| NUMBERS GAME
US Open in Review
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The number of holes-in-one made at this year’s tournament. Shawn Stefani aced the 213-yard 17th during the final round with a 4-iron after his shot bounced out of the rough and rolled some 50 feet toward the pin before falling into the cup. Stefani also became the first player to make a hole-in-one at any US Open at Merion.
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21
T he number of consecutive US Opens Ernie Els, a two-time champion, has appeared in. He is closely followed by Phil Mickelson (20), Stewart Cink (18), and Jim Furyk (18). The
big South African carded a final round of one-under 69 to finish in a share of fourth place. The all-time record for US Open appearances is held by Jack Nicklaus. “The Golden Bear”, who won the event on four occasions, teed it up 44 years in a row.
24.7
T he percentage of players who hit the 18th green in regulation during the tournament. The brutally difficult 521yard par-four played as the hardest on the course (the stroke average was 4.7) and yielded precisely zero birdies over the weekend, which is almost unheard of in professional golf.
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W as the lowest round of the week . Five players carded a t h r e e - u n d e r- p a r e f f o r t : Mickelson, Luke Donald, Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Dufner and Rickie Fowler. The worst round at Merion was put together by Sweden’s Robert Karlsson who crumbled to an 86 on the third day.
281
Justin Rose’s winning total – which equated to one-overpar – was the highest at a US Open held at Merion since Ben Hogan’s
play-off win over Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio in 1950. The three had been tied at 287 through 72 holes.
316.1
Was Bubba Watson’s average driving distance, in yards, during the tournament. The mega-hitting American underscored his status as one of the longest players in professional golf by outdriving second-ranked Jason Day by over four yards. Watson, the 2012 Masters champ, finished in tie for 32nd.
5,000
T he selling price, in US dollars, of a Merion wicker basket that went on auction earlier this year. Considered the Holy Grail of golf flags, this particular wicker basket was thought to have been in use in the early 1970s. Presumably Lee Westwood, who
struck wicker en route to a double bogey in the first round, will not be in the market for one. — Compiled by Jamie Jenkins
Clockwise from opposite: Justin Rose, the champion; the long-hitting Bubba Watson; Ernie Els has now played 21 consecutive US Opens; one of Merion’s famous wicker baskets; the gruesomely difficult parfour 18th; the accurate Paul Casey; Phil Mickelson, who shared low round honours; aces high for Shawn Stefani
AFP
T he driveable par-four 10th hole, which measured just 303 yards, yielded this many eagles over the course of the week. In fact, only the 13th, a tiny par-3 measuring only 100 or so yards, ranked easier.
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T h e am o unt , in milli o ns of US dollars, that the USGA is reported to have lost as a result of hosting the championship at Merion. The cozy confines of the course meant tickets were limited to 25,000 per day; past championships have seen 45,000 spectators pass through the gates on a daily basis.
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B oth Phil Mickelson and Paul Casey hit this many greens (out of 72), the highest number of the field. Mickelson wound up two shots behind Justin Rose for his sixth runner-up finish at the US Open. Casey, in contrast, could do no better than a tie for 45th, illustrating the Englishman’s poor performance on the Merion greens.
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HK Golfer・JUL 2013
HKGOLFER.COM
HKGOLFER.COM
HK Golfer・JUL 2013
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