A us open miscellany by PHILIP REID
Winged figure: Wrong angle
GRAEME McDowell – who saw the handing back of his US Open trophy as signalling the end of his reign – is on the look-out for a silversmith to carry out a little bit of repair work on the two replica trophies which he will keep in perpetuity. For some reason, the figure of the winged woman atop his replicas is at an angle on both trophies. “We haven’t tracked the answer but all we know is the USGA has one here that is perfectly straight so I’m actually going to have to have my two replicas re-done, or the lids re-done. She’s askew, she’s not sitting up there too straight. It’s weird. Something happened.”
McDowell has brought the trophy with him to tournaments all over the world, including three times to Asia. Was there any sentimentality on handing it back? “My manager Conor (Ridge) was more sentimental. He was all about hanging on to it for the last week and doing stuff with it. But I felt like, I’ve enjoyed it and I’ve got my replica sitting in my house in Orlando. I didn’t want to take it on one last soiree, I was happy enough to send it back . . . maybe part of me was ready to move on.”
The US Open trophy dates back to 1947, when it was first presented by the USGA. This model is very similar to an earlier original trophy first designed in 1895 but destroyed by fire in 1946.
Old Fred won't funk it
TOM Watson’s close call at the British Open in 2009 is a reminder to Fred Funk he isn’t here to make up the numbers. Funk, who celebrated his 55th birthday yesterday, made his US Tour debut at Congressional 30 years ago . . . and, now, the former golf coach at the nearby University of Maryland who plays mainly on the Champions Tour these days is determined to make a showing after booking a place through the qualifying route. “I’m not here just to walk two rounds or four rounds and just show up. I want to be able to be competitive and I truly believe I can.”
Future US Open venues
2012
– The Olympic Club, San Francisco: a four-time US Open site, Olympic has seen Jack Fleck, Billy Casper, Scott Simpson and Lee Janzen win.
2013
– Merion Golf Club, Pennsylvania: it last played host to the championship in 1981, when Australian David Graham triumphed.
2014
– Pinehurst No 2, North Carolina: in a first, the US Open and the US Women’s Open will visit on back-to-back weeks.
2015
– Chambers Bay, Washington: this new development will be holding the US Open for the first time.
2016
– Oakmont Country Club, Pennsylvania: the site of eight previous US Opens, most recently in 2007 when Angel Cabrera won.
