On Thursday morning, as the dew begins to burn off the neatly trimmed fairways of Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA, the 113th US Open will officially begin. A field of 156 players will vie for the chance to kiss that coveted silver jug on Sunday evening, but only one will go home a champion. Many of the world’s greatest golfers have assembled at Merion for this yearly test of skill and will, including World #1 Tiger Woods, 2013 Masters Champion Adam Scott, 2011 US Open Champion Rory McIlroy, and a host of other well-known pros. But mixed in with the names you know, are a group of names you probably don’t; all capable of delivering a storyline no one expects.
Courtesy: Bleacher Report
This is what makes the US Open the most dramatic, intriguing, and – quite simply put – American tournament in the world. 10 amateurs join the 146 professionals at this year’s US Open, all with the goal of becoming the first to hoist the trophy since Johnny Goodman in 1933. Elitism may reign supreme in professional sports, but it at least faces a challenge here at the Open. No other tournament of this stature in the world lets David tee it up next to Goliath each year, with the very real possibility of a David victory. It’s what makes golf, and specifically the US Open, so relatable to the casual viewer.
If you’ve ever hacked your way around a local track, you’ve put yourself on the road to golf’s greatest test. Every stroke you shave off your personal best is another step closer to the grand stage. A local baller, schooling guys on a neighborhood court, can dream of the NBA Finals. A pitcher striking out the side in his regional travel league can fantasize about the World Series. These guys can be good, great even, and never get the chance to show the world because their ascension is hampered by opportunity, opinion, and bureaucracy.
But not Gavin Hall, a freshman from UCLA who birdied his final four holes to win a place as one of four qualifiers from Purchase, NY. And not Grayson Murray who needed an eagle and three birdies of his own over his last six holes to take a qualifying spot out of Ball Ground, GA. And certainly not Max Homa, a senior from the University of California who survived a playoff to make the field at Merion.
These three, along with seven others from the amateur ranks, were given a clear path to the top of the mountain and they all let their games lead them there. Unlike other sports where salary caps, coaches’ opinions, and general managers’ decrees can all be stumbling blocks to the pros, golf’s biggest tournament makes it simple; finish high enough in a local and sectional qualifying event and you’re in. Simple as that.
In fact, the PGA tour has always been the most diplomatic professional sport in the US. Prior to every PGA tour season, a series of tournaments referred to as “Q-School”, has been held for struggling professionals and amateurs to compete for a chance to play on tour for the coming year. The grueling series tests the players and their games like no other, awarding tour cards to the top 25 players (plus ties) when all is said and done. Boiled down- it’s the opportunity that so many undiscovered talents in other sports simply never get. Unfortunately, Q-School was officially discontinued after the 2013 PGA Tour season, leaving the US Open as the last truly “open” opportunity for great amateur players to compete against the best in the world.
And this brings us back to this year’s tournament, just a couple of days away. When the cameras flash Sunday night, capturing the images of the player whose life has just changed for the better, who will it be? Will Tiger Woods finally end his drought in major tournaments? Not since the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines, when he beat Rocco Mediate on a broken leg, has the greatest golfer of our generation tallied a major win. Will Rory McIlroy capture a second Open trophy and solidify his spot as the best young golfer on tour today? Perhaps another veteran player like Phil Mickelson or Stewart Cink or Ernie Els will take this year’s title. All of these are possibilities that would shock no one.
But maybe, just maybe, 2012 US Amateur Champion Steven Fox will put together the best four rounds of his life. Or maybe Cheng-Tsung Pan will outplay his number 5 ranking in the World Amateur golf rankings. Or perhaps Kevin Phelan will avenge his missed cut in the 2010 US Open, his last appearance, with a flawless 72 holes. These possibilities are far more unlikely, but also far from impossible. And they are some of the reasons why millions will tune in this weekend to watch the drama and skill that have come to define this tournament for over a century. David vs. Goliath…now that’s what sport is all about.
