It was the best Father's Day ever

I enjoyed the best Father's Day ever last Thursday - yes Thursday - when my sons Grover and Teddy took me to the opening day of the U.S. Open Golf Championship in Tacoma.

But, sad to say, it included one of the toughest moments of my golf life. I witnessed - perhaps - the end of Tiger Woods. It was the consensus of the mumbling crowd around me that he died - as a golfer - that day.

I've been a Tiger Woods fan since he became the first person to win three U.S. Junior Amateur Championships and three U.S. Amateur Championships over six straight years. I fear my lasting memory will be of him looking for a place to hide after hitting his ball into Chambers Basement.

So let me tell you about the Best Father's Day Ever - Part I.

It started when I heard the U.S. Open was coming to Chambers Bay in Tacoma. I knew I'd like to go, but I feared I would not enjoy it because of a medical condition that had been overtaking me. So I put it out of my mind.

But at Christmas at our house, Grover and Teddy, said they wanted to take me for Father's Day. I knew that would be the ultimate Fathers's Day gift, but I turned them down.

I doubted I'd be able to walk even one hole. My wife and my daughters Jenny and Berney couldn't believe it. They basically said: "You have to go."

My family didn't take no for answer, and they moved ahead with their top secret plan.

It wasn't until after Teddy bought the tickets that the boys told me I was going. I was OK with it, because my challenge had been diagnosed, and it was being treated.

But I was not overjoyed. Pat was angry with me.

"This is the U.S. Open, and your boys want to take you as a Father's Day gift. Aren't you a little excited?" she said.

I was only lukewarm. Even when Pat reminded me I could use a power scooter wheelchair thingie, I wasn't excited. It's bad enough walking like a little old man. I didn't want to be seen in a power scooter.

Okay, I'm going, I said, and I will make the best of it. I'm not excited, but I'm sure I'll enjoy it.

Then the little joy I felt ebbed in March. Teddy found he had to be at work in Alaska the week of the Open. If I was going to go, I had to go with only one of my sons.

"Sorry dad, but I have to work," he said.

Then it turned out I couldn't exhibit any excitement around Grover. His wife Laura wanted to surprise him for Father's Day.

Teddy told Grover he was able to buy only one ticket, that the Open had sold out. That was crazy. I spent the next two months not mentioning the Open around Grover or on phone calls with Grover.

It was worse for Teddy and Laura. Grover was prepared to spend $1,000 to buy a scalped ticket so he could take me. Teddy and Laura had to think of ways to stop him more than once.

Laura finally told Grover her secret a couple of days before the Open. Grover had called Teddy to say he had found a $1,000 ticket. Teddy called Laura.

Grover then called me to say what time he'd be picking me up on Wednesday. I didn't know what to do or say. I was still in surprise Grover mode.

I had no idea where we were going to stay. Neither did Grover when I called him. I called Teddy about four times on Wednesday, and he didn'd answer either time.

That's strange, I thought. He must be exceedingly busy at work today.

I called Grover about 3 p.m. He was in Pasco, coming from his home in Spokane. He still didn't know the name of the hotel. I called Teddy again, and he didn't answer.

Shortly, there was a call from Teddy's wife Sabrina. She said Teddy had told her I was looking for the motel information.

"I'm in the car with the kids, but I'll be home soon. I'll call you as soon as I get to the house," she said.

No problem.

Grover, Laura and their kids arrived about 4 p.m. while I was outside moving some water. I gave Grover, Laura and the kids hugs and said my stuff was in the car ready to go.

"Let us have a little break first," Grover said. "That's a long drive."

We went into the house, and Grover and Laura sat on the same couch facing the living room door. I sat on a couch to their left. We chatted about the tournament, the trip and other things.

Then "Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom," there was this pounding on the door. I looked at Grover and Laura and nearly jumped out of the couch.

Who could that be? Nobody ever knocks on my door like that. Sounded likes cops, the FBI or the CIA. I was fearful, I but opened the door.

All I could say was: "What the...are you doing here?"

"Surprise," Teddy yelled and gave me a bear hug.

Surprise?

Shock was more like it. My heart and spirits soared. I could have had a heart attack. Or walked on air.

I called Pat.

You knew about this, didn't you?

"Did we surprise you?"

Yes, you did.

"Are you excited now?"

Yes, I'm excited. Both of my sons will be there. I'm very excited.

My thoughts turned to the U.S. Open as the boys and I piled into Pat's car - mine is a beater - and drove off.

When we got to Chambers Bay the next morning, I thought of Rudy's father when he saw Notre Dame Stadium for the first time. It was a sight for sore eyes,

Chambers Bay looked like the Old Course at St. Andrews, Muirfield and Royal Lytham all combined. It was mounds, valleys, canyons and potholes filled with sand, dry, dusty and hard-surfaced with rough that looked like a parched wheat field. It was perfect.

Next week I'll tell you about the U.S. Open experience itself. The TV boys and big newspaper guys have been pampered too long to really see it.