US Open Digest

Other US Open news in brief

No quick return to Bethpage GIVEN the dreadful weather which disrupted the 109th US Open from the off, the United States Golf Association are probably happy that there are no plans – as yet – to take the championship back to the New York area in the immediate future.

The confirmed venues up to 2016 are:

2010 – Pebble Beach, California

2011– Congressional, Maryland

2012 – The Olympic Club, San Francsico

2013 – Merion, Pennyslvania

2014 – Pinehurst No 2, North Carolina

2015 – Chambers Bay, Washington

2016 – Oakmont, Pennsylvania.

All of which means that the earliest possible date for a return to Bethpage would be 2017.

Only here for the two beers

IT’S not unusual for balding and grey-haired gentlemen – or ladies – to be asked to produce ID when purchasing alcohol in the US . . . but one eight-year-old escaped such rigorous interrogation during Saturday’s play.

Having been given $20 by his dad, a NYPD cop, to purchase a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at the concession stand, young Liam Reid returned with just $5 change, explaining that the lady had also taken for two beers for the man standing behind him in the line.

It didn’t need the firm arm of the law to rectify matters. When approached by the boy’s father, Alan – wearing a NYPD shirt from the previous night’s charity football match in Gaelic Park against the fire department – the saleslady’s initial response that “he’d ordered them . . . well, the man behind him did,” gave way to a realisation that she’d been duped and had just given two free beers to a New York golf fan who hadn’t looked a gift horse in the mouth.

Medical needs are well looked after

AN army of 35 doctors and 65 nurses have looked after the medical needs of the 45,000-plus golf fans who have made it to Bethpage throughout the championship, with the majority of injuries caused from falls on the slippery hills and the muddy pathways.

The USGA took the decision to rope off many of the more dangerous areas, although spectators have reported to the medics with injuries ranging from fractures to sprains . . . and, one suspects, some with wounded pride.

O'Hair has more reason than most to curse rain

SEAN O’Hair is in contention for a first major title, but he has had more reason than anyone to curse the weather which has forced the championship to drag on beyond a Sunday finish.

O’Hair’s wife, Jackie, is expecting the couple’s third baby – they already have a boy Luke and a girl Molly – and the due date came and passed on Saturday.

The golfer – winner of the Quail Hollow Championship last month – went into the third round in tied-seventh position, but had a friend walking outside the ropes with a pager in case his wife went into labour. “It’s been a nice distraction, actually,” said O’Hair, before heading out for his third round yesterday. “The crazy thing about this week is that it hasn’t felt like a US Open. With the weather, there’s no flow to it. Actually, I’ve had a very comfortable feeling, you come out and do your business like you do every other week at regular tournaments.”

Sport runs deep in Glover blood

THE theory that sport runs in the genes is being borne out by Lucas Glover, whose grandfather was a professional American footballer and whose father played baseball professionally.