The home hole playing Pebble Beach… I felt like I was home for sure…
Any time you are at Pebble Beach it is a real special time but to be there for the 110th United States Open, the fifth time it has been played on these famed American golf links, was truly an amazing experience. Walking the course seven times, spotting the best golfers in the world, I felt like I thoroughly experienced the golf course without ever even playing it. Of course I was deluding myself and realized it when I was able to play the course a few years later and wrote an Ode to Pebble Beach, the One and Only…
Three Amigos- Ed, Jack & me at the 2012 U.S. Open at The Olympic Club where Jack and Billy Casper were honored.
The US Open at Pebble Beach was another opportunity to meet and get to know Jack Fleck, the 1955 US Open Champion, and his good buddy Ed Tallach. I would see Jack and Ed at the next few Masters and then Jack at his home in Fort Smith, Arkansas on the “Journey to Olympic Golf” right after starting off with a round of hickory golf at Glenn Echo in St. Louis, host club to Olympic Golf in 1904. Sadly it would be the last time I saw Mr. Fleck as he passed shortly after.
Plus I was able to reunite with my West Coast buddies from when I worked and lived out there in the 1980s, especially my golfing buddy Rich and his sons. The weather was amazing and the golf course beautiful, so beautiful!
That’s me in the background watching Tom Watson tee off on the 17th in the playoff with Stewart Cink. Photo Credit: The Golf Channel.
I remember asking Tom Watson a question in his media center interview and will always remember his response which was applicable not only to golf but to life too! The par-5 6th fairway was shaved down all the way to the cliff. Inside the red line was grass cut like the fairway so my question to Tom was “is it unfair to have a lie like that but not be able to ground your club?” His response was that “it was fair because it was there for all to see.” My translation for life is that life is fair as long as you are honest and open-minded, we all have choices to make and consequential responsibilities to see through.
Thumbs-Up for Graeme McDowell after winning the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach!
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland won his only major title, one stroke ahead of runner-up Grégory Havret of France. McDowell was the first European to win the U.S. Open in forty years, since Tony Jacklin of England won in 1970. Havret remained closely in contention, but McDowell ground out a round of 74 to win his first major championship. I remember walking up the 18th with GMac and being there greenside to witness a celebratory and meaningful father & son embrace on Father’s Day!
Here are my 121 picture memories of the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach won by Graeme McDowell:
