The 123rd edition of the United States Open Golf Championship tees it up Thursday at the North Course at the Los Angeles Country Club. This will mark the very first time that our National Open will be contested at the iconic turn-of-the-century, old-style course that was designed by the triumvirate of George Thomas (Riviera, Stanford), Billy Bell Sr. (Bel Air, Tilden), and Herbert Fowler (Eastward Ho). The club itself was initially founded in 1897 and its very exclusive members include the old-money high society of Los Angeles.
LACC had been used as a site for the Los Angeles Open, but that was generations ago. The LA Open was contested there in 1928, 1934, 1935, 1936 and 1940. As a prelude to how the course would handle the Open, the United States Golf Association (USGA) hosted the Walker Cup there in 2017. Collin Morikawa and Scottie Scheffler were on that squad for Team USA but others on the team such as the currently injured Will Zalatoris or Cameron Champ, who failed to qualify this time around, are just a few of the familiar names with any course knowledge. The North Course will play to a hefty 7,410 yards and a par of 70. The USGA has been trying for decades to get LACC to serve as an Open site, namely because of its reputation coupled with the fact that West Coast U.S. Opens are more financially beneficial from the television angle (prime time on the East Coast on weekends), and their persistence has finally paid off. As for prognosticating, except for some Southern California professionals such as Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele and Max Homa, no one will be going into next week with an advantage.
Of the four major championships, the U.S. Open is the most democratic of them all. The Masters is an invitational, the PGA Championship is specifically based on their criteria, and the British Open has a limited amount of qualifying spaces. Down through the years a Iowa driving range pro has qualified into and won the National Open (Jack Fleck) and a future Hall of Famer became known to the golfing world when he came off an El Paso driving range, placed high in the Open, and won the whole thing two years later (Lee Trevino). Even as recently as 2009, Lucas Glover got through 36-hole qualifying to win the Open at Bethpage.
This past Monday was “Golf’s Longest Day” as 10 regional qualifiers were contested across America and Canada. Earlier international qualifiers had been held in England and Japan. Prior to the regionals, 109 local qualifiers were held during late April and early May. Initially an eye-popping 10,187 professional golfers or amateurs with a handicap index of 1.4 or less had filled out entry forms into the National Open. That is the largest number ever to attempt to gain one of the 156 spots in the Open. A total of 14 of those qualifying sites were in California while another 13 were in Florida. There was just one in Alaska. Locally 1,282 entries came from California golfers. Some of those qualifying this past Monday included 50-year-old Stewart Cink, Eric Cole, Kevin Streelman, Ryan Armour, Taylor Pendrith and Nick Hardy. A total of 10 amateurs got through Longest Day qualifying, including a staggering four members of the Stanford University golf team. Some of those on the outside looking in are Bill Haas, Patton Kizzire, PGA club pro Michael Block, Ted Potter Jr. and Harry Higgs. Olin Browne Jr. did make it through Monday’s 36-hole grind. His father, Olin Brown, won the 2011 U.S. Senior Open. Of course, the world’s top 50 golfers are exempt into the Open
With limited course knowledge on an old-style traditional course, one would have to assume that some big name will be able to adapt to the nuances and vagaries of the North Course at Los Angeles Country Club next week. There is no doubt that the rough will be penal and the greens will be lightning fast. Perhaps defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick might be just the accuracy golfer to prevail once again in our National Open. Then again, the likes of Jon Rahm, the reigning Masters champion, might be a good call, especially since he had success since he won a past U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. Collin Morikawa is a Southern California kid with Walker Cup experience at LACC who, like Rahm, already has two major titles on his golfing resume. He too is an iron master who might be a good call. Of course, the best golfer at majors this year has been PGA champ and Masters’ runner-up Brooks Koepka. He has five major titles to his credit, two of them at the National Open. He too might be a good call.
Of course, a non-major winner could prevail as well. Look for a strong showing from the likes of Memorial titlist Viktor Hovland, British Open runner-up Cameron Young, Presidents Cup hero Tom Kim, Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, and another iron master in Sam Burns.
The 123rd version of the United States Open tees off Thursday morning at the Los Angeles Country Club. It’s the third major of the year and it is for the honor and glory of our national championship. Expect close to par to be a winning score and expect a world class golfer to add his name to golf history.
Sad note
Lastly, it is with great sadness in my heart that I report that Bob Norris of Cobb passed away last June 1. Bob died surrounded by his wife Nyla, son Robby, daughter Beth and their families at St. Helena Adventist Hospital. Bob had been suffering from leukemia.
Bob grew up in South San Francisco, was active in sports in elementary school and high school, and attended San Jose State University. He met his wife Nyla while at San Jose. Bob and Nyla moved to Lake County in the late 1970s and he initially taught and coached at Lower Lake High School. He then moved on to Middletown High School in the early 1980s. His claim to fame as far as these pages are concerned was the fact that he was the golf coach at MHS from 1984 through 2006. His 1998 team featuring Willie Leuzinger, Joey Myers and son Rob won the CMC South title and was one of the top teams in the Redwood Empire that year.
Bob was the ultimate sports fan, holding season tickets to San Francisco Giants and 49er games. He was a die-hard when it came to San Jose State Spartan football and had lots of notable fan accomplishments such as visiting every major league baseball park with his son one summer, driving the track at the Indy 500, and going to multiple U.S. Opens every time it was held at the Olympic Club. From my perspective, Bob Norris was one of the most colorful and engaging personalities in Lake County. He was also a super nice guy and a friend to everyone. He was an iconic figure positively impacting two generations of Middletown kids. Our world is a little less joyful because Bob Norris is no longer with us. Rest in peace my very good friend.
