As the fourth and final round of this year's US Open finally draws to a close, some of my (LIA Director of Communications, Marketing and Member Services Gary Wojtas) musings from the fairway. First, no matter how hard we try and hope, we cannot control the weather. And in one of the unprecedented Junes ever on Long Island, the rain just wouldn't or couldn't let up. This obviously caused all sorts of chaos for the USGA, the players and, of course the fans. Special kudos to the grounds crew, who kept the course playable even while the spectators had to mud bog their way around the 18 holes of Bethpage Black throughout the week.
While, I, personally am happy for Lucas Glover, the 2009 champion, who played with the heart of a lion, how can you not feel sorry for both David Duval and Phil Mickelson, both incredible players who deserved to win as much as Glover. But, as usually happens in a US Open, Glover made the shots and the putts he needed to during the last 4-5 holes, to win our National Championship.
As for Mickelson, coming up just short again in a US Open (the fifth time he has finished second), he just couldn't make the important shot when it really mattered. The incredible eagle on 13, following the birdie on 12 were offset by the three-put on 15 and the missed five foot putt on 17. For Duval it was mostly a day when the golf Gods were against him. Starting, with his first shot, the tee ball on 3 that buried in the bunker and ending, for him, when his parr put on 17 spun out of the cup.
Next year's Open heads back west to Pebble Beach on the Monterey peninsula in California. Its still unclear when the Open comes back to Long Island. Whether it will be Shinnecock and then Bethpage or vice versa, one thing is for sure: as much as New Yorkers get knocked for certain things, you can never question the passion for sports that exists in this region. Here's looking to another Open in Bethpage where the best players in the world are chasing that little white ball and the regional populace are on the edge of their seats for four or five days. Its another thing that makes Long Island truly great.
