Goose Loose? 2001 Champ Makes Move

By Ken Carpenter

Southampton, N.Y. — Most competitors in the U.S. Open Championship are comparing Shinnecock Hills Golf Club to the links courses of the British Isles.

One player, however, likens it to Tulsa, Okla.

	Retief Goosen, winner of the 2001 U.S. Open, made a move up the leader board Friday. (Steve Gibbons/USGA)

"This course plays a lot like Southern Hills," said Retief Goosen, who won the national title there in 2001. "With elevated tees and greens up above, it reminds me a bit of that."

Goosen demonstrated Friday that he knows how to handle the U.S. Open, playing 23 holes in 4 under par and jumping into contention.

After completing his first round of even-par 70 with five pars — necessitated by Thursday’s weather delay — the South African had a five-birdie, one-bogey round of 4-under 66 that put him at 136, two strokes behind midway leader Phil Mickelson.

Goosen said he can draw on experience gained in his victory at Southern Hills.

"Obviously, I know I can do it," he said. "I know that you just have to hang in there. You really can’t try to get greedy; you just have to play percentage golf.

"At the U.S. Open, if you play well you are going to get rewarded for it. You know it’s not going to be much of a putting competition."

Goosen hit nine of 14 fairways in both rounds, but 11 greens in regulation in round two, compared with 14 in the first round. The difference? He needed 32 putts over the first 18 holes, just 26 in the second round.

"I played well [Thursday], but I didn’t make any putts. Today I made a few good sand saves, and the putter was a little bit better today. I sort of have a feel for the greens now."

One place the 35-year-old Goosen has gained ground is at the 189-yard, par-3 seventh hole. He’s managed a pair of two-putt pars there while many in the field are struggling to make bogeys or worse.

"I hit it twice in the practice rounds, and twice now," said Goosen. "I teed up and just tried to hit a big cut into that green. You’ve got to shape it left to right and try to bounce it into that bank. That’s the only way you’re going to stop it. You’ve got to really slice it, almost, into that green to have any chance of stopping it."

Goosen didn’t expect scores to go lower Friday afternoon.

"The way the greens are today, a low number is not going to be possible," he said. "Because the greens were going to be soft, we saw a lot of front [flagstick] placements. But as they dry out and get harder, they will become more difficult."

Goosen said he is generally a patient person, and that helps in the U.S. Open. "I suppose we all have our flare-ups," he said. "I’m not the most patient person in the world.

"But I’ve learned on the golf course that’s what you’ve got to do."

Ken Carpenter is a free-lance writer whose work has appeared previously on www.usopen.com.

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