Commentary: The opportunity to chase a dream makes the U.S. Open even more special

Commentary: The opportunity to chase a dream makes the U.S. Open even more special

Commentary: The opportunity to chase a dream makes the U.S. Open even more special

In our efforts to cover next month’s U.S. Open at Chambers Bay from the very start to the final putt, we start tonight with the number: 9,882. That’s how many golfers worldwide have entered the championship.

Sure, only 156 will play in the event, which you can see here on Q13 Fox. But the beauty is – the U.S. Open is open to anyone with a low enough handicap…. which means that anyone from tour pros to local pros to full-time students to doctors, lawyers, construction workers, even sports anchors, are eligible to try to qualify to play alongside the likes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

So yes, for likely the only time in my life – and to give a unique perspective of the qualifying process, I’m playing tomorrow in local qualifying for the U.S. Open at The Home Course in Dupont.

Of course it’s a pipedream that begins with 119 other golfers, with only the top 7 advancing to sectionals on June 8th. And if you think those odds are tough, only two players – just two! - from the 80-player field at sectionals will likely move onto the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay. So while my chances are slim and none, whoever *does survive the qualifying gauntlet will be the best stories leading into the championship.

At some time or another, we’ve pretended to be at-bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning in the 7th game of the World Series. Or taking that last-second shot to win an NBA title. Or making the game-winning catch in the Super Bowl.

As unlikely as it is, the U.S. Open gives those dreams a chance – and it’s even cooler this year, since the Open is in our backyard.

It gives local guys like Home Course head pro Dan Harrington the motivation to take part in the qualifying process for the first time in nine years. Or Chambers Bay caddies like Brandon Solomonson, with a chance to potentially play in the championship on his home turf. Or Chambers Bay pro Ryan Young, who also shares that dream of playing on the course where he works.

“I don’t know if I could even express how amazing and a true blessing that would be – that would be pretty cool,” Young said.

There won’t be crowds of people tomorrow, but I encourage everyone to show up to watch some of the best golfers in the area take the first step toward that dream:
Among them, two-time state high school champ and teenager Matt Marrese tees off at 8:20.
Former Husky golfer James Lepp tees off at 10am.
Two-time Washington Open Champ Tim Feenstra goes at 11:30…. and the Huskies’ Cheng-Tsung Pan, currently the tenth-ranked amateur in the world tees off at noon.

“I think it’ll be a lot of fun. The pairings are online on the WSGA website,
said Scotty Crouthamel, WSGA Sr. Director of Rules and Competition. “We’ll have live scoring going on the website and the scoreboard going so you can see where players are at, and maybe get out there to watch them finish and make a birdie on the last hole to get in.”

For me, it’s a Bucket List opportunity. I’m not quitting my day job anytime soon. But I thank the USGA for the chance to give it my best shot.