US Open .. 2009 .. courtesy of Albert

Round 1

Well, if it weren't for Gabes, we would be having an exciting US Open Majors pool.
 
Only 4 strokes separate second place from seventh place.... but TEN strokes separate 
second from first, as Mike Weir's 64, plus sub-par rounds from Phil and Glover, led 
to Gabes' runaway win on Day 1.  He had the benefit of his ENTIRE team going out in 
the perfect conditions on Friday, avoiding Thursday rain.  And while Ernie Els shit 
the bed w/ a 78, followed up by 6 over thru 16 on his second round.... Lucas Glover 
has matched Weir's opening round 64 and moved to 7 under total, with Weir -1, 
Goosen -2, and Phil +1. 
 
OK... so about the tourney.  Well, the story is along the lines of Gabes' team's good 
fortune.   Those that played Thur and early Fri played in tough conditions.  While 
there was no rain Fri am, the course was wet and heavy in the early morning.  Anyone 
who didn't tee off until later morning thru the pm had PERFECT scoring conditions.  
The tough had dried out a bit.... no wind to speak of... the greens were very receptive.  
Gabes' entire team was on the course throughout that entire time... in fact, Goosen, 
Els and Phil played together.  They all are finishing their second round this am... 
and again, conditions are fine right now.  High clouds, no wind.  Perfect.
 
But that will all end AFTER Gabes' team is in the clubhouse, and my team is on the 
course, playing their second round.  A major rain system is bearing down on NY and 
by 1:00 or so, it will be very messy again.  
 
Garcia cried about Woods' good fortune, dodging the worst of the weather in 2002 
while Garcia played in rain.  Well, the worm has turned big time, as Woods will be 
no better than making the turn when the skies open up on him this afternoon.  Along 
with the rest of my 5man team.  
 
Re: Woods...he actually can't blame the weather for his poor finish on Fri.  He was 
one over at the start... birdied 14 to get to even.  I was sitting behind 15 green 
as he cam thru.  15 is a GREAT par 4, about 450 w/ the green perched up on a 50 foot 
hill, guarded by deep bunkers, and sever slope back to front and left to right.  Woods 
missed a fairly generous fwy, tried to hit the green from the rough from about 180 out.  
Very good shot... but a few yards short into the rough just short.  Apparently, the 
ball must have "plugged" as he called a marshall over, lifted and cleaned the ball, and 
after two drops, was allowed to "place" the ball.  He gets all the breaks and calls, 
right?  But this time he doesn't take advantage.  His chip is short, does not clear 
a ridge thru the green, and rollsall the way back to the front.    40 foot uphill 
putt is left about 2.5 feet short.... and then he PUSHES his next putt and walks 
away w/ DB. DB that he is!  He goes on to bogey 16 and 18 as well.
 
I was lucky to be there Fri.... it will be, by far, the best weather day.  The walking 
areas were muddy quagmires, but the course was in fine shape, and the sun cam out for 
much of the afternoon.  Bethpage Black is a truly great golf course... I'm sure the 
USGA is wringing their hands over the low scores but the soft fairways preclude 
drives rolling into the rough, and the very receptive greens are letting these guys 
shoot for pins.  Shame that it will be such a disjointed event this year, with rain 
predicted for both today AND tomorrow, and the field being segregated by the luck 
of the draw of their tee times.


Round 2

The Gabes runaway continues as he takes Day 2, though this time narrowly over a 
hard charging Fox.  No one else close.
 
The cut line was 4 over so 145 total is out.  Gabes has a huge 15 stroke lead and 
4 of his 5 golfers playing on.  But Fox has all 5 going and might make things 
interesting.   Only Mags has as many as 4golfers going on the weekend, so I suspect 
the battel will be for third place money


Round 3

Tiger's US Open win by 12 strokes at Pebble Beach seems like a tight contest when 
compared to Gabes' runaway victory in the 2009 US Open.  He wins Day 3 honors, 3 days 
running.  Fox's 5 man team failed to launch in Rd 3, with none of his 5 golfers in 
red numbers.  And that left the door open for Mags' crew to claim second place honors, 
leaving Fox 22 strokes from the lead, and now only 5 ahead of Mags for second.  Mags 
holds a 4 shot lead on Andy for the last money slot.
 
Go Phil!  And Go Tiger!  Would be great to see one of them storm back as Glover and 
Barnes fold their tents.


Round 4

Poor Phil.  4th time he has finished second in a US Open.  His eagle 3 at thirteen gets him 
tied for the lead at 4 under... this HAD to be his year, right? 
 
I did not see his 2 bogeys coming down the stretch on 15 (a really tough hole) and 18... 
but all too typical, unfortunately.
 
Gabes, of course, could care less as to which of his two golfers won him a major skin, and 
his only blemish to this event was not being on the board for Daily $$$ in Day 4.  Poulter 
and Woods were 3 undetr for me, but I didn;t have a 4th golfer and had to use Ogilvy's 
unsightly 75.  Fox, with 5 golfers going, was able to discard a 74 and 76, and beat me by 
a stroke for the day.
 
The battle for third overall was the major action of the day.  Mags team had the lead and 4 
golfers... but stumbled in at 9 over, allowing both me and Andy to sneak by.  But Andy was 
one stoke better than my team.... Ogilvy sucks!!!!.... and grabs the $25 for third place.  
 
Sobo has the numbers.... see you at the British Open.
 
	Ranked by Score 				  	Gabes 	Fox 	Mags 	Andy 	Al 	
1 	Gabes 	275 	272 	207 	217 	971 	Day 1 	$19.60 	  	  	$8.40 	  	
2 	Fox 	288 	274 	214 	210 	986 	Day 2 	$19.60 	$8.40 	  	  	  	
3 	Andy 	285 	284 	216 	213 	998 	Day 3 	$19.60 	  	$8.40 	  	  	
4 	Albert 	289 	281 	218 	211 	999 	Day 4 	  	$19.60 	  	  	$8.40 	
5 	Mags 	288 	283 	210 	219 	1000 	Overall $100.80 $42.00 	  	$25.20 	  	
6 	Jack 	288 	281 	221 	217 	1007 	Total 	$159.60 $70.00 	$8.40 	$33.60 	$8.40 	$280.00
7 	Hans 	288 	283 	217 	220 	1008