U.S. Open course will drive 8-handicapper crazy today
Can he break 100?
That's the question today as John Atkinson, an 8-handicapper from Omaha, tees off at Torrey Pines after winning a Golf Digest contest that drew 56,374 applicants to see if they could indeed break 100 at the course where the U.S. Open will be played next week.
The magazine got the idea after Tiger Woods said no 10-handicapper could break 100 at Oakmont last year.
So, can Atkinson do it?
No way.
As some of you may remember, the Daily Herald tested a similar theory at Medinah before the 2006 PGA Championship after pro Arron Oberholser made a similar comment to the ramark by Woods -- that he would have been impressed if a 15-handicapper could have shot between 120-130 at Winged Foot in 2006.
Three of us -- all between 12-15 handicaps -- played Medinah from about 7,300 yards and shot 102, 107 and 112. And we did that playing with people we know with no gallery around.
Atkinson is going to be playing with NBC cameras rolling (1 p.m. Channel 5), and his foursome includes Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, singer Justin Timberlake and Matt Lauer of "The Today Show".
Good luck!
Atkinson actually said his goal is to break 90, and I heard Romo, a 1-handicapper, will be mad if he doesn't break 80.
These guys have no idea what awaiting them. There will be pros next week who will shoot in the mid-80s, maybe as high as 88 or 89.
As for Atkinson, he's about to encounter a 7,643-yard monster of a course under U.S. Open conditions with the entire golf world watching. He plans to leave his driver in the bag, but it won't matter. Where he'll likely be crushed is on the greens where even pros 3-putt from 4 feet.
That was one area where, at Medinah, we actually weren't penalized at all. Our threesome took 27, 34 and 34 putts. At Torrey Pines, a 40-putt round seems plausible, even for an 8-handicapper.
If I had any advice for Atkinson, it would be to have fun and try to stand on the first tee with his eyes closed, picturing the opening hole at whichever course he plays in Omaha. Then make yourself believe that's where you are before you hit that first shot.
If he's lucky, his nerves will go away after 5 or 6 holes.
Granted, Atkinson is a better golfer than the three of us who took on Medinah, but he's not breaking 100.
Let's say 107 -- and hand it to Tiger for being right.