LITTLE ROCK — U.S. Open accenting the open
Much was made of Graeme McDowell’s victory Sunday in the U.S. Open being the first by a European in 40 years.
Before Northern Ireland’s McDowell, 30, held up the trophy, the last European to win was Englishman Tony Jacklin, the 1970 champion at Hazeltine in Minnesota.
But don’t get the idea that American-born golfers have dominated the U.S. Open in recent years.
McDowell’s victory was the sixth by a golfer from outside the United States since 2001, the eighth time a foreign golfer has won since 1994.
Better get used to it.
Americans Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are 1-2 in the World Golf Rankings, with Steve Stricker at No. 4 and Jim Furyk No. 5. But the rest of the world holds down 14 of the remaining 16 spots in the top 20.
Where’s the party?
Graeme McDowell has undoubtedly locked up a spot on captain Colin Montgomery’s European Ryder Cup team, which hosts the United States in early October.
Montgomery should have been pleased to hear that McDowell’s U.S. Open celebration might be over by then.
“Probably I should sober up pre-Ryder Cup at some point,” McDowell said.
Turn out the lights
There was nowhere for third round leader Dustin Johnson to hide during Sunday’s final round of the U.S. Open. It was bad enough that Johnson was the main focus of coverage while losing six strokes to par on three holes to lose the lead, but the TV cameras never really abandoned him because he was paired with McDowell, the eventual winner.
Johnson, 26, said afterward he was ready to get some food, get on his plane and get ready for next week.
“I was just a little bit off today,” he told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Just a little bit.
Sunday discount
Unlike many of the venues the United States Golf Association uses to hold the U.S. Open, Pebble Beach is open to the public.
Those who can afford it.
Greens fees are $495 for 18 holes of golf, plus another $35 for a cart.
So, it might be understandable that Spain’s Pablo Martin didn’t mind playing by himself Sunday.
Last in the field going into Sunday’s round, Martin teed off first and played in 2 hours, 39 minutes as a single.
“It’s so nice here,” Martin said.
“I’m happy we get to play for free.”
Martin did better than that. He got paid $11,707 for his 27-over-par finish.
Making fun
Renowned writer Dan Jenkins of Golf Digest had some fun at the expense of players who were not having fun at the U.S. Open on Sunday.
Jenkins tweeted:
“What’s it say when Dustin Johnson is 9 over for the day and still isn’t out of the tournament?”
“The biggest crime today isn’t Dustin’s triple bogey. It’s Phil’s pinstripe pants.”
“Who’s Gregory Havret? (a) A boutique winery; (b) a qualifier at Wimbledon; (c) the press room’s greatest fear.”Quote of the day
“Sometimes you win,
sometimes you lose; it doesn’t always turn out the way you want. But there are going to be no further consequences.”
North Korea soccer Coach Kim Jong Hun, after his team suffered a 7-0 loss at the hands of Portugal in
Monday’s World Cup action
Sports, Pages 16 on 06/22/2010