6/15/2008 US Open Championship, Torrey Pines South Golf Course, LaJolla, CA


 13 years ago today...

June 15, 2008 - LaJolla, CA

In one of the most iconic moments in US Open history, Tiger Woods drained a birdie putt on the 18th green at Torrey Pines South, forcing a next-day 18-hole playoff with Rocco Mediate that Wood eventually won.
We attended Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Torrey Pines, a municipal public golf course that we have played several times in the past. We walked most of the course for the first two days before settling in to the grandstands on 18 for the final round.
Patrons were sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in the grandstands on 18. No one wanted to give up their seat, so when nature called and the need for cocktails arose, marshalls gave seated guests a golf course token and a “password” for re-admission to the packed stands, good for 30 minutes. Our patience and refusal to leave paid off as we watched live one of the most famous moments in golf history, now known as “The Putt.”
Therese and I appeared in Sports Illustrated the next week, small specs in a two-page aerial photo capturing the reaction of Woods, his caddy and the gallery once the putt was holed.
Tigers birdie forced an 18-hole playoff the next day with journeyman Rocco Mediate. This playoff required a sudden-death extra hole with Tiger, playing on a broken leg undisclosed at the time, winning the national championship.
In a massive merchandise tent, we met Jim Nantz signing his new biography, and Annika Sorenstam, Charlie Sifford and Chi Chi Rodriguez meeting fans. The picture of us and the US Open trophy with Torrey Pines as the backdrop was a green screen image, as cameras were not allowed on the course.
During the tournament, a tradition that annual concludes on Father’s Day, I was reminded of when my parents took me to my only other US Open, the 1975 version at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago. I can recall the Medinah fairways being comparable to the very best putting greens I had ever played on as a teenager. I thank my mom and dad, both very good players in their day, for introducing me to a game we can play for life.
This weekend, the US Open returns to Torrey Pines. This will look great on television, and fill my heart and mind with joy remembering our remarkable weekend at Torrey Pines, and memories of playing and watching golf with my parents. Happy Father’s Day this Sunday!



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

7/10/21 Super Bowl of Rock: Ted Nugent, Lynyrd Skynyrd, REO Speedwagon, Journey, .38 Special, Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

Image
 44 years ago today... July 10, 1977 - Chicago, IL The "Super Bowl of Rock" headlined by Ted Nugent and Lynyrd Skynyrd was held at Soldier Field. The day opened with a then-relatively unknown .38 Special followed by a new version of Journey and one of the first ever appearances by Steve Perry. Regional favorites REO Speedwagon came on next and then Skynyrd, at their live show peak and the best band of the day. Ted Nugent, also arguably at his career peak performance-wise, closed the festival. In this pre-bottled water era, each of the 60K+ in attendance at Soldier Field could bring in a gallon jug. When Nugent took the stage, the empty jugs were thrown from the back and upper levels of the stadium down to the main floor and toward the stage. Jugs were tossed at the band with Nuge egging it on. So many gallon jugs accumulated on stage the show was stopped and staff with push brooms worked to clear the area.
Read more

5/18/2018 Lynyrd Skynyrd "Farewell Tour," Support from Bad Company, Jamey Johnson & Outlaws, Ak-Chin Pavilion, Phoenix, AZ

Image
 3 years ago today... May 18, 2018 - Phoenix, AZ Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd performed in concert as part of their seemingly-endless Farewell Tour at Ak-Chin Pavilion. Under the tour title "Last of the Street Survivors," the current edition of Skynyrd drew a sold-out crowd to the outdoor amphitheater. Guitarist Gary Rossington was the only original member still rocking. Ronnie Van Zant's little brother Johnny remained the lead vocalist, carrying on for the original singer who died in the tragic plane crash of 1977. This was a long night of music, kicking off with a 30-minute show from the Outlaws, a four-song set with the closing song "Green Grass & High Tides" taking up half their time allotment. Jamey Johnson followed with an acoustic set where he was joined by one other guitarist, playing his hits "In Color" and "Mowing Down The Roses." Next up was Bad Company and the return of original singer Paul Rodgers. Bad Co performed an h...
Read more

6/4/1978 Waylon's Midwest Jamboree, Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, Hank Williams Jr., Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Pure Prairie League, Heartsfield, Rockford Speedway, Rockford, IL

Image
 43 years ago today... June 4, 1978 - Rockford, IL Outlaw country and southern rock performed loudly was on the bill for Waylon's Midwest Jamboree at Rockford Speedway. Waylon Jennings headlined this one-day festival that rocked from noon until dusk. Joining Waylon on the bill were his wife Jessi Colter, Hank Williams Jr., Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Pure Prairie League and Heartsfield. This show and all of these bands were squarely in my wheelhouse at the time, and we played their 8-track tapes in my El Camino on the drive there. This concert was only a couple years following the release of the album titled "Wanted: The Outlaws," a release featuring Waylon, Jessi, Willie Nelson and Tompall Glaser that is credited for launching the Outlaw Country musical genre. Hank Jr. had just ditched the rhinestone suits and playing his father's lovesick blues in favor of turning up the amps and blasting electric guitars. NGDB renamed themselves "Dirt Band," in an attempt...
Read more