"It takes incredible mental toughness to win the Open Championship. That means preparing every element of your game."

Tiger Woods

7/15/2009

Nike put the above quote online the day before the first round of the Open Championship. Today, on a day when a record was set for the most rounds shot in the 60s in Open Championship, Tiger shot a lackluster +1 (71) and finds himself seven shots behind the leader. That leaves three rounds for Tiger to prove Nike to be genius!

Yesterday, I received a video I had been waiting for for awhile.

You don't get to see it right away because it requires a little explanation.

On May 29, 2009 the Golf Nut Society stepped up and supported a very special birthday celebration for Matt Snograss as he turned 21 years old! The evnt might have been unremarkable but for the fact that Matt was diagnosed with malignent brain cancer when he was 9 years old. Over the last 12 years, Matt and his family have battled and battled his cancer. During that time Matt endured seven major brain surgeries, yet the cancer continues to return. When the Golf Nut Society called upon local members and supporters to participate in the 2nd Annual Matt Snodgrass Foundation Golf Benefit, the Golf Nuts responded beyond all expectations. Members from across the country became players and sponsors for the event. From as far as New Jersey, across the heartland through Atlanta and as close as across the street, Golf Nuts opened their hearts to Matt. There was a televison interview by Las Vegas sports anchor Kendall Tinney on Channel 3, plus  a spectacular and touching article by a great friend of the Golf Nut Society, Ed Graney, on page 1 of the Las Vegas Review Jornal Sports section.

In the end, there were 86 players and countless "participants" who made the tournament an enormous success. At the end of the day, a grateful and tearfull Sharmin Snodgrass (Matt's Mom) held tightly to my hand as we sat alone in the lobby outside the Dragon Ridge banquet hall. "Michael, promise me, please, that we will do this tournament agin next year...no matter what," Matt's Mom quietly asked. As both of us teared up I made her that promise.

So, please watch the following short video of this year's event and mark May 28, 2010 in your calendar so you will be sure to be available for next year's event.

http://vimeo.com/4921688

Modest Glover a likeable but unlikely Champion.

I caught a glimpse of Lucas Glover on the Regis and Kathy Lee Show (hey, I was sick and the TV remote was too far away to reach) and was quite taken by our newest U.S. Open Champion. There seems to be a genuine modesty within him. He could easily be the kid scrubbing your clubs after a round or the Assistant Pro at a muni who is just hanging out chatting it up with the local hacks. You certainly wouldn't recognize  him in a crowded airport, except for the BIG SHINY TROPHY he'd be carrying around with him. Of course now, with $1,350,000 burning a hole in his pocket I'm pretty sure that he won't be flying commercial airlines!

Honestly, it is really refreshing to have a guy like Glover hold the U.S. Open trophy. He got it by qualifying. He held on to a lead when it looked impossible for him to hold on. His "Aw Schucks" demeanor is a welcome change from the "look at me" atheletes in other sports. I didn't pay much attention to him before, but I can tell you I will from now on.

Way to go Lucas... TOP OF THE WORLD has a really great view, cherish it always!

What a finish to the U.S. Open! There is no way I would have EVER chosen Lucas Glover to win OR Ricky Barnes and David Duvall to even compete! WOW!

Now, with the Open in the record books, lets congratulate our U.S. Open Challenge Champion...KAREN TIEKEN! As you'll see from the Final-Standings, it wasn't even close! Karen's Team won by 9 shots!

1. KAREN TIEKEN -10

2. Antonio Huguely -1

3. Robert Siefert +1

4. Kathy Keenan +2

5. Dave Carlson +3

6. Keith Hogge +6

T7. John Cupit +8

Margo Piper

Head Nut

T10. Bruce Commander +10

Andy Pratt

12. Doug Jensen +11

13. Cheryl Decker +12

14. Bob Soucy +14

T15. Brian Eichelhorn

Michael Ryan

T17. Mike Depre +17

Dave Lucas

T19. Aileen Pollock +20

Robert Smith

T21. Jon Lindquist +22

Cadwell Collins

23. John Eichenlaub +24

Congrats to Karen and better luck at the PGA Championship Challenge for everyone else! **Note: We will NOT be having a British Open Challenge**