![]() ![]() It’s a black-and-white shot of Ben Hogan at the 18th hole of the Merion Golf Club, following through on the 1-iron that he planted on the green before burying a putt to force a playoff at the 1950 U.S. It’s the most iconic photograph in golf’s history and one of the most famous pictures in all of sports. Phil Mickelson was also in attendance.ARDMORE, Pa. Open defending champ Webb Simpson and Masters champ Adam Scott. Graham and Palmer shared stories on stage with Jim Nantz, the Master of Ceremonies, asking questions of various players in attendance - including U.S. Open, was among a dozen or so former and current players who attended the Rolex dinner on Monday evening at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which honors Arnold Palmer each year. Amateur at Merion, making him the only player ever to win the four biggest championships in one year.ĭavid Graham, the winner here in the 1981 U.S. This, of course, happened only 16 months after his legs were crushed in a head-on collision in Texas.Ģ0 years before that, the legendary Bobby Jones won the U.S. My first stop was seeing the medal plaque which is embedded on the 18th fairway honoring Ben Hogan's 1-iron into the 72nd green on June 10, 1950, when he went on to win his second U.S. And there are a variety of blind shots throughout the layout.īut the place oozes with history. ![]() ![]() Yes, with rain softening the fairways, players should be able to attack the pins more, but they still have to make putts! And the greens should be fast and tricky.Īn interesting note is that there are no par fives after the fourth hole. Drivers won't be used much, with emphasis on keeping the tee shot in the fairway - otherwise balls will be buried in the thick, high rough - and precise iron shots will be key. Accuracy with all clubs will be at a premium. Open course or any championship venue by today's standards - measuring 6,996 yards at a par 70 - the fairways are narrow, the rough is high and the contours of the fairways and greens are very tricky. S Open test to the best players in the world? I think so!Īlthough it's very short for a U.S. And I like the fact that the first tee box is steps off the clubhouse veranda. I love the fact that many of the concession areas seem to be in the yards of private homes that are nestled very close to the course. I love the club's history, the famed red wicker baskets instead of flags on the pins. Opens among 19 championships overall, dating back to the 1904 U.S. On Tuesday morning the sun was shining and it was beautiful, but more rain is in the forecast.īut weather shouldn't take the focus away from this charming, historic venue which has hosted five U.S. Rain stopped practice rounds twice on Monday, flooded a greenside bunker on the 11th hole and made most of the walking areas a mud bath. Yes, Mother Nature is the boss, and it will help dictate what kind of Open we have at historic Merion Golf Club. I don't care if they get helicopters flying over the fairways. Open champ Ernie Els summed up Monday's rain-drenched conditions at Merion: "We're not going to see a firm U.S. The rain and the effects of the rain - five inches of rain in four days - has softened the course so much that two-time U.S. It's a shame that bad weather stole the "thunder" early in this U.S. ![]()
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