Conference 7.286::golf

    
    Champion Curtis Strange heads the list of 62 players exempt from
    qualifying for the US Open at Medinah. This compares to the 100
    exemptions for THE OPEN at St Andrews in July. This ,for me, illustrates
    the difference between the associations in the attention they pay
    to the outstanding players around the world and to the players
    currently in form. There are only 8 Europeans exempt which is a 
    disgrace when you consider how the Europeans have dominated world 
    golf in recent years.
     I think the winner will come from Olazabal,Faldo,Woosnam or Strange.
    
    ps. who out there can name the 4 golfers who have won the US Open on
        4 occassions and who is the player Strange is trying to emulate
        by winning 3 in a row. 
    
                              Derek.

    I can't resist that question!
    The four are Willie Anderson (1901,1903,1904,1905),
    Bobby Jones (1923,1926,1929,1930), Ben Hogan (1948,1950,1951,1953),
    and Jack Nicklaus (1962,1967,1972,1980).
    The dates are off the top of my head (!) so no nit picks!
    
    From the dates you can see that Willie Anderson is the man that
    Curtis is trying to emulate.
    
    martin
    

    The way the two have been playing I will say Norman or Payne Stewart.
    
    Ted

    	I'll take Azinger and Norman.  I'll predict that the Zinger
    will win it.
    
    Beak

    
    	All right Beak...!
    
    	Azinger
    	Norman
    	Faldo
    	
    
    	

    
    
    
      Norman.
    
      All he has to do is remember to show up on Thurday and Friday.
    
    -Steve.

    Re: .1
    
    Without trying to cause another "Pond War" in this notes file, let me
    explain that by reducing the number of exempt players in "our" Open, it
    adds to the number of "open" players that can qualify. The club players
    with suitable handicaps (I think it's 3 and under) can tee it up in
    regional qualifiying and gain a spot in the Championship. My hat's off
    to the USGA for "opening" the Championship up to those that can compete
    at that level. Amatuers and Professionals alike.
    
    I stongly agree, there are better than 8 Europeans capable of competing
    and the USGA should take the Order of Merit into consideration when
    issuing exemption, but keep in mind even Arnold Palmer has to qualify.
    The USGA did not want to tie up available slots for a rising star and
    give it to a past Champion that may be past his competitive prime.
    
    I think they are doing the right thing.
    
    My picks:     Ballesteros
                  Norman
                  Couples
                  Faldo
                  Stewart
                  Strange

      ....will beat Norman on Sunday by a stroke by holing a 250 yd
      7 iron, he played from the top limb of a giant oak.

      :) :) :)

    
    Okay so the questions must have been too easy Martin.
    So can you answer this one ??What was Willie Anderson's grandmother's
    maiden name ?? :-)
    Tricky eh !!
                                      Derek.

    
    
     re .7
    
          Nothing like covering your bets!! You should have added the
    rest of the European Ryder cup team and you would have the best
    golfers in the world to choose from. Do you have piles from sitting
    on the fence :-)
    
            Danny

    This may turn out to be the only tournament Curtis can win!
    

    re:.9
    Willie Anderson's grandmothers maiden name !
    Hmmm....
    
    O'Grady of course!!
    
    martin

    Billy Mayfair nah. Harry Streeter(who?) Made a hole in one on the par
    three at the seniors for a cadilac. He'll do it to norman at the
    US Open.
    
    Anybody know who this guy is I saw him saturday and had no clue.
    
    Ted

    The best golfer in the world should be the favorite.  Funny,
    he is neither European or American, but an Aussie...
    
    GREG NORMAN
    
    (at least he lives in the U.S. and chooses to play on the most
    competitive tour in the world.)

    
    
        re last
    
           Most competitive tour for target golf on manicured courses
    in easy weather maybe, but not much of a test for the true craftsmen
    in the world who just happen to play the European Tour !!! :-)
                                                          
                                 Danny

    re.14
    
    He probably chooses to play in the states because it's easy money
    for him due to there being LESS competition.
    Either that or because it's sunny !!

     Re .15: I disagree. I've played in Scotland and Ireland, and the best
    courses there are, as a group better than our courses. HOWEVER, except
    for the British Open, they don't play the good courses on the European
    tour. Sure there is the Irish Open at Portmarnock (Insanely tough) and
    maybe one event at Turnberry (murder !), but that's about it. Hell,
    there are more great course in Scotland than all of Europe.
    
    -- Jack

    Fred Couples is a long hitter who is having a pretty good year. Boom
    Boom will win it this year.
    

    I think one of these three players will win the open. They are as
    follows:
    
    1. Nick Faldo
    2. Seve Ballestoros
    3. Greg Norman
    
    Mark
    
    

I'm not sure who will win the US Open, but I'm damned sure who won't: 
Seve. It's just not his kind of outing. Too narrow tee shot and too 
much trouble if he misses it. Maybe if he reworks his game ala 
Faldo...

Speaking of Faldo, he's got to be one of the top contenders. From the 
American front Payne and Ben are good shots (Ben did well the last 
time the Open was at Medina). Both have been hot recently. And If I 
were to pick a sentimental favorite, it would be Crenshaw.

But the winner--as is the case more with the US Open than any other 
major--will be someone NOBODY picks (except me). It will be...


Peter Jacobson

    I have a friend who purchased 2 U.S. Open Tickets for Friday June 15TH at
    Medinah CC. He is unable to go and is looking to sell them. The face value
    of these tickets is $35 each. If anyone is interested in purchasing
    them, please contact me and I will give you his phone number to make
    arrangements.

    As a follow up to an earlier note here are the numbers
    
    6198 entries will attempt to qualify for the '90 Open.(Pro's included)
    Of the 6198, 600 will advance to 12 Sectional sites across the country. 
    The 600 will play another 36 holes and 94 will advance to the Open.
    62 spots are already filled by players exempt from qualifying. 
    
    Your chances are: 
    
    1 in 10 to advance to the Sectional's.
    1 in 16 to qualify from the Sectional's to the Open.
    < 1 in 50 to advance from entry to the Open.
                                                                          

    I think the "pond" argument isn't so much about ability as it is style.
    The Americans have had to tailer there game to the monster drive,
    deadly pitch and perfect putting to win money which is what most of
    them are mainly out there for.  That's why the open brings out another
    type of player (Hale Irwin) and is a great opportunity for the great
    all-around games of the Europeans.  Would Woosnam for example be able
    to make more money competing on PGA tour than European Tour?  
    Most likely given the PACRIM golfers (Jumbo,Grady) that someone other
    than the top 5 U.S. and European names will win - for example Peter
    Jacobsen or 50 like him.
    
    I'll pick Scott Hoch.
    

    
    
    	Gazing into the crystal ball... the images are familiar, but
    	difficult to pick out. Wait there's one coming in , it's none
    	other than Nick Faldo grouped with Ben Crenshaw? Hmmm, wonder
    	if this means ANOTHER playoff?? Something tells me it'll come
    	down to the last hole, but it won't be a playoff...
    
    	As far as Curtis Strange making it 3 in a row ??? He won't even
    	get close. 
    
    	Although I really like Curtis... he's not playing the same game
    	he used to.

    No question about it.... NICK FALDO will win the open this time.
    
    Medinah is one of the toughest courses around without any
    changes....add to that deeper rough and faster greens and
    you have a course where the winner will be lucky to break
    par. Nick Faldo has the patients and the putting stroke to
    win this tournament and he will. 
    
    Headlines in the Chicago Trib read :
         FALDO WINS THE US OPEN WITH 72 PARS IN A ROW..........
    
    

    I'd like to pick Curtis, but the odds are against him, and he's been 
    lousy so far this year.  Maybe he needs to bitch more, throw clubs
    a few feet further, and tell the crowd to quiet down more often.
    I think he's on vacation this year...
    
    I like Freddy Couples chances.  
    
    Rick

    
    I have just read an article on Medinah C.C and the journalist states
    that the course is probably one of the "longest, most repetitive
    and tedious" he has ever played. He goes on to say that if "great
    courses produce great champions" then the 1990 US Open will be won
    by "Scott Simpson,or failing him,any other American professional
    with a personality rating of zero".
     Having seen an illustrated, hole by hole guide to Medinah I think
    it looks a tremendous course.
                                
                              Any thoughts,
                                            Derek.
                                                       

     I played Medinah # 3 last summer and it is the hardest golf course I
    have ever seen. Period. Shinnecock, Turnberry, Portmarnock, Carnoustie
    or Portrush might be harder in the wind, but I always seemed to catch
    them on mild days (except one time at Shinnecock in May which featured
    a monsoon). If the wind blows at Medinah you will not believe the
    scores. The Pros aren't even playing it all the way back...
    
    -- Jack

Curtis Strange.

    
    
    Gonna do it this year, yes sirree....
    
    

    
    Well, I thought this note would be full of info on the first round...!
    I only got to see less than � hour of coverage so I hope somebody that
    saw more will post some highlights.
    
    The players are unexpectedly beating the course, due to a storm that
    went through the night before and softened things up a bit...!
    
    The leaders are...
    
    Scott Simpson	66
    Jeff Sluman		66
    Tim Simpson		66
    
    Mike Donald		67
    Steve Jones		67
    
    John Huston		68
    Mark Brooks		68
    
    Billy Ray Brown	69
    Emlyn Aubrey	69
    Bob Tway		69
    Hale Irwin		69
    
    Brad Faxon		70
    Gil MOrgan		70
    Ian Woosnam		70
    Mike Reid		70
    Scott Hoch		70
    Tom Byrum		70
    Webb Heintzelman	70
    Tom Sieckmann	70
    Ray Stewart		70
    Larry Rinker	70
    Brian Claar		70
    Randy Wylie		70
    
    
    
    Nicklaus		71
    
    
    Norman		72
    Azinger		72
    Gamez		72
    Faldo		72
    
    Olazabal		73
    Strange		73
    Calcavecchia	73
    Ballesteros		73
    P. Stewart		73
    Zoeller		73
    
    Couples		74
    Watson		74
    
    Kite		75
    Crenshaw		75
    
    Langer		78

    
    Just out of curiosity, does anyone know how many people make the cut,
    and how the cut is determined.
    
    Steve
    

    The cut is made at the top 60 or 70 and anyone within 10 shots of the
    lead. Usually around 70 players.
    
    I had the VCR working overtime yesterday and caught all 6 hours. The
    scores were suprisingly low due to the storm. An interesting note, the
    last time the Open was played at Medinah the first round leader was at
    7 under par (again due to rain) and the winner shot 3 over. You can bet
    the USGA had the sprinklers off last night and by the time the Open is
    through the winner will be the course and a player around even par.
    
    

The only problem is that rain is forecast for the Chicago area right 
through Sunday. It'll be another open like last year's. Too bad. Soft 
greens make the course a whole lot easier for these guys, taking away 
some of the pressure from an already pressure-packed event. That 
brings a lot more of the field into contention, bringing the best out 
of the mediocre instead of the best out of the best, as a major is 
supposed to do. Still, it should be fun to watch, even if it's just a 
battle of the Simpsons...

    	I've got a bet with my future-father-in-law.  He picked Curtis and
    gave me the rest of the field.  Boy, that 6-pack is gonna taste good...
    
    -Tom
    

    Another tid bit... Former mini tour player, and regular golf partner
    Bob Sweitzer played Medina back about 10 years ago right before
    entering the mini.  He played with 3 other tour professionals and the
    best score that day was 80.  He shot 84 and felt he played well.  He
    thinks the equipment used today is worth 10 shots on that course to
    every player over that used 10 years ago.  I think something like
    7 under was good enough to win the last time Medina hosted the Open.
    
    Rick

    Looks like my hero is still on vacation.  Curtis ain't workin' like
    he should be!
    
    Rick

     I've got to agree with the remarks about equipment making the scores
    lower.  Medinah is the hardest course I've ever played and when you
    consider how the USGA sets up a course for an Open, it should have been
    impossible. Then they get it 8 UNDER!!
     I'll bet if the course was 8000 yards long, but soft, some of those
    guys would STILL make a number. I think that unless the next Open is
    played under hard, dry and windy conditions we'll continue to see low
    scores because there can't be harder layouts than Medinah (unless the
    USGA "tricks" the course up).
     It's kind of a shame that courses are no longer strong enough to
    withstand todays players and equipment to the point where par for 4
    rounds is a good score. But, "that's golf," and I have to take my hat
    off to the players.
    
    --Jack