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Geoff Ogilvy win US Open
Geoff Ogilvy watched the drama unfold on the 18th hole at the US Open while sitting in the scorer's hut, pondering his fate with almost every shot.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 10:34 AM IST
Read Time: 2 min
Mamaroneck:
Geoff Ogilvy watched the drama unfold on the 18th hole at the US Open while sitting in the scorer's hut, pondering his fate with almost every shot.
The Australian figured he was destined to finish behind Phil Mickelson, who stepped to the 18th tee on Sunday needing only a par 4 to win.
Ogilvy could almost envision the huge crowd at Winged Foot cheering in delight for the obvious fan favourite.
But Ogilvy chipped in on 17 for par and made a 6-foot putt on 18 for another par. On this day, par for the course was enough to win the tournament.
Ogilvy will soon have his name engraved on a trophy which already has the names of golf greats Bob Jones, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.
Yet, years from now, when people think about this US Open, it's unlikely they'll talk about Ogilvy's 18-foot chip on 17 or his recovery from a iron shot that rolled back off the green on 18.
They'll talk about Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie giving it away with double bogeys on the last hole.
The 29-year-old Ogilvy knows this. But that won't lessen the pride in becoming the first Australian to win a major in 11 years, and the first Aussie to win the US Open since David Graham in 1981.
First major
For someone who grew up idolizing Greg Norman, winning the US Open is quite a big deal.
Norman made his share of huge shots, but often only to watch someone outdo him in the majors. On this occasion, Ogilvy came up with a once-in-a-lifetime chip on 17, then saw the breaks go his way.
Stuck in the rough on 17, Ogilvy was wondering what the heck to do when his caddie whispered, "Why don't you just chip it in?''
Ogilvy did just that. And now he's the US Open champion. The fans who cheered all week for Mickelson probably would have settled for seeing Montgomerie win his first major.
But Ogilvy? He had played in only two US Opens, missing the cut in 2003 and tying for 28th last year at Pinehurst. He seemed about as likely to win this tournament, as he was to sit down with President George W Bush at a White House dinner.
Which is exactly what happened recently. Bush, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Rupert Murdoch and Julie Eisenhower were among those who sat with Ogilvy, a distant relative of Sir Angus Ogilvy, a member of Britain's Royal Family.
Geoff Ogilvy still doesn't know the exact reason he was invited, but he did manage to hold his own among such prestigious company. Sort of like this week at Winged Foot.
Topics mentioned in this article
Golf
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