Notebook: Something To Play For

By David Shefter and John Companiotte

Southampton, N.Y. – The final round of a U.S. Open can mean a lot of different things to the competitors.

For those near the top of the leader board, it is an opportunity to take home the trophy, win a prize in excess of a million dollars and earn a list of exemptions that includes invitations to the next five Masters, British Open and PGA Championships, as well as a 10-year exemption to the U.S. Open.

To others, it's a battle to finish among the top 15 and ties, which offers a free pass to the 2005 U.S. Open at Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort and Country Club.

And the low eight finishers and ties also get an invitation to the 2004 Masters.

Spencer Levin was the low amateur, and while doing earning the honor, he finished ahead of Tiger Woods. (Steve Gibbons/USGA)

Then there are the amateurs. The low amateur – there were four who made the cut this year at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club – receives a gold medal.

So there's plenty to play for, even for those with no chance of winning.

Spencer Levin, 20, of Elk Grove, Calif., accomplished two huge goals. He not only was the low amateur, but his tie for 13th place earned him an exemption into the 2005 U.S. Open.

Though his 20^th birthday was June 15, Levin was not overawed by his fellow competitors.

"When I was on the practice tee with Tiger Woods, I just watched him and appreciated his golf swing," said Levin. "I grew up watching him play and it was great to see him swing up close."

Woods, who is only 28 himself, is probably not ready for a changing of the guard at golf's top echelon. However, he did finish behind Levin in the event. Finishing ahead of Woods and Ernie Els was something Levin had jokingly told his hometown buddies he intended to accomplish in the Open. Having done it, he wasn't sure he could believe he had done it.

Steve Flesch made an eagle at the 16 to finish tied for seventh place, earning an invitation to the 2005 Masters.

At 50, Jay Haas earned a trip to Pinehurst by finishing in a tie for ninth after shooting a 71 on Sunday, one of the best rounds of the day. In fact, only Robert Allenby bested him and just the two highest finishers managed to tie that score (Phil Mickelson and champion Retief Goosen).

"I hit the ball really well today," said Jay Haas. "I made a few putts and holed one out of the bunker, but I missed quite a few makeable putts. I three-putted three times. So it was one of my better rounds from tee to green and obviously moved me up quite a bit."

And with the Ryder Cup points doubled this week, Haas moved even closer to earning an automatic spot on the USA team that will face Europe in September at Oakland Hills Country Club.

This week the Shinnecock Hills course received more attention than Retief Goosen winning his second U.S. Open in four years.

Asked if the final round for this year's U.S. Open identified the best player or just embarrassed the competitors, Australia's Peter Lonard, who shot a 15-over 295 for the championship, said: "The course will embarrass some of us. The greens are as firm as I've ever seen, including anything in Australia."

Strong winds overnight prior to the final round, combined with limited moisture throughout the week, left the greens as slick as any U.S. Open in recent memory. The lowest score among the first 10 groups to finish was a 74.

Also carding a 15-over 295, Padraig Harrington appreciated the difficulty of the golf course, but had a laconic and almost humorous response to the course conditions. Even the treacherous 7^th hole, which had been giving golfers fits all week, was not an issue for him. "I took it as a challenge," said Harrington. "It's difficult to come to a hole where your expectation is bogey. But that is one hole out of 18."

The hole was being watered during the round to adjust its dryness, as were other greens on the course, but even the changes to the course during the round did not upset Harrington.

"It doesn't bother me if they have to water greens," he said. "It's better that they take action than if they ignored the situation."

Asked if he thought his 75 for the day was a fair score for the way he had played the round, Harrington smiled and replied, "I think I should have shot a 65."

Furyk Happy To Defend

While he was never really in serious contention to repeat as U.S. Open champion one year after his record-tying victory at Olympia Fields in 2003, Jim Furyk made the cut with two rounds of 72.

The weekend playing conditions were a bit tougher and his scores climbed higher, as he shot 75 on Saturday and 79 on Sunday. He finished with a 18-over 298.

On Sunday he started with a double bogey before enduring bogeys on eight more holes. Though he had only one birdie in the round, Furyk felt that he was hitting good shots that weren't rewarded. The crowd's support through the championship pleased Furyk. As he approached the 18^th green on Sunday he received a strong ovation.

"There was a lot of warmth and feeling from the fans through the week," he said.

Furyk has experienced problems with his left wrist since fall of 2003. After the Sony Open in January an MRI revealed that he had torn cartilage in the wrist. The U.S. Open was his return to competition.

"I'm hoping that as long as I play sensibly and allow the wrist to recover, that it'll be completely healed in three months," said Furyk.

Furyk plans to play every other week through the rest of the year to prevent re-injuring the wrist.

Kite Still Enjoys Open

Even though he had to qualify at age 53, 1992 Open champion Tom Kite wasn't disappointed. In fact, he was honored to make his 31^st consecutive appearance even if he did

"I think that our national championship is the premier event in golf," said Kite. "I hope to play in it many more times."

Kite capped off Sunday's round with a 14-over 84 to finish 22-over 302.

"The course conditions [Sunday] were difficult," said Kite, "but actually they are very similar to 1992 at Pebble Beach when the wind blew hard and the greens dried out. The ground is so hard that drives go forever, but it becomes a problem to keep it out of the rough. The greens just won't hold when they are this dry and hard. You expect difficult conditions in a U.S. Open, but I think that any golf course ought to give up a 65 or 67 on any given day from the best golfers in the world. If it doesn't, something's wrong."

Despite enjoying the opportunity to play in the U.S. Open again, Kite was pleased to be through with Sunday's round.

"This is one you have to laugh about," he said. "On the front nine I had three double bogeys and a triple bogey. I don't think that I did that at age 14."

Kite began his Sunday round with two bogeys, and then added two pars before a double bogey and a triple bogey. A par and two more double bogeys ended his front nine. The back nine started on another down note, with a bogey and then a double bogey, but then he made seven straight pars, reminding golf fans that he has the game of a champion.

Odds And Ends

It has been 32 years since Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino were paired in the final round of the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.  It was also the last time that previous U.S. Open champions have been paired together in the final round since Sunday when Ernie Els, who won in 1994 at Oakmont and '99 at Congressional was be paired with 2001 winner Retief Goosen.  Nicklaus won the 1972 Open that year by three strokes over Bruce Crampton, who played in the penultimate pairing. …

The last time the winner of the U.S. Open didn't come from the final pairing was in 1998 at the Olympic Club.  Payne Stewart was paired with Tom Lehman in the final group, but two groups back was Lee Janzen who entered the last round five shots behind of Stewart. Janzen was seven shots back at one point in the final round before catching and passing Stewart by a single stroke.  Stewart got his revenge a year later capturing the Open at Pinehurst No. 2 for his second U.S. Open and third major win. …

Woods was paired with Tim Herron on Sunday. Herron holds the distinction of being one of three players to defeat Woods in USGA amateur competitions. He achieved the feat at the 1992 U.S. Amateur. Matthew Todd and Paul Page are the others to beat Woods.