Editor’s note: Times golf writer Scott Hanson reported from the Masters as part of our coverage leading up to the U.S. Open, which will be played June 18-21 at Chambers Bay.
It was a great week, and I saw some amazing things.
But enough about the Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home in Augusta, Ga., (worth seeing, by the way) and the State House in Columbia, S.C.
I also saw some remarkable golf, with Jordan Spieth setting record after record en route to winning the Masters, and the tournament could not have been better for those looking forward to the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in University Place.
Spieth will be a big story, and there is a local angle. His caddie, Michael Greller, is from University Place and is a former caddie at Chambers Bay.
Now it is almost a sure thing that Tiger Woods will play in the U.S. Open, and with his performance this week, he showed he can be a contender.
Phil Mickelson, the second-biggest name in golf, seems primed for another run at a U.S. Open title that would complete his career Grand Slam. He has finished second a record six times.
And Rory McIlroy, the world’s top-ranked player, played better than anyone in his final 45 holes, finishing fourth after it looked for a while like he might miss the cut.
Finally, my only regret was that I couldn’t write a little faster. A full bar opens in the media room after the final round Sunday, and a celebratory drink sounded great. But first I needed to finish writing three stories (based on the big line at the bar, a lot of people were not on deadline). And just as I was finishing, the four worst words of the week: The bar is closing.
Oh well. No drink, but I’ll still toast to a memorable time here.