Albert's round by round notes Round 1 Round 1 is in the books. And my Lame Dimpled Balls, led by a pair of 69's by Appleby and Ogilvy, led the field on Thur w/ Gabes taking place honors. Too bad for Mags that this wasn't a bowling competition... his 300 would have been perfect! The field is tighly bunched... enjoy the prime time action throughout the weekend... great way to celebrate Father's Day weekend. Ranked by Score 1 Albert 287 0 0 0 287 2 Gabes 289 0 0 0 289 3 Sobo 291 0 0 0 291 4 Jack 291 0 0 0 291 5 Andy 292 0 0 0 292 6 Fox 295 0 0 0 295 7 Hans 298 0 0 0 298 8 Mags 300 0 0 0 300 Round 2 Tiger came back w/ a vengeance on his back nine Fri, and smoked Torrey Pines for a 30 back, 68 total, and is now sitting in second place. Appleby bombed a birdie putt on his last hole to go to three under, and hold a one stroke lead on Woods. More on that in a minute.... As for Woods' 30... did you know the record for 9 holes in the Open is 29.... done only twice. TWICE in the last 13 years by the same golfer, in fact; back to back years. I was shocked to see the name. I had heard of him... but never would have imagined him for this record. Do you know who it is? His name later. OK... team scores for Fri. Fox's boys stormed back from their sluggish start and took Day 2 honors by a stroke over Sobo. But Sobo's 285 for the day vaulted him into the overall lead in a very tight race. 6 teams within three strokes. But one of them will not win... the Lame Dimpled Balls. Here's my tale of woe. #1, Ian Poulter, would be challenger to the Woods throne, decides not to tee it up on Day 2, and I'm down to 4 golfers. Appleby is playing solid, and Ogilvy doesn't throw up on himself. Watney slides back as expected... and Johnson improves from 76 to 74. And as Appleby closes out his round very late in the evening, I'm rooting for him to take an overnight lead on Woods. Amazingly, he jugs the 40 footer to go 3 under, and that makes me happy! The the announcers laugh and say that will really disappoint anyone sitting at 8 under, as that moves the cut to 7 under. Well, Zack Johnson is 8 under. He's cut. There were NINE golfers in our pool who were 7 under... but f-ing Zack Johnson was the ONLY f-ing golfer who was 8 under, and the ONLY f-ing golfer cut by my own Dimpled Ball Appleby's putt. How do like that for F-ing irony? So with only 3 golfers going on the weekend, I am dead meat. Andy, Sobo, Jack and Fox have all five playing on the weekend, Gabes and Hans 4. I am left to root for Appleby or Ogilvy to win outright and get me a major skin. Mags will be watching baseball. Oh! Mr 29 at the US Open. Neal Lancaster. Neal Lancaster??? From the USGA Records site: Lowest Score, 9 Holes • 29 - Neal Lancaster, Shinnecock Hills G.C. (fourth round, second nine), 1995 • 29 - Neal Lancaster, Oakland Hills C.C. (South Course), Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (second round, second nine), 1996 Ranked by Score 1 Sobo 291 285 0 0 576 2 Gabes 289 288 0 0 577 3 Jack 291 286 0 0 577 4 Albert 287 292 0 0 579 5 Andy 292 287 0 0 579 6 Fox 295 284 0 0 579 7 Hans 298 290 0 0 588 8 Mags 300 295 0 0 595 Round 3 Before we get to our pool... Wow! Tiger Woods is just a human highlight reel. He had three memorable holes in the back nine... two amazing eagles and a chip in, slam dunk birdie.... more than most golfers get in a lifetime in Majors. All while grimacing with a bad knee. I have never really rooted for Tiger... would have been like rooting for Goliath... but I find myself mesmerized at what he is doing in this event, after the layoff, and still in pain. And how about two also rans... Hans and Mags... tying for Top Honors in Rd 3? Good to see them cash in fir the day.... but Sobo, one stroke further back for the day, builds out his lead to 5 strokes over Andy and Fox. Will Woods' knee hold up? Can Westwood beat the best in a final round face off? Or will Geoff Ogilvy, like two years ago, slip into the winners circle with solid play as others behind him stumble? (OK, a stretch, but he's my last Dimpled Ball in play after the terrible showing of the Rd 2 leader, Appleby, posting the high score of the day, 79, needing a birdie at the last to avoid 80.) Enjoy Father's Day and the prime time Final Round. Ranked by Score 1 Sobo 291 285 213 0 789 2 Andy 292 287 215 0 794 3 Fox 295 284 215 0 794 4 Jack 291 286 220 0 797 5 Gabes 289 288 222 0 799 6 Hans 298 290 212 0 800 7 Albert 287 292 228 0 807 8 Mags 300 295 212 0 807 Round 4 Amazing Final rounds by Fox and... who else?... Jack, had them zooming past Sobo and claiming Top two spots. Andy bitch slapped Sobo by 9 strokes on Sunday to pass him for third place $$$$... but Sobo will take the major skin that Woods earned him with another birdie finish on the last and the sudden death win. [error sent in by Sobo] Sobo is kinda right... I neglected to include his Ben Crane score of 71 on the final day, and that moves him into a tie w/ Andy for third place $$$$. Andy, FYI, looks like Luke Donald did not show up for the final round. Final scores and $$$ below, sheet attached. Always fun, and this US Open will be remembered a LONG time. Ranked by Score 1 Fox 295 284 215 205 999 Al Gabes Fox Sobo Mags Hans Jack Andy 2 Jack 291 286 220 206 1003 Day 1 $19.60 $8.40 3 Andy 292 287 215 213 1007 Day 2 $19.60 $8.40 4 Sobo 291 285 213 218 1007 Day 3 $14.00 $14.00 5 Hans 298 290 212 216 1016 Day 4 $19.60 $8.40 6 Gabes 289 288 222 218 1017 Overall $100.80 $12.60 $42.00 $12.60 7 Albert 287 292 228 221 1028 8 Mags 300 295 212 222 1029 Total $19.60 $8.40 $140.00 $21.00 $14.00 $14.00 $50.40 $12.60