Guts, Grit And Grandeur

"I just felt like I had to get it off my chest," Norman said after the round. "Maybe that was a mistake. But I would have been upset otherwise.... I guess people in this part of the world are upset because we've got the America's Cup."

You don't think Norman has a sore spot about the choking label some people are sticking him with, do you? Nahhhhh. This finally looked like his chance, and it would be gone for good and...

...fifteen minutes into his Sunday round, Norman's lead had been gobbled up. For the next two hours, owning part of the lead at the U.S. Open was about as prestigious as making the telephone book. At exactly 4:25 p.m., EDT, Floyd birdied the par-3 11th to complete a nine-way tie for first.

"One thing I know about the final nine holes of the U.S. Open," Floyd would say later, "is that everybody starts making bogeys." And, one by one, eight of the nine fell flat:

Norman. He bogeyed No. 9 one minute after the nine-way rush and was never heard from again. He shot 75 and finished 12th. Health tip: If you happen to see him, don't bring it up.

Stewart, GQ's finest. By birdieing 11 and 12, he took a one-shot lead, but then missed a three-footer for par at 13 and bogeyed 14. He disappeared into the bubbling vat of ex-leaders and finished tied for sixth.

Beck. This new pupil of teaching pro extraordinaire L.B. Floyd, Raymond's father, made four straight birdies coming in on his way to a course-record 65 but missed a three-foot birdie putt on 18. As it was, he finished two shots back and tied for second.

Wadkins. Another run made too late. His 65 tied Beck at two back for second place.

Sutton. Mending from another divorce, the man the caddies call "Halimony" was after some collateral and took a share of the lead by birdieing the arduous 447-yard uphill par-4 9th. But Sutton bogeyed 12 and then 15 and finished tied for fourth. Will $26,269 do?

Crenshaw. By bogeying 12 he fell from grace and never returned, an unhappy ending to a meteoric start in which he birdied four of the first six holes. He tied for sixth, yet made more birdies than anybody in the field.