by Adam Lazarus
75 “In the Super Bowl”—Ogden (UT) Standard-Examiner, (UPI), June 15, 1973, “‘Course Zero Fun to Play’—Hill.”
75 “taking a good course”—ibid.
75 “He’s just not any fun”—Sports Illustrated, June 18,1973, John Underwood, “Golf’s Jekyll and Hyde.”
76 “We all have double bogeys”—ibid.
76 “[You’re] asking a leopard”—ibid.
76 “desperately unhappy”—ibid.
76 “Why doesn’t he quit”—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 12, 1973, Al Abrams, “Sidelights on Sports: Crampton Didn’t Forget.”
76 “never gave me the opportunity”—Underwood, “Golf’s Jekyll and Hyde.”
76-77 “[I] never had such a congenial round”—ibid.
77 “the most successful journeyman”—Golf Monthly, March 1973, “Talking Golf.”
77 “His steady play”—Golf Magazine, June 1973, “Six for the Money.”
77 “Nicklaus and Weiskopf”—Pittsburgh Post Gazette, June 12, 1973, Bill Christine, “Nicklaus, Weiskopf ... So Why Show Up?”
77 “I’ve been doing a lot of traveling”—Golf Magazine, March 1973, Lee Mueller, “Will Buffalo Billy Ride Again?”
78 “It wasn’t the greens”—San Francisco Chronicle, June 15, 1973, Art Spander, “Oakmont Greens a Nightmare.”
79 “I shot an 86”—Charleston Gazette, June 16, 1973, Bob Baker, “Sam (75) Blames ‘Blankety-Blank’ Putting.”
79 “I’m an aggressive putter”—Los Angeles Times, June 15, 1973, Bill Shirley, “Player’s 4-under-par 67 leads U.S. Open by Three.”
79 “[But] then I three-putted”—Columbus Evening Dispatch, June 15, 1973, Paul Hornung, “Area Hopes Trailing, But Still in Race.”
80 “Why does the Open”—Pittsburgh Press, June 12, 1973, “Just Another Tournament to Sam Snead.”
81 “Hey, Sam”—Pittsburgh Press (Evening Edition), June 15, 1973, Dan Donovan, “Snead: A Real Iron Man.”
81 “I missed only two fairways”—Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 15, 1973, Chauncey Durden, “Old Man and the Greens.”
81 “Sam is a better putter”—Donovan, “Snead.”
81 I know that everybody’s“—Durden, “Old Man.”
81 “I think this course is unfair”—Maryland Cumberland News, (UPI), June 15, 1973, “Ben Crenshaw Puts Rap on Oakmont Club.”
82 “maybe the strongest greens”—United States Golf Association, Who Els?, 1994.
83 “Everything went bad”—Pittsburgh Press, June 15, 1973, “Stafford Hits Bull’s-Eye.”
83 “a rogue in spiked shoes”—Pittsburgh Post Gazette, June 14, 1973, Bill Christine, “The 24-hour Swinger.”
84 “I played in four consecutive”—Chicago Tribune, June 15, 1973, Tom Tomashek, “Player Leads Open with 67.”
84 “These are the fastest greens”—Chicago Sun Times, June 15, 1973, Len Ziehm, “Floyd ‘prepared by watching Cubs.’”
84 “At the time”—Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 15, 1973, Al Smith, “Cancer-hit Littler Returns.”
85 “People are bound to talk”—Boston Globe, June 15, 1973, Tom Fitzgerald, “The Little Things Can’t Get Me Down Now—Littler.”
85 “It’s not the operation”—Smith, “Cancer-Hit Littler.”
CHAPTER 5
The Prince and the King
89 “Oh, oh, I’d better”—San Francisco Chronicle, June 16, 1973, Art Spander, “S.F.’s Miller a Future King?”
89 “Take your time, Johnny”—Chicago Tribune, June 16, 1973, Cooper Rollow, “Arnie Loses Touch, but Not Army.”
89 “If I start playing”—Pittsburgh Press, June 16, 1973, Dan Donovan, “It Was Like the 60s for Arnie—for a While.”
90 “I don’t deserve to be”—Los Angeles Times (Chicago Sun-Times), June 13, 1983, Ron Rapoport, “Johnny Miller Returns to the Scene of His Miracle 63.”
90 “Johnny just loved the game”—Golf Magazine, September 1973, Johnny Miller, “I’m Not Afraid to Go for the Flagstick.”
90 “His number one rule”—Miller, Johnny, with Guy Yocom, I Call The Shots (New York: Gotham Books, 2004), pp. 222-23.
91 “about knee-high”—San Francisco Chronicle, June 22, 1966, Art Rosenbaum, “Casper’s Caddy Made a Deal.”
91 “He was the smallest guy”—Miller, “I’m Not Afraid.”
91 “Johnny didn’t pick up”—Salt Lake City Tribune, June 18, 1973, “Geertsen Missed Thrills as Protégé Won Open.”
92 “If there were a better putter”—Miller, I Call the Shots, p. 221.
92 “discussion of it spread”—Oakland Tribune, June 28, 1963, Norm Hannon, “Archer Takes Charge.”
92 “If I couldn’t beat him” —Hayward (CA) Daily Review, (AP), June 28, 1963, Sid Hoos, “State Am Favorites Hex Also Hits J. Lotz.”
92 “the committee ruled”—Los Angeles Times, June 28, 1963, Bill Shirley, “Teenager Breaks Rule, Still Wins Match in State Amateur.”
93 “John Miller, a quiet”—ibid.
93 “a cinch for future”—San Francisco Chronicle, June 28, 1963, Joe Wilmot, “1961 Champ Out-of-state Golf.”
93 “I like [Arnold] Palmer”—San Mateo Times, August 3, 1964, “Bay Area Youth Wins Jr. Golf.”
94 “Mike was the first player”—http://www.cougarclub.com/hall_of_fame/taylor_m.jsp.
94 “Johnny came in and”—BYU Alumni online magazine, Jeff Call, “Like Father, Like Sons.”
95 “I’m the only nervous one”—San Francisco Chronicle, June 17, 1966, Art Spander, “Miller’s Formula for Par.”
96 “I wouldn’t take this round”—ibid.
96 “[Nicklaus] won’t bother me”—San Francisco Chronicle, June 18, 1966, Art Rosenbaum, “Arnie, Casper Tie; Nicklaus Mad.”
96 “refusing to crack”—San Francisco Chronicle, June 19, 1966, Nelson Cullenward, “Nicklaus Moves up with 69.”
96 “They billed this one”—San Francisco Chronicle, June 19, 1966, Roger Williams, “Miller Gives TV Show.”
96 “I thought Miller was”—ibid.
97 “I was never at ease”—ibid.
97 “I’ve lost some”—San Francisco Chronicle, June 19, 1966, Roger Williams, “Bird on 14th Sparks Arnie.”
97 “I was feeling pretty good”—ibid.
98 “didn’t get airborne”—New York Times, June 20, 1966, Lincoln A. Werden, “Casper Makes Up 7 Strokes in 8 Holes to tie Palmer at 278 in U.S. Open.”
98 “My caddie told me”—ibid.
98 “I’ll be eating buffalo meat” —Oakland Tribune, June 20, 1966, “Buffalo Meat Blues.”
99 “It was pretty damn similar”—New York Times, June 21, 1966, Lincoln A. Werden, “Californian Wins for Second Time.”
99 “I wanted to play so good”—Miller, “I’m Not Afraid.”
99 “Golf isn’t the most important”—Moberly (MO) Monitor Index, (AP), June 21, 1966, Jack Stevenson, “Casper Fires 69 to Win U.S. Golf Open.”
100 “Billy told me to wait it out”—Black, William T., Mormon Athletes: Book 2 (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book Company, 1982), p. 58.
101 “[Every] iron in my bag”—Oakland Tribune, July 1, 1968, Ed Schoenfeld, “Great Future for State Golf Winner”
101 “Gene Littler and Ken Venturi”—ibid.
101 “A college degree”—Time, July 2, 1973, “Johnny on the Mountain.”
102 “My putting was real bad”—Tucson Daily Citizen, January 18, 1970, Verne Boatner, “Young John Miller, ‘Man of the Hour.’”
103 “It worked like magic”—Long Beach (CA) Independent Telegram, (UPI), January 18, 1970, “Rookie Carves 61.”
103 “It was just one of those days”—Boatner, “Young John Miller.”
104 “There was casual water”—San Antonio Light, (UPI), June 16, 1973, “Player Leads Open; Borek Breaks Record.”
104 “You could see water”—Los Angeles Times, June 16, 1973, Bill Shirley, “Player Leads by One in Watered-down Open.”
104 “Even
with the soft greens”—ibid.
104 “I missed a two and a half”—San Francisco Chronicle, June 16, 1973, Art Spander, “S.F.’s Miller a Future King?”
104 “[Palmer] doesn’t bother me”—ibid.
104 “Those guys used to”—Akron Beacon Journal, June 16, 1973, John Seaburn, “Calming down Key to Miller’s Game.”
105 “As mute testimony”—ibid.
105 “The three-putt green”—Shirley, “Player Leads by One.”
106 “I felt good, until”—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 16, 1973, Al Abrams, “Sidelights on Sports.”
106 “It seemed like every time”—Donovan, “It Was Like the 60s.”
106 “I drove it numerous times”—Pittsburgh Press (Evening Edition), June 15, 1973, Ray Kienzl, “Player Shoots 70 for Two-round 137 in Open.”
106 “[The] greatest I’ve ever seen”—Toronto Star, June 16, 1973, Ken McKee, “Roller-coaster Greens Become Putt Paradise as Par Beats U.S. Open.”
106 “You need to do three things”—Spander, “S.F.’s Miller.”
106 “The old Palmer wouldn’t”—Donovan, “It Was Like the 60s.”
CHAPTER 6
A Watered-down Open
108 “become more difficult”—Rochester (NY) Democrat and Chronicle, June 15, 1973, Tony Destino, “Player Fires 67, Leads by 3.”
109 “I was pretty fortunate”—Columbus Evening Dispatch, June 16, 1973, Paul Hornung, “Player’s Lead in Open Part of ‘Buddy System.’”
109 “I’ve been putting”—Akron Beacon Journal, June 16, 1973, John Seaburn, “Player Credits Putting Practice for Open Lead.”
109 “The leader very seldom wins”—Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 16, 1973, Chauncey Durden, “Sportsview: Work Is in Player’s Bag.”
109 “This is my last tournament”—Pittsburgh Press, June 16, 1973, Ray Kienzl, “Open Field Puts Heat on Oakmont.”
110 “I have a farm”—Dallas Morning News, (AP), June 16, 1973, “Charles Plans to Quit Tour after Open.”
110 “the U.S. Open really doesn’t”—Columbus Citizen-Journal, June 16, 1973, Kaye Kessler, “Gary Holds Lead; Jack Gains.”
110 “It was just a lucky shot”—Dallas Morning News, (AP), “Charles Plans to Quit.”
110 “I can’t believe Bob said it”—Kessler, “Gary Holds Lead.”
111 “No matter who wins or loses”—Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, (UPI), June 14, 1973, Milton Richman, “The Open: It Means Everything.”
111 “Nicklaus, Weiskopf, Palmer”—ibid.
112 “Every time I strike a ball”—Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 13, 1973, Bill Nichols, “Oakmont Is Severe Test.”
112 “I look forward to the Open”—Los Angeles Times, June 16, 1973, Bill Shirley, “Player Leads by One in Watered-down Open.”
112 “I’ve been playing in tournaments”—Kienzl, “Open Field.”
114 “I was tempted”—Rochester (NY) Democrat and Chronicle, June 16, 1973, Tony Destino, “Colbert Snaps Slump in ‘One I Want to Win.’”
114 “My three-wood came so close”—Destino, “Colbert Snaps Slump.”
114 “Jim made the greatest shot” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 16, 1973, Bill Christine, “Rusty’s the Guy for Jim Colbert.”
114 “After I got to be starting quarterback”—San Francisco Chronicle, June 16, 1973, Art Spander, “Oakmont Reversal—19 Sub-Par Rounds, Course Record.”
115 “Trevino had at least five”—El Paso Herald Post, (UPI), “Five Trevino Birdie Putts Miss by Inches.”
115 “There’s nothing merry”—Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 16, 1973, Chauncey Durden, “Sportsview: Pars and Pickups.”
116 “Trevino had beaten me”—Nicklaus, Jack, with Ken Bowden, My Story (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997), p. 322.
116 “The good Lord gave Nicklaus”—Liebman, Golf Shorts: Par 2, p. 67.
117 “That shot was the turning point”—Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 16, 1973, Bill Nichols, “Player’s 137 Leads Colbert by One.”
117 “They had the tees so far”—Akron Beacon Journal, June 16, 1973, John Seaburn, “Nichols: Open Ruins Egos.”
117 “The greens were much softer”—Spander, “Oakmont Reversal.”
117 “The greens are soft, men”—Chicago Tribune, June 16, 1973, Tom Tomashek, “Player Keeps Lead in Open.”
118 “I would prefer”—GolfWorld, June 22, 1973, Ron Coffman, “A Ravishing Round at Oakmont.”
118 “Scalzo punches some buttons”—Pittsburgh Press, June 11, 1973, “Golfers Happy with Oakmont.”
118 “I don’t have a favorite”—New York Times, June 15, 1973, Dave Anderson, “Greens Rough for Open Golfers.”
119 “Let’s just say”—Coffman, “A Ravishing Round.”
122 “finest Open round”—Philadelphia Inquirer, June 15, 1973, Fred Byrod, “Player’s 67 Leads Open by 3.”
122 “If my family had”—Interview with Gene Borek, July, August 2007.
123 “When we got home”—New York Times, June 16, 1973, Dave Anderson, “65 at Oakmont.”
123 “In 1959, I played”—Interview with Gene Borek, July, August 2007.
123 “Most of the guys didn’t”—ibid.
124 “in the gusty cold wind”—New York Times, October 8, 1971, Lincoln A. Werden, “Nieporte Takes Met. Golf by Shot.”
125 “I said, ‘What?’”—Interview with Gene Borek, July, August 2007.
125 “In the past, whenever”—ibid.
126 “I called [U.S.G.A. officials]”—Richmond Times—Dispatch, June 16, 1973, Harold Pearson, “Club Pro Win Open? ‘Easier Than on Tour.’”
126 “John Frillman”—Interview with Gene Borek, July, August 2007.
126 “I feel right at home” —Atlanta Constitution, June 16, 1973, Al Smith, “Borek, Man Who Came Late, Breaks Open Record.”
126 “scrambled [his] way”—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 16, 1973, Phil Gundelfinger, “Borek Hot with Cool 65 in Open.”
126 “I felt that I’d played very well”—Interview with Gene Borek, July, August 2007.
127 “I remember thinking”—ibid.
127 “I took a lot of time”—ibid.
128 “Finally, on an impulse”—ibid.
128 “[The putt] was incredibly fast”—ibid.
129 “The ball went incredibly high”—ibid.
130 “First, I’d like to thank”—Rochester (NY) Democrat and Chronicle, June 16, 1973, Tony Destino, “Player 1st in Open by Stroke.”
130 “Borek did it as easily”—Detroit Free Press, June 16, 1973, Joe Falls, “A 1-Day Wonder at the Open.”
130 “[When] I called home”—Anderson, “65 At Oakmont.”
131 “I was planning on”—Interview with Vinny Giles, June 2007.
131 “Most of the players”—ibid.
132 “I was scared to death”—New York Times, April 12, 1968, “Giles Starts His First Masters by Sinking 30-foot Birdie Putt.”
132 “Only Ben Hogan”—New York Times, August 27, 1969, Lincoln A. Werden, “Top Amateur Golfers to Play Sloping and Fast Greens Today.”
132 “appeared to be sweltering”—August 31, 1969, New York Times, Lincoln A. Werden, “Melnyk’s 286 Wins U.S. Amateur By 5.”
133 “one of the best rounds” —New York Times, (AP), September 1, 1972, “Giles Leads by 1 in Amateur Golf.”
133 “I always felt I was”—Cumberland (MD) Sunday Times, (UPI), September 3, 1972, Douglas Monroe, “Vinny Giles Finally Wins Amateur.”
135 “I drew back a six-iron”—Interview with Vinny Giles, June 2007.
135 “After it went in”—ibid.
135 “Everyone talks about how”—ibid.
135 “[I was just trying to]”—Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 16, 1973, “Giles ‘Numbers’ 2-3-3-3 for a 69.”
136 “watered-down Open”—Shirley, “Player Leads by One.”
136 “The legend had grown”—Spander, “Oakmont Reversal.”
CHAPTER 7
“H
e’s Longer Than Nicklaus.... Go Watch This Boy”
140 “My dad worked”—Pittsburgh Press, June 17, 1973, Dan Donovan, “Weiskopf on Winning Track.”
140 “Every time Tom Weiskopf”—ibid.
140 “He sacrificed his”—Pittsburgh Press, June 12, 1973, Ray Kienzl, “Weiskopf Tempers Game.”
141 “powerful hitter”—Coshocton (OH) Tribune, July 12, 1939, “Ohio Golf Joust Spotlight Lands on Quarter-Final.”
141 “imperturbable”—New York Times, September 30, 1936, Maribel Y. Vinson, “Superb Play of Young Golf Rivals Fascinates Crowd at Canoe Brook.”
141 “Why, no; why should I”—ibid.
141 “Now Miss Shorb is calm”—ibid.
142 “another feminine star”—Coshocton (OH) Tribune, “Ohio Golf Joust Spotlight.”
142 “top-flight clouters” —Zanesville (OH) Signal, (AP), July 15, 1941, “Same Old Story at Ohio Amateur.”
143 “In high school, I”—Time, August 20, 1973, “Coming of Age at 30.”
143 “When they played”—Pacific Stars & Stripes, July 30, 1965, Frank Eck, “Snead Says Weiskopf Is Worth Watching.”
143 “He was a very impetuous”—Cleveland Press, July 16, 1973, Burt Graeff, “Bedford Bubbles over Weiskopf—So Does Mom.”
143 “After we walked”—Golf Digest, June 2002, Guy Yocom, “My Shot: Tom Weiskopf.”
144 “Bob put 40 yards”—Eck, “Snead Says Weiskopf.”
145 “Jack’s ball just disappeared”—D’Antonio, Tour 72, pp. 4-5.
145 “It was really funny”—Fitchberg Sentinel, July 29, 1966, Murray Olderman, “Between You ‘n’ Me.”
147 “I’m glad it’s all over” —Benton Harbor (MI) News-Palladium, August 12, 1963, Jim Deland, “Tom Weiskopf Wins Western Amateur Crown.”
147 “All I can say is” —Benton Harbor (MI) News-Palladium, August 12, 1963, Jim Deland, “2,500 See Golf Tournament End.”
148 “I’m so nervous right now”—Eck, “Snead Says Weiskopf.”
148 “Tom Weiskopf. Now there’s a”—ibid.
149 “We left Seattle”—Golf World, October 15, 1965, Tom Place, “Weiskopf Gets Lift to Ohio Crown.”