AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > June > 18 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSelf-destruction at Open
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Mamaroneck, N.Y. — Seldom, if ever, have so many errant golf shots been struck in the guise of professionalism. Perhaps not since Scottish shepherds first played the game with their herding crooks. Cruel? Maybe, but sorry Tiger Woods couldn’t be here. It would have been less boring, for there would have been somebody to pull for, or against.
This is written here with apology to the United States Golf Association, organizer of the 106th U.S. Open Championship, played across the bedeviling acreage of Winged Foot Golf Club, which has built up quite a reputation for bedevilment over the years. This should not reflect upon the new champion, first Australian who has won the American national championship since David Graham in 1981 at Merion. His name is Geoff Ogilvy, 29 years old, whose registered address is Melbourne, and whose ancestery is purported to be traced all the way back to Robert the Bruce of Scotland.
Ogilvy is not your average off-the-wall flash in the pan. Earlier this year, he won the World Match Play Championship, defeating Davis Love III in the final match. He won previously in the Tucson Chrysler Classic last year, and has finished fifth in the Masters and sixth in the British Open. Nevertheless, he won this major championship because the grounds were littered with casualties of fallen fellow warriors who decorated themselves in shame, bringing to mind the name of the favored Phil Mickelson.
“Lefty” had predicted earlier this week that the winning score would be over par, and indeed it was, as was he, but he was not invited to the winner’s party. He had the lead and looked safely bound for his third major championship in a row — PGA Championship last year and the Masters this year — when he teed his ball to play the 18th hole. You should have seen the expression of horror that creased his face after striking the ball. Mouth agape, “Oh, no!” came forth, if I am not misreading his lips.
The ball struck a merchandise tent and rebounded onto a spectators walkway. His second shot struck a tree, his third nestled in a bunker, his fourth fled across the green into deep rough, and by the time he was through, he had used six strokes to play a par-4 hole. Since his lead had been a single stroke, Ogilvy won the title standing by in the company of his exhilarated wife. His route to the crucial par on the 18th hole had been a delicate one. His approach rolled down a slope off the green, but he then repaired the damage with a chip that came to rest four feet from the pin, and par.
In his own words, Mickelson later said of himself, “I am an idiot.” Who was to dispute him, considering that he had spent more time in the trees than the squirrels? All day long, he hit only two fairways. As the day rumbled along, at one time or another various players had had a taste of the lead, Mickelson, the Irish Padraig Harrington, the Scottish Colin Montgomerie, the lesser known Englishman Kenneth Ferrie, Jim Furyk and Ogilvy. Ferrie, playing alongside Mickelson, was the dark horse of the field, tied with Phil as they began the day. He finished tied for sixth with a handful of others.
I should mention that Ogilvy’s winning score was 285. Par on the exhausting West Course is 280. When Hale Irwin won the Open here in 1974, his score was 7-over par, prompting various pundits to brand that championship “Massacre at Winged Foot.” In contrast, this was more self-destruction.
Montgomerie added a dollop of spice to the event as the close neared. Twice denied a U.S. Open championship, at Oakmont and Congressional, the sometimes pompous Scot birdied the 17th hole and approached the 18th tied for the lead. His approach found thick rough, he pitched out 40 feet across the green, the come-back putt was 10 feet long, and the double bogey took him out.
Not to be overlooked is that David Duval added a round of 71 to his score, finished at 291, in a tie for 16th, giving some signal to his return to form. It was his highest finish in a major event since he won the British Open.
High above at this time, however, where golf is still observed and spoken, there must be some of the old guard gazing on in disbelief. So to say, “Tsk, tsk, what has become of our game.”
Permalink | Comments (17) | Post your comment | Categories: Furman Bisher
Comments
By Todds_Worthless_Unit
June 19, 2006 12:51 AM | Link to this
I should think a man of your advanced years purporting to be an observer of the game would have come to understand and appreciate what the U.S. Open is by now Busher.
You get paid to write this sort of thing do you?
Your employer(s) is (are) the idiot(s).
By BirdDawg
June 19, 2006 12:53 AM | Link to this
New Phil picked the worst possible moment to turn into Old Phil.
I feel for him.
But I think when his coaches get ahold of him, and say “See! We told you!” he’ll come out of this with an even more dogged determination, and the British Open will come down to an embarrassed Tiger Woods and an embarrassed Phil Mickelson battling it out as the final pairing.
We should only be so lucky!
Great as always, Furman.
By BirdDawg
June 19, 2006 12:55 AM | Link to this
Tood, you’re an idiot. Go peddle your brand of moronism over on Moore’s blog.
By Todds_Worthless_Unit
June 19, 2006 01:24 AM | Link to this
RAH RAH RAH
SIS BOOM BAH
I AM BIRD DAWG
HA HA HA
By Terrell
June 19, 2006 08:33 AM | Link to this
Why does NBC make us have to endure Johnny Miller. He is horrible and needs to be beaten with a 3-iron.
By LEW HEGE
June 19, 2006 09:37 AM | Link to this
Another excellent column! As a writer who has also covered more than 50 majors, Mr. Bisher’s are always great.
Those who castigate him probably would be more at home in a c**-fighting arena or at a monster truck jam.
By William
June 19, 2006 10:02 AM | Link to this
Great Furman! I have always said “stupid golf is worse than bad golf”> Pros should never play “stupid golf”. We all know that mental errors kill everyone. Also, folks like Todds could not carry anybody’s jock strap!AND Johnny Miller needs to get a life - I am one who tunes him out!
By William
June 19, 2006 10:03 AM | Link to this
Great Furman! I have always said “stupid golf is worse than bad golf”> Pros should never play “stupid golf”. We all know that mental errors kill everyone. Also, folks like Todds could not carry anybody’s jock strap!AND Johnny Miller needs to get a life - I am one who tunes him out!
By Brian
June 19, 2006 11:00 AM | Link to this
Good read Furman. Why Phil, who only had hit two fairways, decides to hit driver will always haunt me. The pros can hit five irons 200 yards. Why not hit one off the tee and cruise on in. I will never be able to figure this one out.
By crs
June 19, 2006 11:06 AM | Link to this
On Johnny Miller, I agree 1000%, his a pompous you know what, you would think he had career numbers like Jack Nickalus or Tiger Woods, if one of them talked like that I would give them a pass but Miller is a toolshed. On Phil, he said the reason he did not hit four wood was he was worried if he sliced he would be too far back to do anything yardage wise. Bottom line and the numbers back this up, versus other tops players, Phil’s sunday scores are poor, Phil is not a great Sunday player, the 2/14 fairways is somewhat deceptive but Phil did not have a good round. That said, the other top players really struggled as well. Phil had a chance though to really cement a great leagcy with a win Sunday and instead ended up taking a step back, the US Open meltdown could prove to be his legacy which is sad given he has won three majors.
By Scott Erickson
June 19, 2006 01:15 PM | Link to this
Classis Quote from the Golf Superintendant from Winged Foot in “74, a man named Tatum, “we’re certainly not trying to embarrass the best golfers in the world, we’re simply trying to identify them.” Go Winged Foot and to hell with these pompous pampered millionaires like Monty and Michelson who won’t go on camera live afterwards to dicuss their play, or lack thereof.
By crs
June 19, 2006 02:03 PM | Link to this
What are you talking about? Mickelson answered all the questions the press had at the press conference shortly after the tourney ended he was polite and answered all questions even the stupid ones.
By cwright
June 19, 2006 02:29 PM | Link to this
To Scott, The Tatum you refer to was Sandy Tatum and at the time was the President of the USGA..and I think he said “humiliate” not embarass.
By Michael
June 19, 2006 06:57 PM | Link to this
I’m sure I’m the only one, but I truly enjoyed the Mikelson meltdown yesterday. That fake smile on his face was priceless. I am so anti- Phil, it’s not even funny. It was great so see phil let down the New York fans AGAIN! First Bethpage, then Shinnecock, and now Winged Foot. I don’t know how many more letdowns these fans will take before they start booing him like A-Rod! Oh and the best part was the chosen one letting down Johnny Miller, Roger Maltbie, and the crew of NBC! Without question, it was my favorite Father’s Day since Pinehurst in 1999.
By Leroy Rogers
June 19, 2006 08:25 PM | Link to this
Just how many time will any pro need only a par to win or a bogey to tie for a major golf tournament? BTW, “major” tournaments are the worst way to judge players careers. Want some names? Lou Graham, Steve Jones, Orville, Moody, and many more. Just an old timers opinion…also, it now appears anything goes as far as equipment since Calloway came out with the ERC II..and it seems most players have “hybrid” clubs…any idea the USGA has a clue what they are like? Vijay Singh has an iron for the rough that will weigh several pounds. Excuse me…the game is headed where pro basketball is…they need to raise the rims about two feet and play the game Naismith thought of years ago.
By Leroy Rogers
June 19, 2006 08:25 PM | Link to this
Just how many time will any pro need only a par to win or a bogey to tie for a major golf tournament? BTW, “major” tournaments are the worst way to judge players careers. Want some names? Lou Graham, Steve Jones, Orville, Moody, and many more. Just an old timers opinion…also, it now appears anything goes as far as equipment since Calloway came out with the ERC II..and it seems most players have “hybrid” clubs…any idea the USGA has a clue what they are like? Vijay Singh has an iron for the rough that will weigh several pounds. Excuse me…the game is headed where pro basketball is…they need to raise the rims about two feet and play the game Naismith thought of years ago.
By Birddawg
June 19, 2006 11:31 PM | Link to this
Furman, the only problem with your article is that it’s too short. If this championship was a movie, it would have to be a comedy…there was no drama. Not even a Hollywood script writer would think of having their central character pull driver on 17 with a lead only to have to take a drop from a TRASH CAN. Then, escape with the lead and pull driver again on 18 only to bank it off a hospitality tent, then hit a tree, then have to play from a “fried egg” lie in the green side bunker,etc. Too funny!