Congo Contestants Cry: Okay, We Really Appreciate Ken Venturi's 1964 U.S. Open Win A Whole Lot More Now
Doug Ferguson on the positively miserable day at Congressional during round two of the AT&T National, which may have made everyone a lot more appreciative of Venturi's win there. After all, that triumph has bene marginalized over time, perhaps because CBS hyped it so hard every year during Kemper Open telecasts that Jake Trout and The Flounders even spoofed it in a song lyric.
Towels were used to wipe sweaty faces more than to clean irons. Tim Herron was on the putting green, ready to tee off in the afternoon, when he asked, "Anyone pass out?"
It was the kind of day reminiscent of when Ken Venturi won the 1964 U.S. Open at Congressional, so dehydrated he almost didn't finish. And high heat was expected well into the weekend, making this a test of survival.
At 4 p.m. Friday, the temperature reached 100 degrees, the heat index an oppressive 109. If any Washington golf fan under the age of 50 ever wondered what Ken Venturi endured on the legendary sweltering day he won the 1964 U.S. Open at Congressional, he could have found out Friday.
“I don’t know how much worse it can get out there,” said Rod Pampling, who shot 67 and sits three back. “It’s ridiculous.”
The brutal conditions combined with the course setup to create a higher cut than last year's U.S. Open at Congressional, writes Ryan Ballengee.
The 36-hole cut will be made at 6-over 148, which is two shots higher than the cut last year in the U.S. Open here. Two weeks ago at The Olympic Club, the two-round cut was 8 over par.
In fact, the AT&T National cut is the second highest this season. The Masters cut had been second highest at 5 over.
Geoff
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