David Fay's Honorary Membership To The Country Club In Doubt

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The Boston Globe's Michael Whitmer reprints David Fay's extensive explanation of The Country Club from his Merion story in the June Golf Digest.  Fay explained why the USGA picked Merion over TCC, which is celebrating the 100th anniversary this year of the historic 1913 U.S. Open.

He called the composite course “overrated” while suggesting the club had no USGA advocates internally.

The club is taking the high road:

“The Country Club has been fortunate to host many great championships and to be a part of some of the game’s most memorable moments,” said club member Sandy Tierney, who is the general chairman for the 2013 US Amateur. “We highly value the club’s place in golf history and feel that the 2013 US Amateur will be a fitting tribute to Francis Ouimet, the quintessential amateur, and the centennial anniversary of a victory that some have called the most important in American golf history."

State Of The Game Podcast 22: Merion & Jeff Silverman

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Writer Jeff Silverman has been researching and writing a club history of Merion, now all that remains is the 2013 U.S. Open to finish off the book about one of America's most history-rich courses.

In advance of the U.S. Open he joins Rod Morri, Mike Clayton and myself for a chat about past events at Merion, the setup this year, who we like going in and yes, the logo.

As always, you can listen and subscribe on iTunes or check it out here:

Video: The Mood For Merion, 15th Hole Flyover

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The great combo 15th tee and 16th hole bailout has been opened up in the last decade thanks to tree removal and makes for one of the great intersections (potentially) in the final round of the U.S. Open.

(Click to enlarge)As the aerial shows, the road and out-of-bounds awaits the double-crossed tee shot on this 411-yarder, though mysteriously, a bit of rough separates the fairway bunkers and fairway even though the right side is no picnic for approaching this green.

I've included the aerial from Bobby Jones' day. The white dashes show how he played the hole in the 1930 U.S. Amateur qualifying rounds.

The USGA flyover:

"Fact, Fancy and Johnny Miller's 63 at the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont,"

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Johnny's Oakmont 63--which we'll hear about a lot next week thanks to the 40th anniversary--is now complimented by Carnegie Mellon professors Adam Lazarus and Steve Schlossman filing a follow up to their book "Chasing Greatness: Johnny Miller, Arnold Palmer and the Miracle at Oakmont."

You can read it for free here.

This caught my eye:

The Sprinkler Malfunction: Did the oft-rumored but never fully confirmed sprinkler malfunction and soaking of Oakmont's notoriously hard and fast greens actually happen? Schlossman and Lazarus uncover evidence that it did happen prior to Friday's second round and explore what that meant for Miller's eventual win.

FYI: '13 U.S. Open Apps Available

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I'm particularly interested in the course stats component promising an "interactive look at statistics and trends for each hole."

The iTunes page for the app.

And For Immediate Release...

U.S. OPEN APPS NOW AVAILABLE

iPad application new for 2013; iPhone, Android device apps upgraded  

Far Hills, N.J. (June 5, 2013) – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today launched U.S. Open applications for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. These user-friendly apps are designed to bring the excitement of the 113th U.S. Open Championship to fans around the world. The U.S. Open will be played at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., June 13-16.  

New for this year is a data-rich, scoring-centric iPad app, developed by IBM. Detailed player information along with scorecards, statistics, groupings, starting times and live Marquee Group coverage throughout the championship highlight the tablet experience for iPad users. The app also features hole insights, which provide fans with an interactive look at statistics and trends for each hole. A personalized live leaderboard option that allows users to track up to five of their favorite competitors is also available.

Powered by IBM cloud computing and analytics technologies, all applications provide users with access to live HD video streaming, real-time scoring, live updates, news and photos. Their user-friendly design will provide fans on the go with up-to-the-minute information and statistics from America’s premier golf championship.

Johnny: U.S. Open Has Become "More Like A PGA Tour Event"

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Doug Ferguson's AP notes includes this from Johnny Miller, who misses the old U.S. Open of high rough, chipping out and uh, more rough. He should get his wish at Merion.

''I think it lost its identity, personally,'' Miller said. ''I don't agree with that one bit. To me, the U.S. Open is supposed to be the ultimate test. ... I just thought like at Torrey (Pines), they set it up like an old Andy Williams with distance. Not that it wasn't a good Open - it was a great Open. But I like the rough, personally.''

Video: The Mood For Merion, 14th Hole Flyover

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Those who've seen it have said the putting green tee option for the 464-yard 14th at Merion is "awkward" at best, downright goofy at worst. Do look for that as the aerial tour begins over the putting green.

(Click to enlarge)More disappointing is the lack of space to hit the ball to drive the ball, especially when compared to the look in 1930 when the road to the left was a key hazard and one that, when flirted with, shortened the hole.

Now it's "high fescue rough" obviously designed to make the hole play longer in the face of intense core work by today's pros, but also means it plays less strategically.

Here's a scan of a photocopy of how Bobby Jones played the hole in the two stroke play of the 1930 U.S. Amateur.

The video:

Qualifying WDitis: "This is for the right to play for our national championship. Show a little respect and go the distance."

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Watching the Golf Channel highlight package from Golf's Longest Day you hate to dwell on the negative. But I will!

Adam Schupak wonders about all of the WD's--22 to be exact who couldn't be bothered to finish the 36-hole Sectional qualifier at the Colonial site--and offers a solution. Worse, many quit mid-round, which disrupts the pacing in a group and is particularly obnoxious if a player in the group has a chance to qualify.

Not surprisingly, most of the WD's were PGA Tour members saving their energy for the 29th major this week in Memphis.

I think it’s high time the USGA penalize players who withdraw from the qualifier. If the USGA wanted to eliminate the problem in an instant, it could decrease the number of spots available at sites based on WDs, but that wouldn’t be fair to the players who keep playing. So here’s what I propose: If a golfer WDs from the sectional, he forfeits the opportunity to skip local qualifying the following year (a privilege granted to Tour pros). I bet that would make guys think twice about walking off in the middle of a round. For one, it’s not fair to your playing partners. It can screw up pace of play. Threesomes became twosomes having to wait behind threesomes. In fact, so many players withdrew at Colonial that I witnessed three empty holes on the South Course.

This is for the right to play for our national championship. Show a little respect and go the distance.

2013 U.S. Open Sectionals Wrap-Up

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While year two of Golf Channel's extensive "Golf's Longest Day" coverage didn't yield the same number of unforgettable on-course moments as the inaugural effort, the marathon day of coverage paid off again with a few fine moments and overall sense that this day is why we love our sport. That was best proven by the player interviews with golfers genuinely grateful to be heading to Merion made for great television. But also credit Golf Channel for giving the actors in this drama time to talk and share what qualifying for the U.S. Open means.

Technically, the daunting effort to cover 11 sites was superior to last year, with the use of attractive and easy-to-follow graphics standing out.  The on-site coverage from Merion, where there was no qualifying, seemed more disruptive than informative. Perhaps in future years there can be a little more affection for the regional and state golf associations that are running the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifiers for the USGA, and a little less on the blue coats who get plenty of attention a week later.

Either way, the point of the ambitious coverage is to whet our appetite for the U.S. Open and share the many satisfying rags-to-riches stories that come out of the Sectionals, and once again Golf Channel succeeded wildy.

Rusty Miller sums up the Columbus qualifier that ended with an 11-player qualifier for 7 spots and was led by Charley Hoffman fresh off a final round 81 at the Memorial.

Jeff Rude was at Columbus and focused on final qualifier Luke Guthrie who eliminated Mike Weir, Steve Flesch and Jason Kokrak with a 5-footer. Flesch, who has been juggling playing and commentating, had son Griffin on his bag for the first time ever and the young lad Tweeted about the day.

Guthrie Tweeted his joy:

 

 

But the most fun qualifier was at Century CC and Old Oaks in Purchase, NY where Canadian Tour player Jesse Smith led the way over 18-year old Gavin Hall and 48-year-old Geoffrey Sisk who punched his fifth U.S. Open ticket.

Jerry Foltz wrapped up the coverage in this report.



David Dusek on the brief thrill Brandon Matthews had in easily the most exciting moment of Golf's Longest Day coverage. Though he didn't make it, Matthews is still an alternate. There is no clip online right now, but his unplayable lie and chip in was easily the best moment of the broadcast.

Dusek also writes about 18-year-old Gavin Hall, whose final of four straight birdies was caught by Golf Channel.

Barry Svrluga reports on Sam Saunders' near miss that included a four-inch putt, Fred Funk missing by two and Lee Janzen's DQ for wearing spikes at a course where spikes weren't allowed and where competitors were told they were not allowed.

Jay Coffin obtained a copy of a letter sent to contestants of the Woodmont qualifier with the second item that says: "Steel spikes are not permitted for the qualifying rounds or for practice rounds. It is a condition at all qualifying sites, unless otherwise indicated by an asterisk on the entry application …"

Kay Cockerill covered Lee Janzen’s disqualification for wearing steel spikes and interviewed Michael Cumberpatch Mid-Atlantic Golf Association.



Golfweek notes from the Woodmont qualifier.

Adam Schupak reports from Memphis where Kevin Sutherland was medalist, former NCAA champion Scott Langley made an ace and Cinderella story Brandon McCrick is in, too.

Cassie Stein's notes from the Ball Ground, Georgia qualifier where Nicklaus Award winner Michael Kim arrived after a quick trip to Columbus to collect the award for top college player made it through to Merion.

Rex Hoggard reports from Newport Beach where a struggling Bio Kim easily qualified while NCAA Individual Champion Max Homa made it through in a playoff. Cal's Homa has already taken to Twitter to request a practice round with Stanford's Tiger Woods.

 



Nick Masuda's notes from the Bradenton qualifier where two players return Tuesday morning for a one-spot playoff.

Andy Zunz's five things from the St. Louis qualifier where 54-year-old Jay Don Blake stole the show.

Brentley Romine's notes from the Springfield qualifier.

The USGA's main Sectional page with links to photos and scoring, with stories to come in the night.

Golf Channel's results page and their Twitter feed page from the day.

Golfweek has a photo gallery from Hawks Ridge, including a push cart shot. Cover your eyes golf snobs!

The USGA has photos from 10 of 11 sites and here they are:

Newport Beach

Bradenton

Ball Ground, Georgia

Rockville, Maryland

St. Louis

Purchase, New York

Columbus, Ohio

Springfield, Ohio

Dallas, Texas

Cle Elum, Washington

2013 U.S. Open Sectional Storylines

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Golf's most democratic day features 11 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying sites with plenty of great storylines that Golf Channel will no doubt follow up on during their day-long election-return style coverage that runs until midnight ET and also includes an exclusive digital stream from 10 am to 1 pm ET.

Alex Miceli reports on the final number of spots for each site.

Jeff Bradley filed a nice follow-up to one of 2012's best qualifying stories, Casey Martin.

You can follow scores for all of the notable names at the USGA page devoted to the sectionals, or I've linked each one below.

Golf Channel has set up a Twitter stream page for the day if you want on-site reports.

I've picked out a few that jumped out with bio information courtesy of the USGA media department...


Big Canyon Country Club & Newport Beach Country Club
 Newport Beach, Calif.

    •    Jeff Brehaut of Los Altos, Calif., has played on the PGA Tour and Web.com Tour. Brehaut, who celebrates his 50th birthday on June 13, will also attempt to qualify for this year’s U.S. Senior Open. Brehaut has played in two U.S. Opens and tied for 17th in 2007.

    •    Sean Crocker of Westlake Village, Calif., is a 16-year-old junior at Westlake High who was medalist in U.S. Open local qualifying at La Purisima G.C. His father, Gary, is a retired international Zimbabwean cricketer. Sean, who has been mentored by PGA Tour and Champions Tour veteran Nick Price, was low amateur at the Zimbabwe Open in April.

    •    Max Homa of Valencia, Calif., is an All-American golfer at the University of California-Berkeley. He recently became the third Cal player to win the Pacific-12 Conference championship, shooting 61 in the first round. Homa advanced to the 2010 U.S. Amateur quarterfinals and the round of 32 at the 2012 U.S. Amateur.

    •    Beau Hossler, 18, of Mission Viejo, Calif., tied for 29th at last year’s U.S Open and held the lead during one point in the second round. He also qualified for the 2011 U.S. Open, reached the round of 32 at the 2012 U.S. Amateur and was the 2012 U.S. Junior Amateur stroke-play medalist and a match-play quarterfinalist. He qualified for the 2009 U.S. Amateur as an eighth grader.

    •    Steven Irwin of Arvada, Colo., is the son of three-time U.S. Open and two-time U.S. Senior Open champion Hale Irwin. Steven, who has caddied for his father in the U.S. Open, is president of Hale Irwin Golf Services. He made his first Open appearance at Congressional in 2011 and has also played in five U.S. Mid-Amateurs.

    •    Lyon Lazare of Villa Park, Calif., is a pianist and a musical composer. Lazare, who began studying piano at age 3, recently became the first Chapman University golfer to earn all-conference honors. Several of his musical compositions honor his late sister.

    •    Johnny MacArthur of Newhall, Calif., was a medalist in U.S. Open local qualifying and is on the Pepperdine University golf team. He comes from an athletic family. His father, Matt, played baseball (Arizona) while his mother, Kelly, was a gymnastics standout (UCLA). His brother, Ty, was the leading receiver at the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2012.

    •    Andy Miller, 35, is the son of 1973 U.S. Open champion and NBC analyst Johnny Miller. The four-time All-American at Brigham Young University tied for 62nd at the 2002 U.S. Open.

Ritz-Carlton Members Club 
Bradenton, Fla.

    •    Austin Grey, 25, of Spring Hill, Fla., joined the U.S. Marine Corps after high school. He served more than five years, rose to rank of corporal and was deployed to Kuwait in 2008. Grey is a member of the St. Leo University golf team

    •    Sam Horsfield, 15, from Davenport, Fla., advanced to match play at the 2012 Junior Amateur (round of 32) and 2012 U.S. Amateur Public Links (round of 64), and qualified for the 2012 U.S Amateur. Horsfield has won two consecutive City of Orlando Amateurs and set a tournament record each year.

    •    Nyasha Mauchaza moved from Zimbabwe to the United States in 2005. His parents, both doctors, settled in Haverford, Pa., less than one mile from Merion Golf Club. Mauchaza, who is playing on the Golfslinger.com Tour, attended Towson University, where he twice earned All-Colonial Athletic Association honors.

    •    Brad Schneider of Valrico, Fla., received the David Toms Award, given to a college golfer who has overcome adversity to achieve excellence. Schneider was playing football with his friends six years ago when his right leg caught behind him. Following nine surgeries and four months in bed, he learned to walk properly again and eventually began playing golf.

    •    John Wright, 49, of Gulf Shores, Ala., won the 1989 Alabama State Amateur. Wright, who qualified for the 2012 U.S. Amateur. t plays speed golf once a week. He carries four clubs and plays nine holes in an average of 28 minutes, with an average score of 38. He takes an average of 65 minutes to play 18 holes with an average score of 76.

Hawks Ridge Golf Club
Ball Ground, Ga.

    •    Billy Andrade, 49, has played in 11 U.S. Opens and tied for sixth in 1992. The winner of PGA Tour events, Andrade was a member of the 1987 USA Walker Cup Team.

    •    T.J. Vogel of Cooper City, Fla., captured the 2012 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at Soldier Hollow G.C. in Midway, Utah. With his victory, he earned an invitation to the 2013 Masters Tournament. As a junior at the University of Florida, Vogel was chosen second-team All-American.

Woodmont Country Club
 Rockville, Md.

    •    Stephen Bosdosh and Sean Bosdosh of Clarksburg, Md., are members of the University of Maryland golf team. Stephen, a senior, shared medalist honors at a U.S. Open local qualifier in Chambersburg, Pa. Sean, a junior, shot 69 in the Urbana, Md. local qualifier. Their father, Steve, who also attempted to qualify, is a teaching professional at Four Streams Golf Academy, in Beallsville, Md.

    •    Fred Funk, 56, won the 2009 U.S. Senior Open. He has twice finished in the top 10 at the U.S. Open, including sixth in 2004. Funk, the former University of Maryland golf coach, has eight PGA Tour and eight Champions Tour victories.

    •    Benjamin Griffin, 17, of Chapel Hill, N.C., has won North Carolina’s state high school 4-A championship two of the last three years. The junior is a member of the East Chapel High team and has committed to play at the University of North Carolina. Griffin advanced to the round of 16 at last year’s U.S. Amateur Public Links.

    •    Michael Muehr, 41, of Potomac Falls, Va., founded Golf Pros Beating Cancer to raise funds for Melanoma research. Muehr, a former PGA Tour player, was found to have a cancerous tumor on his right Achilles in 2002. He retired the following year and was reinstated as an amateur in 2007

    •    Dan Obremski of Irwin, Pa., is a mini-tour player who played at Coastal Carolina. He was the medalist at the local qualifier in Export, Pa. His father, Daniel, was inducted into the USA Racquetball Hall of Fame in 2006. Rising to as high as No. 3 in the world, Daniel captured five national open doubles titles.  

  •    Cory Siegfried of Villanova, Pa., advanced at the local qualifier at Applebrook G.C., the same course where he qualified for last year’s U.S. Amateur. Siegfried, a graduate student at Villanova University and a member of the golf team, attended Haverford School, which is two miles from Merion Golf Club.

Old Warson Country Club 
St. Louis

    •    Don Berry, 51, of Rogers, Minn., is going through U.S. Open qualifying for the 33rd time. He made his lone Open appearance in 1992. Berry, the brother-in-law of 2003 U.S. Women’s Open champion Hilary Lunke, was inducted into the Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame in 2009. He has served as head professional at Edinburgh USA for 17 years.

    •    Jay Don Blake, 54, has won on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour. He has played in the U.S. Open 12 times and tied for sixth in 1992, his best finish in a major championship. Blake, who attended Utah State University, was the 1980 NCAA Division I champion.

    •    Kenneth Li, 15, of Westmont, Ill., is a freshman on the Hinsdale Central High School golf team. He helped lead the school to the 2012 Illinois 3A state championship.

    •    Mark O’Meara, 56, has played in 23 U.S. Opens. His best finish was a tie for third in 1988. Among O’Meara’s 16 PGA Tour victories are the 1998 Masters and British Open. In 1979, he defeated John Cook to capture the U.S. Amateur.

Old Oaks Country Club & Century Country Club 
Purchase, N.Y.

    •    Cameron Chottiner, 15, of Westport, Conn., is a freshman at St. Luke’s School. He birdied the final two holes in local qualifying and survived a five-hole, six-man playoff.

    •    Brad Faxon of Barrington, R.I., has played in 20 U.S. Opens. The 51-year-old has won eight PGA Tour events and is now playing on the Champions Tour.

    •    Jim Liu of Smithtown, N.Y., became the youngest U.S. Junior Amateur champion when he won in 2010 at age 14. Now 17, Liu has signed to play at Stanford University in the fall. A four-time AJGA Rolex All-American, Liu was the runner-up at the 2012 U.S. Junior Amateur.

    •    Justin Regier of East Amherst, N.Y., was the medalist at the local qualifier in Montana. He has played on the NGA and Canadian tours. His father, Darcy, is the general manager of the Buffalo Sabres and was a defenseman with the New York Islanders and Cleveland Barons.

    •    Paul Simson, 62, won his second USGA Senior Amateur championship last year. Simson, a New Jersey native who lives in North Carolina, also claimed the 2010 USGA Senior Amateur. He has played in 55 national championships.

    •    Geoffrey Sisk, 48, of Marshfield, Mass., is attempting to qualify for the U.S. Open at both the local and sectional levels for a fifth time. He qualified at both levels in 1999, 2003, 2004 and 2007.

    •    Jesse Smith of Barrington, R.I., was the medalist at his local qualifier, but six weeks earlier he shot a 59 at Dubsdread G.C., in Orlando, Fla. His late father, Guy, a full-blooded Mohawk from Six Nations in Ontario, played for the World Hockey Association’s New England Whalers in the 1970s.

Brookside Golf and Country Club & The Lakes Golf and Country Club 
Columbus, Ohio

    •    Kenny Cook of Noblesville, Ind., was the runner-up at the 2011 U.S. Mid-Amateur. In 2012, he reached match play at both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur. Cook is an accountant for the U.S. Department of Defense.

    •    Ben Curtis, the 2003 British Open champion, has four PGA Tour wins. He has played in seven U.S. Opens, and his best finish is a tie for 14th in 2010.

    •    James Driscoll was the runner-up at the 2000 U.S. Amateur and a member of the 2001 USA Walker Cup Team. In 2000, he defeated Luke Donald in the U.S. Amateur semifinals before losing to Jeff Quinney in the 39-hole championship match. Driscoll was also the 1995 Junior Amateur runner-up.

    •    David Frost, 53, has appeared in 14 U.S. Opens and has four top-25 finishes. The South African has won 10 PGA Tour and four Champions Tour events.

    •    Jay Hwang of Fullerton, Calif., was the runner-up at the 2009 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. Hwang, who participated in the 2012 U.S. Amateur, is a sophomore on the UCLA golf team.

    •    Mike Ignasiak of Saline, Mich., was a relief pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1991 to 1995. His brother, Gary, briefly pitched for the Detroit Tigers. The 47-year-old has played in the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Mid-Amateur and U.S. Amateur Public Links.

    •    Davis Love III has made 23 U.S. Open appearances and owns five top-10 finishes, including a tie for second in 1996. Love has 20 PGA Tour wins, including the 1997 PGA Championship. He served as United States captain for the 2012 Ryder Cup.

    •    Camilo Villegas has made seven U.S. Open appearances, including a tie for ninth in 2008. The Colombian native was the runner-up at the 1999 U.S. Junior Amateur to Hunter Mahan. Villegas’ brother, Manuel, has advanced to sectional qualifying in Bradenton, Fla.


Springfield Country Club
 Springfield, Ohio

    •    Christian Heavens of Fairview Heights, Ill., is a product of the First Tee of St. Louis. He played at Georgetown College in Kentucky where he was voted Mid-South Conference Player of the Year. He qualified for the 2010 U.S. Amateur at Chambers Bay. His uncle, Jerome, is among Notre Dame’s all-time rushing leaders and was drafted in 1979 by the Chicago Bears.

    •    Steve Scott was the 1996 U.S. Amateur runner-up to Tiger Woods, losing in 38 holes. Scott, who is the head professional at Paramount C.C. in New City, N.Y., played on the PGA, Web.com and Canadian tours. He was a member of two USA Walker Cup Teams, in 1997 and 1999.

    •    David Duval, the 2001 British Open champion, tied for second at the 2009 U.S. Open and has four top-10 finishes. He won the 1989 U.S. Junior Amateur.

    •    Jeff Gove, 41, of Carlsbad, Calif., played in the U.S. Open for the first time in 2004 after advancing through local and sectional qualifying. Gove, who will try for a second Open appearance, once caddied for former NFL quarterback John Brodie when he won a Champions Tour event.

    •    Bryden Macpherson, 22, from Australia, captured the 2011 British Amateur championship. Macpherson, who attended the University of Georgia, turned pro after playing in the 2012 Masters, forfeiting his U.S. Open exemption last year.

    •    Rocco Mediate was the runner-up at the 2008 U.S. Open, where he lost a 19-hooe playoff to Tiger Woods. The 50-year-old, who has played in 15 U.S. Opens, won the first Champions Tour event he entered in February.

    •    Ron Whittaker of Little Rock, Ark., is the nephew of former PGA Tour professional and Golf Channel analyst Lanny Wadkins, who played in 20 U.S. Opens and tied for second in 1976. Whittaker’s first golf lesson came at age 2 from 1960 U.S. Open champion Arnold Palmer.


Tumble Creek Club
 Cle Elum, Wash.

    •    Jason Allred of Scottsdale, Ariz., won the 1997 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. Allred is attempting to qualify for the U.S. Open a third time. He achieved the feat in 2006 and 2010.

    •    Casey Martin is the head golf coach at the University of Oregon. At age 26, Martin played in the 1998 U.S. Open at The Olympic Club, using a cart in competition due to a circulatory disorder, Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome. In 2012, he qualified for his second U.S. Open, which was again held at Olympic.


Lakewood Country Club
 Dallas, Texas

    •    Andy Aduddell of Avondale, Ariz., was named the Arizona Golf Association’s 2012 Player of the Year after winning the state’s amateur and mid-amateur titles. He was a professional golfer before becoming a F-16 fighter pilot and teaching the 56th Training Squadron at Luke Air Force Base. The 38-year-old, whose call sign is “Wedge,” enlisted after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

    •    Sam Burns, 16, of Shreveport, La., is sophomore on the Calvary Baptist Academy golf team. He was the medalist in his local qualifier two weeks after capturing Louisiana’s Division III high school championship. Burns played Merion Golf Club last fall with PGA Tour veteran David Toms and his son, Carter.

    •    Case Cochran of Paducah, Ky., is the son of Russ Cochran, who has played on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour and won the 2011 British Senior Open. Case, who recently turned professional, is Texas A&M University’s 2013 Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

    •    Todd Hamilton, 47, won the 2004 British Open by defeating Ernie Els in a four-hole aggregate playoff. He has made eight U.S. Open appearances, tying for 36th in 2008 and 2009.

    •    Ryan Hybl of Norman, Okla., is the head men’s golf coach at the University of Oklahoma. An All-American at the University of Georgia, Hybl was the runner-up at the 2006 U.S. Mid-Amateur championship.

    •    Jordan Spieth was the low amateur at the 2012 U.S. Open, he tying for 21st. He turned professional in December. Spieth won the 2009 and 2011 U.S. Junior Amateurs, the lone golfer besides Tiger Woods to have won the championship multiple times. He was a quarterfinalist at the 2011 U.S. Amateur and played on the 2011 USA Walker Cup Team.