U.S. Open golf is something especially magical
Participating in the U.S. Senior Open Golf Tournament in Lake Orion, Mich. on July 12-13, Ron Gonzalez enjoyed the entire experience, which included signing autographs for young golf fans.
There is the U.S. Senior Open Golf Tournament. Then there is the U.S. Senior Open Golf Tournament in which your nephew plays.
There is a difference. The second is much more intense. The whole family is involved. The Internet is whirring. The phones are ringing.
We went nuts. My wife Pat was a riot at one point while I was away from the TV and needed her assistance.
Ronnie and his caddy were approaching the ninth green, and the commentators were talking about them. Pat was screaming and jumping and didn't hear a thing. I had to call my sister Fran in Florida to find out what was said.
For those who don't already know, Ron Gonzalez, Sunnyside High School 1977, shot 81 and 78 the first two days of the U.S. Senior Open last week and missed the cut for weekend play.
That sounds bad, and it is if you're Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus. Otherwise it's okay.
"I feel great. I played in the U.S. Open," Ronnie said a couple of hours after his Friday round.
But there were times during the Open that Ronnie didn't feel so great. His third hole on Thursday, after opening with two pars, was a triple bogey. His drive found the pasture-like rough, and so did his second shot.
"They say you lose a stroke every time you find the U.S. Open rough. It's true," Ronnie said.
I learned of Ronnie's start in a call from daughter Jenny in Walla Walla. She wanted to know what a triple meant to his chances. I hated to tell her. So I tagged my answer with: It's the Open.
Ronnie was at plus-9 when his mother Teresa called. She doesn't know golf, but she sensed that plus numbers were not good.
He's doing great, I said. You're one of the few mothers who, at this moment, is talking about her son in the Open. He's already won. So have you.
The exciting family week started at 7 a.m. on Monday when Ronnie called to say he was in. That announcement spread like wildfire across the country.
In minutes, relatives in New York, Florida, California, Alaska and places in between were on board. Many had never cared about golf before.
I can't count the calls and emails I received from people wanting details. And I messed that up. I couldn't keep Eastern and Pacific straight.
Ronnie had dreamed of and prepared for a shot at the senior tour. He never expected it to come at the Open. When he got there, he felt the full impact.
Ronnie signed autographs. He practiced on the driving range with Tom Kite and Fred Couples. Mark Calcavecchia introduced himself to Ronnie.
The family was disappointed Ronnie struggled the first day, but no one was disappointed in him.
On Friday, family on the West Coast was up at 4 a.m. to follow the posting of scores on the tourney website. A cheer went up across the country as a red 4 was posted for the first hole.
Yes, a birdie.
There was another birdie on No. 7, and Ronnie finished the front nine of a U.S. Open round in 34. We were pumped.
Ronnie parred 10 and bogeyed 11. Still at even par. Next up was that ugly No. 12. Ronnie bogeyed, which was okay. But then something happened we couldn't see.
Ronnie noticed the crowd that was gathering from No. 12 on. He got a big case of stage fright and struggled the rest of the way.
Ronnie was finished, but we weren't. We continued to call and email and Facebook. That evening my wife found a bunch of postings by grateful family members, even non-golfers. They had been on the five-day emotional ride of their lives.
"Do it again next year Ronnie," was the gist of their comments.cousin Genny in Los Angeles left a phone message.
"Thanks for letting us know," she said. "It was exciting to see him on TV."
Yes, it was exciting. Actually, it was magical.
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