U.S. Open Championships

12 Jun 2002 - 16 Jun 2002
Bethpage State Park (Black Course), Farmingdale, NY

Mike practices his shot at Bethpage State Park
© MikeWeir.com

Friday was a long, soggy day on the golf course. And it was made longer by the fact that this was a very difficult layout set up for a U.S. Open. Unfortunately, I missed the cut and I’m not very happy about that, especially at a major.

I played about the same in the second round as I did in the first – I really didn’t strike the ball too badly, but I just couldn’t get any putts to go in the hole. That was the downfall of my week overall.

I can’t remember missing as many five and six footers as I did these past two days. Those really cost me here. Of course the weather added to the misery out there. When I got up this morning, I saw the rain and it wasn’t too heavy most of the time. But I think in the afternoon, it was colder and overall, the rain was a bit harder. I can tell you it was heavy slogging for all 18 holes.

There were a few points during the day when I thought that the United States Golf Association was going to stop play. When we were on our eighth hole, no. 17, we had to squeegee the greens a couple of times. On the 18th, I couldn’t find a dry spot in the fairway so I just hit it and it splattered everywhere. It was coming down really hard at that point so I was surprised that they didn’t blow it then.

I think that it was as tough a course as I’ve ever played. But it was soft enough that if you were hitting it really solid, you could shoot a decent score. If I’d putted decently, I could have shot a couple under so that’s this golf course. But I got off to a rough start with three bogies on the first three holes. But I fought back and turned in 38 – playing the back nine first under these conditions was tough.

I thought I might be able to get it going on my second nine, especially after making a birdie on the first hole, but again I just couldn’t get those putts to find the bottom of the hole. I was at 11 over on the ninth tee – my last hole – and I figured I had to make a birdie, but I drove it in the rough, pitched out and made a bogey.

I leave Bethpage knowing that I need to keep working hard and that’s really about it. I have to just keep moving forward and trying to get better with not only my putter but all parts of my game.

My next tournament will be the Western Open, but I’m playing in the Telus Skins Game north of Toronto a week from Monday. After the tough week here, that should be fun.

Thanks for your support,
Mike