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PGA Championship Notebook Van de Velde a hit at Medinah Country Club
Posted: Thursday August 12, 1999 07:54 PM
MEDINAH, Ill. (AP) -- Jean Van de Velde will always be remembered for a triple bogey on the 72nd hole that cost him the British Open. But judging from his opening round at the PGA, he couldn't be more popular with the fans. Crowds cheered and encouraged him as he struggled to a 74 Thursday. His golf clubs didn't arrive at Medinah until Tuesday afternoon, throwing off his preparation. "I played terrible. I didn't play good at all. I couldn't hit it straight," Van de Velde said. Van de Velde admits he is much better known in the United States than in his native France because there are so many more golfers here - by his estimates 25 million to about 350,000. His nightmarish finish at the British is something weekend hackers can relate to and empathize with. "They were really pulling for me today," he said. "Telling me to keep on going and keep on trying and that's what I tried to do. It's very easy to have people behind you when things go your way. It feels even better when they are not going the way you want and that people are still behind you." His first appearance in a major since his debacle at Carnoustie, Scotland, didn't faze Van de Velde. He was gregarious, witty and seemingly carefree after his round. "I wasn't nervous," he said. "Why should I be?"
Close callMike Weir, who lives in Draper, Utah, phoned home after Wednesday's tornado struck Salt Lake City, about a 15-minute drive from his home. "My wife said she looked outside the window and saw downtown Salt Lake and she thought there was a fire with the black smoke. That was the funnel," Weir said. "It was pretty close." Weir, one of the rare left-handers on tour, is close to his parents this week. They live in suburban Crystal Lake. "I like the area. My parents live here just 40 minutes outside of town and I feel very comfortable here definitely. Great restaurants. I love coming here."
Seniors boundWith only a month left before he heads to the Senior PGA Tour, five-time British Open champion Tom Watson is trying to head out in style. Watson, who turns 50 on Sept. 4, holed a 25-foot birdie putt from the left edge of the green on the par-4 No. 3 Thursday at the 81st PGA Championship. As the ball dropped into the cup, Watson yelled, "Yeah," and the crowd broke into loud applause. "Go get 'em, Tommy!" a fan yelled as Watson walked off the No. 4 tee. "You've still got it." Watson, who's won two PGA Tour events in the last 12 years, smiled and thanked the man. He finished the round with a 3-over 75.
Ryder rejectWith all the controversy swirling over the Ryder Cup and whether players should have a say in how revenues are allocated to various charities, Brian Watts just wants the chance to play for the United States. "I'd die for my country, so I'd really like to play on the Ryder Cup," Watts said. Watts, who finished second in the 1998 British Open, said he was told earlier this year by the PGA that he's not eligible for the team because his parents were not U.S. citizens at the time of his birth. Watts was born in Canada but lived there for only six months and is a U.S. citizen. "It's a dead issue for this year because even if I was accruing points, I think I'd be down there about 40 or 50th on the list," Watts said. "I've got a lot of support on my side, though. I'm hoping in the future that they will change that rule as I've only lived outside of the country for six months of my life." Watts said he'd talked with PGA president Will Man and was told the ruling could be changed.
How wet was it?Rain gear, slickers and umbrellas. Staying dry was in fashion Thursday for the first day of the PGA Championship as summer storms rolled through the Chicago area, dousing Medinah's No. 3 course and softening drought-scorched greens. Jay Haas said it was raining so hard as he was on the putting green before his 7:25 a.m. tee time that he thought the tournament might be suspended immediately. It eventually was, but not until nearly 10 hours later. The wet conditions for the first six holes of his round hampered visibility, as Haas tried to follow the flight of his own shots. "The first six holes it rained pretty heavy at times. And you know, just grabbing the club trying to keep the grip dry," Haas said after his opening 68. "It was dark, too. Not because of it being 7:25 but just because of the cloud cover. I would literally lose the ball on a longer shot. On the second hole, I hit a 4-iron and I could not see the ball on the green. I heard a couple of people clapping and I knew I had hit a good shot, but I couldn't have told you where it ended up," he said. Tiger Woods, who shot 70, said the soggy conditions allowed him to be more aggressive off the tee. "I knew that any ball that lands in the fairway will stay in the fairway," Woods said. "I did put up an umbrella like everybody else. My dad always says, `You only can get wet once. And once you're wet, you're wet. Just deal with it.'"
DivotsHale Irwin, who won the 1990 U.S. Open at Medinah, is the oldest competitor in the field at age 54. Paul Runyan, 92, is the oldest past champion in the gallery. He won the PGA title in 1934 and 1938. ... Spain's 19-year-old Sergio Garcia is the youngest PGA competitor since Gene Sarazen in 1921. Sarazen, who died this year at age 97, was 19 years,six months and 29 days when he made his PGA debut. Garcia is making his first appearance at 19 years, seven months, 27 days. ... The PGA is being held for the fifth time in the state of Illinois. The third PGA was held in 1919 at Flossmoor Country Club, the 1925 and 1961 tournaments at Olympia Fields and the 1989 tournament at Kemper Lakes in Hawthorn Woods.
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