ind., earned the clinching point for the USA squad at the 2005 Walker Cup Match. He earned his PGA Tour card last December.

 

Former North Carolina Tar Heel, Kevin Silva, finished on top of the local qualifier field in North Kensington, R.I.

 

Allan Small, at age 54, is one of the oldest players to qualify from the local field.  The Florham Park, N.J., resident was the New Jersey State Golf Association Amateur of the Year in 2004.

 
Columbus, Ohio (Brookside Golf & C.C./Lakes Golf & C.C.): 144 golfers for 21 spots

Sam Saunders, Arnold Palmer's grandson, survived a six-man playoff to grab one of the final three berths available from his qualifier at Orlando’s MetroWest Golf Club. An 18-year-old amateur, he was the stroke-play medalist at the 2005 U.S. Junior, where he recorded a hole-in-one. Palmer has played in 32 U.S. Opens, while Saunders will look to play in his first.

 

Jason Gore of Valencia, Calif., who was the ‘Prince of Pinehurst’ in 2005, went on to win three Nationwide Tour events and the PGA Tour’s 84 Lumber Classic. Gore played in the final pairing last June, only to shoot an 84 on Sunday.

 

Cincinnati native Brett Wetterich, who earned his first PGA Tour win in May at the EDS Byron Nelson Classic, needed a playoff to advance from his local qualifying site in Cincinnati.

Pinehurst, N.C., native Drew Scott, who is the golf coach at Rice University in Houston, survived a playoff to get one of the last two remaining spots at his qualifier in Daniels, W.Va.

Two-time major winner John Daly (1991 PGA and ’95 British Open) hopes to make it to his 14th U.S. Open, where his best finish is a T-27 in 1996.

 

J.B. Holmes of Campbellsville, Ky., competed on the 2005 USA Walker Cup squad and then captured his first PGA Tour event as a rookie this past January at the FBR Open in Phoenix

 

Trip Kuehne of Dallas, Texas, is a two-time USA Walker Cupper and the runner-up to Tiger Woods at the 1994 U.S. Amateur. He also was low amateur at the 2003 U.S. Open.

 

Kevin Marsh of Las Vegas won the 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur.

 

Ryan Moore of Puyallup, Wash., would like to get back to the venue where he won the 2004 U.S. Amateur. Moore also won the 2002 and ’04 APL titles and competed on the 2003 USA Walker Cup team.

 

Kyle Reifers of Columbus, Ohio, competed on the 2005 USA Walker Cup team and is one of three players not to turn professional.

 

Jeff Sluman of Hinsdale, Ill., captured the 1988 PGA Championship and competed in 17 U.S. Opens.

 

D.J. Trahan of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., won the 2000 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship and was on the 2001 USA Walker Cup team.

 

Camilo Villegas of Colombia was the 1999 U.S. Junior runner-up and one of the top rookies on the PGA Tour. The 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills was his professional debut.

 

Chris Devlin, a native of Northern Ireland, advanced to sectional qualifying rounds.  He is currently a member of the golf team at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

 

Brad Hardin of Nashville, Tenn., moved ahead to sectional qualifying.  He is the brother of Leigh Anne Hardin, who was the 1998 U.S. Girls’ Junior champion.

 

Pittsburgh, Pa. native, Bob Friend, carded the low score in the Lake Powell, Fla., local qualifying round.  He is the son of famed Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bob Friend.

 

Native Canadian, JC Deacon, landed a sectional qualifying spot in Boynton Beach, Fla.  Deacon was a semifinalist in the 2005 U.S. Amateur.

 

Jordan Cox of Redwood City, Calif., was a runner up at the 2003 U.S. Junior Amateur.

 

Colt Knost of Dallas, Texas, was the medalist at his local qualifier.  The SMU junior was named 2003 WAC Freshman of the Year.

 

 

[Patrick_Mucci]

David Ober,

That's my understanding.

[Matt_Ward]

Thursday (June 15), hole #1; Friday (June 16), hole #10

 

            7:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. - Andrew Svoboda, Larchmont, N.Y.; Chris Nallen, Tucson, Ariz.; J.J. Henry, Fairfield, Conn.

            7:11 a.m. – 12:41 p.m. - John Rollins, Irving, Texas; Mathew Goggin, Australia; Steve Lowery, Birmingham, Ala.

            7:22 a.m. – 12:52 p.m. - Nick Dougherty, England; D.J. Trahan, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; Graeme McDowell, England

            7:33 a.m. – 1:03 p.m. - Vijay Singh, Fiji; Shingo Katayama, Japan; David Toms, Shreveport, La.

            7:44 a.m. – 1:14 p.m. - Jim Furyk, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; Adam Scott, Australia; Chad Campbell, Lewisville, Texas

            7:55 a.m. – 1:25 p.m. - Robert Allenby, Australia; Rocco Mediate, Naples, Fla.; Angel Cabrera, Argentina

            8:06 a.m. – 1:36 p.m. - Fred Couples, La Quinta, Calif.; Jose Maria Olazabal, Spain; Mike Weir, Canada

            8:17 a.m. – 1:47 p.m. - Davis Love III, Sea Island, Ga.; Justin Leonard, Dallas, Texas; Nick Price, Hobe Sound, Fla.

            8:28 a.m. – 1:58 p.m. - David Duval, Denver, Colo.; Colin Montgomerie, Scotland; John Cook, Windermere, Fla.

            8:39 a.m. – 2:09 p.m. - Jeff Sluman, Hinsdale, Ill.; Rod Pampling, Australia; Henrik Stenson, Sweden

            8:50 a.m. – 2:20 p.m. - A-Jonathan Moore, Vancouver, Wash.; Phil Tataurangi, New Zealand; Craig Barlow, Henderson, Nev.

            9:01 a.m. – 2:31 p.m. - Rob Johnson, Terre Haute, Ind.; Madalitso Muthiya, Zambia; David Berganio Jr., Sylmar, Calif.

            9:12 a.m. – 2:42 p.m. - John Koskinen, Baraga, Mich.; A-Tadd Fujikawa, Honolulu, Hawaii; Stephen Woodard, Charlotte, N.C.

 

 

Thursday (June 15), hole #10; Friday (June 16), hole #1

 

            7:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. - Kent Jones, Albuquerque, N.M.; Phillip Archer, England; Nicholas Thompson, Coral Springs, Fla.

            7:11 a.m. – 12:41 p.m. - Shaun Micheel, Germantown, Tenn.; Kenneth Ferrie, England; Ted Purdy, Phoenix, Ariz.

            7:22 a.m. – 12:52 p.m. - Brandt Jobe, Westlake, Texas; Keiichiro Fukabori, Japan; Richard Green, Australia

            7:33 a.m. – 1:03 p.m. - Billy Mayfair, Scottsdale, Ariz.; A-Dillon Dougherty, Woodland, Calif.; Nick O'Hern, Australia

            7:44 a.m. – 1:14 p.m. - Scott Verplank, Edmond, Okla.; Ian Poulter, England; Lucas Glover, Simpsonville, S.C.

            7:55 a.m. – 1:25 p.m. - Phil Mickelson, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; Tim Clark, South Africa; Thomas Bjorn, Denmark

            8:06 a.m. – 1:36p.m. - Rory Sabbatini, South Africa; Paul McGinley, Ireland; Rich Beem, Austin, Texas

            8:17 a.m. – 1:47 p.m. - Luke Donald, England; Trevor Immelman, South Africa; Zach Johnson, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

            8:28 a.m. – 1:58 p.m. - Retief Goosen, South Africa; Stewart Cink, Duluth, Ga.; Padraig Harrington, Ireland

            8:39 a.m. – 2:09 p.m. - Arron Oberholser, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Peter Hedblom, Sweden; Dean Wilson, Kaneohe, Hawaii

            8:50 a.m. – 2:20 p.m. - Michael Harris, Troy, Mich.; Andrew Morse, Chestnut Hill, Mass.; A-Patrick Nagle, Pacifica, Calif.

            9:01 a.m. – 2:31 p.m. - Jason Dufner, Auburn, Ala.; Jyoti Randhawa, India; Charley Hoffman, Las Vegas, Nev.

            9:12 a.m. – 2:42 p.m. - A-Alex Coe, La Quinta, Calif.; Brad Fritsch, Canada; Benjamin Hayes, Scottsdale, Ariz.

 

 

Thursday (June 15), hole #1; Friday (June 16), hole #10

 

            12:30 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. - Steve Stricker, Madison, Wis.; Oliver Wilson, England; Tommy Armour III, Las Colinas, Texas

            12:41 p.m. – 7:11 a.m. - Duffy Waldorf, Northridge, Calif.; Maarten Lafeber, Netherlands; Tom Pernice Jr., Murrieta, Calif.

            12:52 p.m. – 7:22 a.m. - Ben Crane, Beaverton, Ore.; Mark Calcavecchia, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; Mark Brooks, Fort Worth, Texas

            1:03 p.m. – 7:33 a.m. - Jay Haas, Greer, S.C.; Joey Sindelar, Horseheads, N.Y.; Tom Lehman, Scottsdale, Ariz.

            1:14 p.m. – 7:44 a.m. - Toru Taniguchi, Japan; Ben Curtis, Stow, Ohio; Niclas Fasth, Sweden

            1:25 p.m. – 7:55 a.m. - Tiger Woods, Windermere, Fla.; A-Edoardo Molinari, Italy; Michael Campbell, New Zealand

            1:36 p.m. – 8:06 a.m. - Sean O'Hair, West Chester, Pa.; Mark Hensby, Australia; Olin Browne, Hobe Sound, Fla.

            1:47 p.m. – 8:17 a.m. - Darren Clarke, Northern Ireland; Peter Jacobsen, Bonita Springs, Fla.; Stephen Ames, Canada

            1:58 p.m. – 8:28 a.m. - Tim Herron, Deephaven, Minn.; Carl Pettersson, Sweden; Kevin Stadler, Englewood, Colo.

            2:09 p.m. – 8:39 a.m. - Geoff Ogilvy, Australia; David Howell, England; Bo Van Pelt, Bixby, Okla.

            2:20 p.m. – 8:50 a.m. - Travis Hurst, Erie, Kan.; George McNeill, Ft. Myers, Fla.; Taylor Wood, Laguna Niguel, Calif.

            2:31 p.m. – 9:01 a.m. - Tag Ridings, Southlake, Texas; Nathan Green, Australia; Greg Kraft, Belleair, Fla.

            2:42 p.m. – 9:12 a.m. - John Mallinger, Long Beach, Calif.; A-Billy Horschel, Grant, Fla.; Michael Derminio, Scottsdale, Ariz.

 

 

Thursday (June 15), hole #10; Friday (June 16), hole #1

 

            12:30 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. - Woody Austin, Derby, Kan.; Jeev Singh, India; Jay Delsing, St. Louis, Mo.

            12:41 p.m. – 7:11 a.m. - Brett Quigley, Barrington, R.I.; Tadahiro Takayama, Japan; Bob Estes, Austin, Texas

            12:52 p.m. – 7:22 a.m. - Paul Casey, England; Matt Kuchar, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; Graeme Storm, England

            1:03 p.m. – 7:33 a.m. - Corey Pavin, Plano, Texas; Fred Funk, Ponte Vedra, Fla.; Allen Doyle, La Grange, Ga.

            1:14 p.m. – 7:44 a.m. - J.B. Holmes, Campbellsville, Ky.; Camilo Villegas, Colombia; Scott Hend, Australia

            1:25 p.m. – 7:55 a.m. - Lee Janzen, Orlando, Fla.; Todd Hamilton, Westlake, Texas; Steve Jones, Chandler, Ariz.

            1:36 p.m. – 8:06 a.m. - Sergio Garcia, Spain; Charles Howell, Augusta, Ga.; Stuart Appleby, Australia

            1:47 p.m. – 8:17 a.m. - Ernie Els, South Africa; Chris DiMarco, Heathrow, Fla.; K.J. Choi, Korea

            1:58 p.m. – 8:28 a.m. - Kenny Perry, Franklin, Ky.; Miguel Angel Jimenez, Spain; Bart Bryant, Ocoee, Fla.

            2:09 p.m. – 8:39 a.m. - Skip Kendall, Windermere, Fla.; Charl Schwartzel, South Africa; Ryuji Imada, Japan

            2:20 p.m. – 8:50 a.m. - A-Ryan Posey, Dallas, Texas; Stephen Gangluff, Marysville, Ohio; Jason Allred, Scottsdale, Ariz.

            2:31 p.m. – 9:01 a.m. - Chad Collins, Cloverdale, Ind.; David Oh, Cerritos, Calif.; Lee Williams, Alexander City, Ala.

            2:42 p.m. – 9:12 a.m. - Andy Bare, Jacksonville, Fla.; Dustin White, Pueblo West, Colo.; A-Ryan Baca, Richmond, Texas

 

[Matt_Cohn]

The USGA always seems to have a bit of fun with their pairings. But I only see three that caught my eye:

The short-knockers' threesome of Funk, Pavin, and Doyle.

The why-haven't-they-won-more? threesome of Garcia, Appleby, and Howell.

The yeah-they've-won-majors-but-they-don't-have-a-chance-here group of Hamilton, Janzen, and Jones.

Any others?

[John Chilver-Stainer]

A flight that caught my eye was Tiger’s – for the similarity it had with his first round flight at the Masters 2006.

Both flights cinsist of  Tiger + Amateur + Australasian

In this case the Amateur is the same - Edoardo Molinari from Italy


Masters 2006 First Round Flight

Tiger Woods,
Edoardo Molinari (A) Italy,  
Richard Allenby, Australia


US Open 2006, First Round Flight

Tiger Woods,
Edoardo Molinari (A) Italy,  
Michael Campbell New Zealand


Is this more than just a coincidence or is it a formular ?

What an honour for Molinari to play with the World Nr. 1 and and with the current US Open champ together and what a pressure - to be faced with the probably the biggest gallery of the day.

[Chris Kane]

Its a formula: at the Masters they have (1) the defending champion + (2) US Amateur champion + (3) Open Champion.  As Tiger is both (1) and (3), Allenby filled in.

At the US Open its (1) the defending champion + (2) US Amateur champion + (3) Masters champion.

[John Chilver-Stainer]

Chris,

Thanks for the information. Are there any other formulaic flights.

Sometimes the Competitions organisers come up with some interesting combinations –one of my favourites at a European Tour Event – the Swiss Open or the European Masters as they call it now was –

Eduard Romero
Sam Torrance
Corey Pavin

Can you guess the common denominater ?

[Matt_Ward]

2006 U.S. OPEN PRE-CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYER INTERVIEWS (TENTATIVE)

Monday, June 12

2 p.m.             -- Andrew Svoboda (Winged Foot member)

Tuesday, June 13

10 a.m.           -- Michael Campbell
10:30 a.m.      -- Luke Donald
11:30 a.m.      -- Madalitso Muthiya (native of Zambia)
12 noon          -- Tadd Fujikawa (a) (15 years old)
1 p.m.             -- Tiger Woods
1:30 p.m.        -- Phil Mickelson
2:30 p.m.        -- Ernie Els

Wednesday, June 14

9 a.m.             -- MGA Golfworks Program (4 people)
10 a.m.           -- GWAA Meeting
11 a.m.           -- USGA Conference

 

[Matt_Ward]

Tiger will finally arrive "officially" at Winged Foot for his early Tuesday morning practice round -- pre 7:30 AM. Retief & Phil are also playing early with the hope of flying below the radar.

Fat chance.

[mike_malone]

 We were disappointed that Tiger was a noshow for his 1:14 time off of ten.

    My visit did not change any impressions I formed from playing it. In fact , looking at the holes from the side just reinforced that there is very little elevation change here. Little elevation change, not much contour in the fairways, "slight" doglegs put big pressure on the green complexes to deliver the goods. And these are mostly manufactured to get the contours and deep bunkers. It is a stretch to reach the heights of "greatness" with all these drawbacks.

    The course appeared " soft". I don't know how firm it will get with some rain possible and the humidity is beginning to rise.

    I found the doglegs though. They were at the Saxon (Hills) Country Club and Restaurant that the bus passed on the way.

[Matt_Ward]

What always amazes me about WF / West is that despite the land not being special when compared to more rolling layouts -it's the totality of the architectural details -- particularly as you zero in on the putting surfaces that make this layout a standout in my mind.

The West requires both distance and shot control. Plenty of players have dexterity in one category -- few, very few, in both. Especially under Open conditions.

Be very interesting to see how low the pros can go.

One other note that Mike raised -- we had heavy rains during the middle of last week and preceding the Barclays Classic -- the forecast for this week is for drier conditions prevailing with a hint of T-storms on Wednesday and possibly during one of the days on the weekend.

[mike_malone]

 Matt,

    It seems that one needs to work hard to explain the "greatness" of WFW. It ain't so hard to do it for NGLA or Shinnecock or Royal County Down or Ballybunion.