NY Times: "No Fans at the U.S. Open Changes Golf’s Revenue Picture"

Paul Sullivan of the New York Times considers what the loss of normal U.S. Open revenue means for the various initiatives receiving USGA support. The story, as with others on the topic, mentioned a general number of $165 million in tournament revenue with $70 million in profit.

The two entities mentioned that got my eye:

Girls Golf, which works with girls to teach them golf and life skills, was hit with a double whammy in March. It receives $1 million from the U.S.G.A. and the L.P.G.A., the governing body for women’s golf, which halted its season in March.

“We didn’t really know what was going to happen,” said Nancy Henderson, chief teaching officer and president of the L.P.G.A. Foundation. “Our initial focus was our Girls Golf sites weren’t able to do programming in person, so we moved a lot of it online.”

While grants from both organizations came through, Ms. Henderson remains worried about next year. “That’s the big question,” she said. “You don’t know if you’ll be back to a new normal.”

Regarding the new normal and the sites hosting, there is a startling change in fees for 2020 host Winged Foot. According to Bryan Marsal, the chairman of the 2020 U.S. Open, the club will see only about 10% of what was expected.

“Our compensation was based on the number of fans that came to watch the tournament, plus the amount of merchandise that was sold in the merchandise tent, plus the corporate tents that were sold and the rental of the property,” he said. “We’ve had a 90 percent reduction in the revenue going to the club.”

2020 U.S. Open Flyover: Eighteenth At Winged Foot, The Putt That Changed Golf History And The Restoration

If you’ve watched early week coverage from Winged Foot, you know the 18th green just has something special going on. I don’t recall that sense the last time the West hosted in 2006. So we’ll chalk up that eye-catching quality to the restoration work reclaiming both shape, size and artistic flair to this historic location.

John Fischer takes us back to the putt that changed golf history and forced a 1929 U.S. Open playoff. Carve out a few minutes to go back to his moment, which now is easier to visuale in 2020 thanks to the green reclaiming its identical look.

The 12-foot putt that Jones faced on the 72nd hole was downhill on a fast green, with a left-to-right break. Jones took a few extra seconds to look over the putt. The gallery had swelled to 7,000, some standing back as far as the knoll in the 18th fairway to get a good view of the green.

Jones decided on his line and aimed 1½ feet above the cup. He stroked the ball amid dead silence from the huge crowd. The ball slowly rolled down the slope and seemed to hesitate at the edge of the cup. The gallery let out a collective gasp. Then, after seeming to hang on the lip, the ball fell into the cup. Thunderous cheering and applause followed. Jones had done it. He had tied Espinosa.

If you want to keep going back, why not get a little Grantland Rice in your life. His dispatch well after that day and one of the last things he authored.

The USGA also posted this nice recap of 1929 with club historian Neil Regan prominently featured.

The last flyover provided by the USGA and Deloitte to whet our 2020 U.S. Open appetite shows the 469 yarder seemingly discouraging driver off the tee due to the sharp bend left. Then again who knows in this wacky world of totally natural physique overhauls.

A good tee shot sets up a short-iron second to the masterful green, with its false front, roles, swales and difficulty. The 18th presents elements we’re not used to seeing: fairway bunker on the outside of the dogleg, and a seemingly left-to-right second where the greenside bunkering is on the outside left. A grass wall guards the right where you’d normally expect sand.

Hit pause on the flyover to soak up the green and imagined where the holes might be cut. There are some new beauties since the last time the tournament visited Winged Foot.

We Need A Deeper Range: U.S. Open Fencing Getting Mid-Week Expansion!?

Despite years of planning and the USGA’s extensive data on distance, it appears Bryson DeChambeau’s U.S. Open driving range work will force a Tuesday evening change to Winged Foot’s temporary fencing.

I'm told the USGA plans to move the netting back on the temporary range set up on the East Course. Bryson was bombing balls over it in the direction of parked cars. Send him out there with the scissors and add it to the list pic.twitter.com/1ritnMO25H

— Brendan Porath (@BrendanPorath) September 15, 2020

I’ve independently confirmed from two sources the veracity of Brendan Porath’s Tuesday Tweet based on an email to members.

The temporary range was not deep enough for today’s triathletes who’ve been armed with launch monitors, plant-based diets and conforming non-conforming equipment. And now the fence must move.

If you know anything about the USGA, you’re aware of the planning, refinement and expense that goes into a U.S. Open site preparation. Rarely does something like this happen. They’ve done this before.

But if there is any greater lunacy indicator on the rapidly expanding carry distances in elite golf, this might be it.

If there is better evidence of being totally outsmarted by players, equipment makers and technology, this might be the capper.

My sources say cars on the other side of the fence were in danger, a situation many golf courses have had to address at great cost and all to not tweak the rules or bifurcate them.

In the message to members, the club’s U.S. Open Chairman reported DeChambeau was the primary inspiration for moving the fence and range tee markers back. Cars, he said, were in danger. And not just the ones randomly parked on course as advertisements, but real courtesy cars.

Maybe this will do it?

Light On Deep, Hidden Meaning: USGA Announces Tee Times For 2020 U.S. Open

Lee Wybranski’s logo edition print.

The groupings are out and even with the field reduced to 144, it’s hard not to notice the size of those tee time windows. Times start about 12 minutes after sunrise and barring a shockingly fast pace of play, the last groups out will be playing well past sunset. Friday’s cloudy forecast suggests a Saturday morning finish is possible.

But hey, they’re playing a U.S. “Open” at Winged Foot, so what’s not to love?

Here is the field “by the numbers” for those wondering how many former U.S. Open Champions and how man Pub Links runner-ups made it.

Some themes are discernable but nothing like years past.

Of course, without fans I’m not sure why I’m even highlighting groups worth singling out to watch!

USGA Announces Tee Times For 120th U.S. Open Championship
 Sept. 17-20, 2020, Winged Foot Golf Club (West Course), Mamaroneck, N.Y.
 
All Times EDT
Thursday (Sept. 17), Hole #1 / Friday (Sept. 18), Hole #10

6:50 a.m. / 12:10 p.m. – Brandon Wu, Scarsdale, N.Y.; Curtis Luck, Australia; Ryan Fox, New Zealand

Rise and shine!

7:34 a.m. / 12:54 p.m. – Brendon Todd, Watkinsville, Ga.; Harris English, Moultrie, Ga.; (a) Davis Thompson, St. Simons Island, Ga.

Because they don’t see enough of each other, volume 1.

7:45 a.m. / 1:05 p.m. – Paul Waring, England; Victor Perez, France; Christiaan Bezuidenhout, South Africa

Because they don’t see enough of each other, volume 2.

7:56 a.m. / 1:16 p.m. – Hideki Matsuyama, Japan; Patrick Reed, Houston, Texas; Jordan Spieth, Dallas,Texas

A long year gets longer.

8:07 a.m. / 1:27 p.m. – Collin Morikawa, La Canada Flintridge, Calif.; Justin Thomas, Louisville, Ky.; Tiger Woods, Jupiter, Fla.

Because they don’t see enough of each other, volume 3.

Thursday (Sept. 17), Hole #10 / Friday (Sept. 18), Hole #1

6:50 a.m. / 12:10 p.m. – Daniel Balin, White Plains, N.Y.; Greyson Sigg, Augusta, Ga.; J.C. Ritchie, South Africa

Don’t know who you are, but please play fast.

7:23 a.m. / 12:43 p.m. – Martin Kaymer, Germany; Jimmy Walker, Boerne, Texas; (a) John Augenstein, Owensboro, Ky.

Didn’t see that one coming.

7:56 a.m. / 1:16 p.m. – Webb Simpson, Charlotte, N.C.; Sergio Garcia, Spain; Jason Day, Australia

Ok, Sergio has legit gripe on this front if he’s in fast play mode.

8:07 a.m. / 1:27 p.m. – Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland; Adam Scott, Australia; Justin Rose, England

That, is a very nice grouping for those three and never underestimate good company for your prognosticating.

8:18 a.m. / 1:38 p.m. – Ian Poulter, England; Patrick Cantlay, Jupiter, Fla.; Steve Stricker, Madison, Wis.

Patrick, take your time walking off the tee.

8:29 a.m. / 1:49 p.m. – Adam Hadwin, Canada; Mackenzie Hughes, Canada; Corey Conners, Canada

All three from Canada, get it.

Thursday (Sept. 17), Hole #1 / Friday (Sept. 18), Hole #10

12:32 p.m. / 7:12 a.m. – (a) Lukas Michel, Australia; Lucas Herbert, Australia; Matt Jones, Australia

Because they don’t see enough of each other, volume 4.

1:05 p.m. / 7:45 a.m. – Gary Woodland, Topeka, Kan.; (a) Andy Ogletree, Little Rock, Miss.; Shane Lowry, Republic of Ireland

It seems like they won about 4 years ago, grouping.

1:16 p.m. / 7:56 a.m. – Bryson DeChambeau, Clovis, Calif.; Dustin Johnson, Jupiter, Fla.; Tony Finau, Salt Lake City, Utah

As if Bryson needed incentive to swing harder.

1:27 p.m. / 8:07 a.m. – Phil Mickelson, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; Paul Casey, England; Jon Rahm, Spain

The Sun Devils!

1:38 p.m. / 8:18 a.m. – Rickie Fowler, Murrieta, Calif.; Matthew Wolff, Agoura Hills, Calif.; Viktor Hovland, Norway

The Sooners! ;)

Thursday (Sept. 17), Hole #10 / Friday (Sept. 18), Hole #1

1:05 p.m. / 7:45 a.m. – Matt Fitzpatrick, England; Daniel Berger, Jupiter, Fla.; Branden Grace, South Africa

Sleeper pick group.

1:16 p.m. / 7:56 a.m. – Tommy Fleetwood, England; Kevin Kisner, Aiken, S.C.; Abraham Ancer, Mexico

Sleeper pick group 2.

Johnny On Crappy Shots, Phil's Booth Appearance & NBC Getting The U.S. Open Back

Adam Schupak at Golfweek asks all the right questions in part one of this chat with Johnny Miller, who, frankly is missed as analysts increasingly cheer-lead and coddle.

There was this on calling a crappy shot a crappy shot:

GOLFWEEK: Have you become softer and less critical when you watch the PGA Tour now that you’re no longer in the broadcast booth?

JM: I don’t know if the word is critical. I see things that the other guys don’t see. When I see those things, I want to share them with the public. If it’s a crappy shot, it’s a crappy shot, it’s nothing personal. If I say it is a great shot, I want people to think, dang, Johnny, thought that was a great shot.

Like in the 2006 U.S. Open, we saw Phil (Mickelson) make two mental errors. You don’t have to play it like you’re on a white horse prancing up to the green. Poop it up there with a 3-iron, hit a 4-iron somewhere around the green, up and in or worst-case scenario you’re in a playoff. That was the biggest fall apart in that U.S. Open on the last hole in history. Harrington bogeyed the last three holes to lose by two. Furyk bogeyed the last hole. Mickelson made double bogey. Montgomerie got hosed, I thought. He had to wait for like 5 minutes. I thought he got such a bad break there. Then he chili-dipped it short of the green and didn’t get it up and in. Never has the last hole had so many scenarios. It was just incredible. That course is tough. Oakmont and Winged Foot must be the two toughest courses in tournament golf.

Ah…let’s get Johnny on Zoom this week! Or Comcast Business Solutions. Or whatever it takes!

GW: What did you think of NBC reacquiring the U.S. Open broadcast rights?

JM: If I had known that, I might have gone another year. It wasn’t like I had to retire.

Oh?

I’m happy for them. I don’t know how committed Fox was, but NBC is turning out the guns to make it a fantastic Open. Tommy Roy and Tom Randolph are like savants when it comes to TV golf and they’ll make it back to where it should be.

And on Phil Mickelson’s 2020 PGA Championship whirlwind booth visit that had (most) viewers wanting more:

GW: What did you think of Phil Mickelson’s guest appearance in the booth with CBS at the PGA Championship?

JM: They asked me who do you think could do a good job the way you like to see it done, and I said Tiger and Phil and I think Phil is even more outspoken. Both of those guys with their intellect and pedigree, Phil, I thought, was fabulous on TV. He’d probably like everyone to go home and he’d do all the jobs. Phil’s an amazing guy. He can talk. He doesn’t say, ‘In my opinion,’ but he can talk. All the great players are a little that way in they think they know it all and they make good decisions, which is a mark of a champion.

Well, mostly good decisions. Outside of Winged Foot.

COVID-19 WD's: U.S. Open Loses Players Of USGA "Family", "Pedigree"

I realize the branding folks have taken over so the chance John Bodenhamer issued these exact words is slim. But when a player withdraws from the 2020 U.S. Open due to a positive coronavirus test, is it really necessary to highlight his good USGA stock?

Hopefully Scottie Scheffler and Sam Horsfield never experience symptoms. The condolence quotes on their WD’s announced Sunday and Monday, respectively.

“We are sorry to lose a member of the USGA family in this year’s U.S. Open field,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA senior managing director, Championships. “Scottie has had a phenomenal rookie season and we look forward to welcoming him back to the U.S. Open Championship for many years to come.” 

Eh….”sorry”, “losing” and “family” member in 2020 just not a great ring to it.

“Sam has had an excellent year on the European Tour, winning the UK series to earn a spot in this year’s U.S. Open at Winged Foot, and we are disappointed to lose a player of his caliber from the field,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA senior managing director, Championships. “Sam has a wonderful USGA pedigree and we look forward to watching him play in future U.S. Open Championships.”

Horsfield played for Great Britain & Ireland in the 2017 Walker Cup. The R&A pedigree is strong in this one, too!

Besides the obvious health concerns for both young men, each was high atop lists of players with the potential to contend off of their stellar 2020 seasons. And those good USGA genes.

"The Meaning of Winged Foot: The club’s exceptional courses aren’t the only thing that set it apart"

Golf.com’s Michael Bamberger filed a long list of thoughts and memories of Winged Foot. Contributions are shared from Davis Love, Jim Nantz, Dan Hicks, Dave Marr, Sandy Tatum and Dave Anderson, among others, with cameos by Al Espinosa Jackie Pung and Tommy Armour.

From the piece, filed while waiting for his COVID-19 test.

Dave was a peach. Years later, by dint of alphabetical seating in different press boxes, we sat near one another. Dave, who died in 2018 and wrote some mega bestsellers, loved Winged Foot, wrote about it often and would have been just the kind of Winged Foot member Butch was talking about. But Dave was happy playing on his side of the Hudson River, at Knickerbocker, a Donald Ross course in Tenafly, N.J. As a reporter, Dave got stuff nobody else did. In 2006, the last time the U.S. Open was at Winged Foot, Dave captured this little exchange between Tiger Woods and Mike Davis for the benefit of his readers. This is how he wrote it and it’s perfect:

“When are you going to get the greens faster?” Woods said.

Davis wasn’t sure if Woods was serious or joking, but it didn’t matter.

“What you have,” Davis said, “is what you’re going to get.”

I am nearly certain Tiger was joking. That’s how his sense of humor runs. Also, the Winged Foot greens have so much slope. They’re always fast. There are many stories about four-putt greens in events major and minor there. Likely some five-putt greens, too.

2020 U.S. Open Flyover: Seventeenth Hole At Winged Foot

Stretched to 504 yards in anticipation of modern agronomy make drives go longer, Winged Foot West’s 17th bends in the opposite direction of the preceding par-4.

In the NBC conference call, lead announcer and member Dan Hicks tapped this as one of the holes he’s most interested in seeing.

But there's a new tee at 17 which is joined along the same teeing ground as 13 East. It’s brand new. It was put into play when they did the restoration on both the East and the West Course, and it plays over 500 yards from back there. 17's a gorgeous hole. That big Christmas tree that sits short right of it off the tee, which used to kind of protect the golfers that were coming up the other way from 12, is gone. So you see the entire hole, the slight dogleg to the right just kind of out in front of you, it's a gorgeous hole. They put some new bunkering down the right side, they added a couple bunkers down there that are going to test the guys from trying to bomb it over that. So that hole sticks out.

The green shape is another beauty and I hope the front right is pinable:

No. 17 at Winged Foot is a 504-yard par 4 with a green that was expanded in the 2016 course restoration by Gil Hanse. In the final round of the 2006 U.S. Open, Geoff Ogilvy chipped in to save par en route to his victory.

In collaboration with @DeloitteUS. pic.twitter.com/8NQYhGD32P

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) September 12, 2020

"Witnessing the Massacre at Winged Foot in the shadow of Hale Irwin"

Super work by Mike Dougherty tracking down Hale Irwin’s 16-year-old caddie from the 1974 U.S. Open for this Westchester Journal News profile.

Peter McGarey is 62 now and traveling from Scottsdale with his son to volunteer at the 2020 U.S. Open.

McGarey randomly drew Irwin and got the experience of a lifetime watching the eventual three-time winner prevail in the “massacre.”

But they did have one early week issue.

“Hale was very nice, very strict,” McGarey said. “He was disciplined and expected the same from me. There was a set of expectations. I’m sure it was on Monday, I wanted to see Arnold Palmer. You wore those blue jump suits and Hale’s name was pinned to my back. Palmer was coming up to nine green so I was waiting. I had the bag with me and Hale grabbed the back of my jumper. He was not very happy.”

Irwin laughs about it now.

“Who wouldn’t want to watch Arnold Palmer?” he said. “We all did. I got to know Arnie better and better over the years. He was a great man and I don’t blame Peter one bit.”

2020 U.S. Open Flyover: Sixteenth Hole At Winged Foot

I’m guessing this is the least favorite hole at Winged Foot West for many because of its difficulty and whiff of awkwardness. Over-draw your tee shot and trouble awaits a second in the form of a 110-foot(!) tree. But a right-to-left play is needed to a point because the outside of the dogleg offers a better second shot view.

Unlike so many West Course holes, the approach to the green isn’t particularly inviting for any kind of run-up and the bunker foreshadowing the approach could best be described as, really round. The overhanging tree is also a bit much and hopefully won’t play an outsized role in this year’s tournament.

That said, another beautiful green complex awaits featuring a center ridge coming off of the right hand bunker face.

No. 16 at Winged Foot is a 498-yard, sharp dogleg-left par 4 that requires a tee shot past the corner for a view of the narrow green. The right side of the fairway provides the best angle of approach.

In collaboration with @DeloitteUS. pic.twitter.com/k2dHjt7MqG

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) September 11, 2020

Getting In The Mood For Winged Foot: Course, History And Clubhouse Primers

History, architecture and an epic clubhouse design awaits at Winged Foot for this week’s rescheduled 2020 U.S. Open.

At USOpen.com, Bradley Klein looks at Clifford Wendehack’s design, the many others he created and why he is the dean of golf clubhouse architects.

Ran Morrissett’s West Course review features plenty of details, critiques and some notes on characteristics might appeal to certain shot shapes.

For podcast listeners, Andy Johnson talks to Winged Foot historian Neil Regan who will teach you so much about the lore and design. A must listen!

They’ve had amazing finishes and thankfully the USGA has whittled down the drama into this 7-minute YouTube posting:

If you have more free time, this USGA film “Hale And Travail” has some incredible footage and moments from the 1974 broadcast.

2020 U.S. Open Flyover: Fifteenth Hole At Winged Foot

Barring a strong headwind, the 15th calls for a lay-up short of the creek, with more risk beyond 240 yards in the form of slope and trouble left. (A carry of 325 or so will get you over the creek, Bryson and fellow protein shake drinkers).

I know I’m beating this point home, but hit pause when the flyover reaches the green. The contours are somewhat apparent—a scary notion in midday light when seen from a drone—but it’s the shape of the green that is so fascinating from a modern design point of view. With USGA greens construction, capturing these nuances or even the upslope in the back left, is no easy task. The overall effect restores the green to a huge size but that extra square footage is offset by the difficulty of new hole locations restored and the intimidation factor lost when a green becomes more crowned instead of protected by rough.

These are factors to note the next time you hear a critic insisting green enlargement will make a course easier.

Anyway, on we go in advance of the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, courtesy of the USGA and Deloitte:

Winged Foot’s 15th hole is a 426-yard par 4 with a downward sloping fairway toward the creek. The closer a tee shot lands to the water, the more blind the second shot becomes, putting a premium on strategic play.

In collaboration with @DeloitteUS. pic.twitter.com/w0L6ZWONys

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) September 10, 2020

45K Bet Placed On Mickelson To Win 2020 U.S. Open, He's Says He Hopes To Carry Three-Stroke Lead Into 18

Heard someone place 45k on me to win the open at 75-1 (pays 3.3 mil)
Hoping for both of us I have a 3 shot lead on 18 tee.

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) September 12, 2020

You have to love Lefty’s sense of humor as the U.S. Open returns to Winged Foot where he had a strong chance to win in 2006, on of six (!) runner-up finishes in the national championship.

He replied to the news that someone has faith in his abilities next week, as reported by William Hill where the wager was placed.

Whoa! Someone dropped $45k Thursday on Phil to win @usopengolf at #WingedFoot for a potential return of $3.375 million with @WilliamHillUS in Vegas.

Guy may or may not have been wearing aviators and lost a lot of weight recently.

— Robert Lusetich (@RobertLusetich) September 11, 2020

Meanwhile, the Worldwide Leader picked up the story. Just got the major wrong.

Sports center reporting same story....intern night at the graphics desk. pic.twitter.com/bx1jYCsNuk

— Chris Sutton (@HFDC) September 12, 2020

2020 U.S. Open Flyover: Fourteenth Hole At Winged Foot

With the 14th, the mid-back nine closing stretch is where Winged Foot West gets a little less memorable in my view. While this 452-yarder features a beautiful uphill, obstructed view tee shot. I’ll be curious to see if the tight, bending fairway contour forces 3-woods off the tee. Even then it’ll still be a short iron in for today’s jocks.

That said, the 14th is a hole to keep an eye on. The green sets up for a right-to-left bending shot but lacks a greenside bunker that players from 2006 will not see. Instead, deceptive cross bunkers are its main defense in addition to the usual Tillinghast contours.

Dan Hicks, NBC’s lead voice on the broadcast and a Winged Foot member, shared this about the 14th when talking about the course this week:

But there are so many that are, they're all good and I think probably the hole that probably looks, it will look the most different from all of them is 14. It's got that little cloverleaf bunker over the teeing area as you go out to the fairway. They brought a bunker in that's going to, that could cause some problems on the approach. But the biggest difference is the tree removal. That 14th green looks totally different from the fairway because as you look up it has this infinity look to it, it's absolutely gorgeous. They took away that bunker short left of the green, so I think that hole will look the most different of all of them.

Here’s the flyover in advance of next week’s tournament courtesy of the USGA and Deloitte:

No. 14 at Winged Foot is a 452-yard par 4 featuring fairway bunkers that are only partially visible from the tee. Players are faced with a tough decision between taking them on or playing the hole more strategically.

In collaboration with @DeloitteUS. pic.twitter.com/wMgDcj5iY3

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) September 9, 2020

Return To Winged Foot Means A Recap Of The Zany 2006 U.S. Open

The last time Winged Foot hosted, Geoff Ogilvy won with an incredible up-and-down at 18 to edge a host of players, including Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie. (Geoff joins Andy Johnson on the Fried Egg podcast to discuss that and other topics, as always a great listen.)

At GolfDigest.com, Joel Beall makes a reasonable case that Phil Mickelson cost himself that U.S. Open with plenty of other shots. But let’s be real, it’s the 18th hole still being discussed 14 years later.

This week on an NBC conference call to discuss next week’s tournament, Roger Maltbie offered this about the moment he witnessed firsthand as on-course commentator:

Well, certainly for some period of time it was as talked about as anything that I've ever witnessed, whether it was Tiger's putt two years later in 2008 that Danny called so well at Torrey Pines or -- good or bad, the question that I received over and over again and I obviously have no answer for is, what was he thinking? I don't know. I don't know. Phil carries that bravado and aggressive style of play with him all the time, but there is a real line there as to what is aggressive, what is bold, and what is foolhardy. And I think he ventured on to the side of foolhardy and tried a shot that, hey, it was not the right decision to make and he paid the price, a big price.

And this from Dan Hicks, who helmed the broadcast alongside Johnny Miller and will do so again this year. He’s also a member at Winged Foot and will bring that extra bit of insight to the proceedings:

I think it's amazing how we're still discussing this 14 years removed. I know it was the last U.S. Open there, but that's how powerful that story was, has remained, and will be until we tee this thing off next week.

Every time -- I got to tell you, every time I have played that 18th hole, and it's hundreds of times since then, whether I'm with fellow members or whether I'm with guests -- first of all guests all want to know where Phil hit it. They ask, where did he go? We get to that 18th hole on the West, everybody wants to know that. But I'm telling you, even the members who have seen it and talked about it a million times, they ask me about it, we talk about it, and we just kind of mutter to ourselves down the fairway thinking exactly what Roger said, what the heck happened? How did it happen and how great is it going to be -- I have said it could be one of the all-time great stories of all time if, at the age of 50, he gets into contention. I think it's just, it just would be right up there maybe almost with Francis Ouimet. It would rival what Tom Watson was trying to do at the age of 59 at The Open Championship. So that's going to dominate.

Thanks to The You Tube, you can be reminded how poorly some standard definition ages and watch that crazy 18th hole scene.

Also, Michael Bamberger and Golf.com reviewed the events, walking the 18th hole with Fox Sports producer Mark Loomis, a longtime member at Winged Foot.

Revisiting Phil Mickelson's 72nd hole double bogey at Winged Foot in 2006.

And if you have lots of time, this US Open “classic finish” sets up the finale and gives you a good portion of the last day telecast.