Father And Son Combo Make Cut, History

By Alex Miceli and Ken Klavon

Southampton, N.Y. -- Before Jay and Bill Haas made the cut at this year’s U.S. Open, there had been six other father-and-son combinations to at least appear in the championship. Out of the seven, only one other tandem made the cut.

What other duo completed the feat? It was in 1948 when Joe and Joe Jr. Kirkwood played at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

	Holding the lead after the first round, Jay Haas fell to even-par overall after Friday's round. (John Mummert/USGA)

With the cut line established at 5-over 145 Friday, Bill Haas was on thebubble but made it into the weekend on the number. His dad easily survived the cut, shooting a blistering 4-under 66 Thursday to give him a share of the lead, but falling back on Friday with a 74, leaving him at even-par 140, six shots behind co-leaders Shigeki Maruyama and Phil Mickelson.

Jay wasn’t worried about his outcome Friday, just as long as he made the cut. He was, however, more concerned for Bill, who he had followed for most of his first round.

"I was thinking that with the cut, I hoped he’d make the cut," said Jay before his round. "I was nervous for that. And then nervous for myself going out there trying to perform in the U.S. Open.

"I was more nervous for Bill when he was finishing [Friday]. I think a little of the edge came off at the beginning."

Bill would start the second round with two bogeys in three holes and his chances of cut were in jeopardy after getting to 7 over. He was struggling mightily, but decided to not worry about anything at that point.

"To rail off three bogeys early was pretty frustrating and kind of took the wind out of my sails," said Bill. "I kind of said, ‘You know what, on the last five holes I might as well try and if it doesn’t make the cut at least it might lead up to something good next week.’ "

An eagle at the par-5 16th moved him back to 5 over and hovering around the cut line.

Bill was so resigned that he wasn’t going to play the weekend that he decided to watch his 50-year-old dad play his second round just so his mind wouldn’t wander.

"I guess … I’ll go have some lunch and watch him play his back nine," said Bill. "I don’t want to wait around for it.  If it happens, it happens. And we’ll see."

Bill Haas, who recently won the Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan awards for his outstanding college play, made the cut at 5 over. (Steve Gibbons/USGA)

Last year at Olympia Fields, Bill and Jay became the sixth father and son duo to play in an Open, but the course wasn’t to either of their likings. Neither made the cut. 

What was a quaint story then, with Bill and Jay playing together, grew to be a more significant tale this year. After qualifying in Columbus, Ohio, two weeks ago, fresh off graduating from Wake Forest, Bill would again join dad at the Open, setting the record for a father-son combination to play in more than one Open.

The history of a father and son playing in an Open together dates back to 1903. The Anderson family had a father and two sons playing at Baltusrol. But it took 44 years before another father-son tandem would play in the Open. Mac and Willie Hunter were part of the field at St. Louis Country Club in 1947.

After the Kirkwoods in 1948, 34 more years went by before Gary and Wayne Player played in the Open at Pebble Beach in 1982. Fifteen years later Jack and Gary Nicklaus were thrilled to be together in the 1997 Open at Congressional. The elder Nicklaus was so proud of his son that he said prior to that championship he wouldn’t mind finishing second that week if it came down to it. That person, of course, being Gary.

Historically the U.S. Open ends on Father’s Day. And with Bill and Jay making the cut, each will have a memory they won’t soon forget. The fact that Bill entered the day 11 shots off the lead or Jay six off wasn’t important. Rather, when you see the two interact, it’s clear one is a proud father and the other an appreciative son. 

"Obviously it’s a thrill just to play here with him," said Jay. "…you know, getting ready on the weekend, in the morning and everything, that’s pretty special."

Alex Miceli is a free-lance writer for the Golf Press Association whose work has appeared previously on www.usopen.com. Ken Klavon is the Web Editor for the USGA.