The leaders weren't even on the
course for the final round of the U.S. Open when Canadian Richard Zokol
put together one of the greatest front nines in Pebble Beach history.
Zokol, a former PGA Tour regular who now plays on the Buy.com Tour, had
five birdies before making the turn Sunday. His 30 tied the Pebble Beach
Open record set by George Burns in 1982 and equaled by Andy Dillard in
'92.
Zokol, 41, slumped a bit on the back nine, finishing with a 2-under 69
in the surprisingly calm conditions along the Pacific Ocean. Still, he
could brag about being the leader in the clubhouse, albeit only until the
next group finished.
``If we get an earthquake, I might win this golf tournament,'' Zokol
quipped after a 13-over 297.
Zokol's score would have been even lower if not for missed putts of 5
and 15 feet on the first two holes, forcing him to settle for pars. He
made a 20-footer for birdie at No. 3, followed by a 30-footer at the next
hole.
Zokol completed his run with three straight birdies beginning at No. 6,
where he made a 6-foot putt. He added a 10-footer at No. 7 and a 20-footer
at 8.
``It's fun to play well in the U.S. Open, especially on a Sunday at
Pebble Beach,'' said Zokol, whose run ended with a double-bogey at 10.
LOW AMATEUR
Jeff Wilson picked up his award for being low amateur at the U.S. Open.
Then, it was back to work.
Wilson is the sales manager at a car dealership in Vallejo, about a
two-hour drive from Pebble Beach in northern California. He planned to be
back behind the desk at 9 a.m. Monday.
``I had a great week,'' he said. ``To make the cut, that was something
I'll never forget.''
Wilson, who celebrated his 37th birthday the day before the tournament,
was the only amateur to make it to the weekend. He was 4 over after two
rounds, but slumped to an 11-over 82 in brutal conditions Saturday before
winding up with a 76.
``I would have liked to have finished better,'' said Wilson, who had a
20-over 304. ``But that's OK.''
One of his memorable moments during the week: Playing a practice round
with Tiger Woods, which gave Wilson's 6-year-old son, Jack, a chance to
meet the golfer who carried a 10-shot lead into Sunday's final round.
Wilson finished with a common U.S. Open experience, three-putting at 18
for a bogey. On his way off the course, he turned briefly to take one last
look at the course which hugs the Pacific Ocean.
``I'm not Arnie (Palmer) at St. Andrews for the last time,'' Wilson
quipped. ``I enjoyed the week, but let's keep it in perspective.''
TOP TO BOTTOM
Talk about a collapse.
Kirk Triplett, who was 5 under and within one stroke of Tiger Woods on
Friday, didn't even crack the top 50 after walking off Sunday with an
18-over 302.
``I'm not going to let this week get me down,'' Triplett said. ``I
wanted to play well, but I'll be back.''
The 38-year-old journeyman spent 11 years grinding it out on the PGA
Tour, playing 266 tournaments before finally winning the Nissan Open in
February. His best showing in the Open is a tie for 23rd in 1994.
He birdied the treacherous 8th hole on Friday to get to 5 under, within
a stroke of Woods' first-round lead. But Triplett bogeyed No. 9 and took a
double-bogey at the following hole when his second shot landed on the
beach.
After that, it was all downhill - 12 bogeys, four double-bogeys and one
quadruple-bogey, countered by only four birdies. He shot an 84 Saturday
and a 77 Sunday.
``There's a tendency when things are going bad to say, `It's just not
my week,''' Triplett said. ``I had too many high scores. You just can't do
that. When you get in trouble, you've got to make bogey and give yourself
a chance for par.''
IRWIN'S FINALE?
Hale Irwin made the cut and had two rounds under par at the U.S. Open.
Not bad for a 55-year-old.
But the three-time champion may have been playing his final Open. He
was in the field with an exemption from the USGA and didn't finish high
enough to automatically earn a return trip next year.
``I'll have to find a way to get back here,'' said Irwin, a regular on
the Senior PGA Tour.
Irwin was in contention after shooting a 3-under 68 in the opening
round, but he slumped to a 78 in the second round and an 81 Saturday. He
rebounded Sunday in placid conditions, firing a 69 for a 12-over 296
total.
``My first round and my last round were nice,'' Irwin said. ``In
between was sort of salami.''
On Sunday, he eagled the par-5 6th with a 40-foot putt. That was
typical, as he hit only seven greens in regulation but saved himself with
the putter.
``Twenty-four putts makes for a good score,'' Irwin said. ``But I'm not
very happy with the way I played today.''
KITE'S MEMORIES
Tom Kite walked off a winner in the last U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. On
Sunday, he was overcome by emotions as he left the old course, probably
for the final time.
``It was pretty tough the ion.
At the par-5 18th, Kite chipped his third shot within a couple of
inches of the flag and tapped in for birdie. He paused for a moment on his
way off the green, taking one last look at the course that played such a
big part in his life.
``It's a nice way to finish,'' he said. ``It's probably the last time
I'll see Pebble Beach unless I come out to see my son playing in the
(U.S.) Amateur or another Open.''
REPEATING HISTORY
Tom Watson had a chance to duplicate his famous chip from the rough at
the 17th hole.
Watson, who won the 1982 Open with that birdie shot, found himself in
the rough again Sunday. Only this time, he wasn't trying to hold off Jack
Nicklaus.
``I was in a different position, obviously, and it wasn't exactly the
same shot,'' Watson said. ``But I did think about making it. That would
have been some story to talk about.''
It wasn't to be. Watson's chip slid past the cup and he wound up with a
bogey. But he birdied the 18th for a finishing 73, giving him a 12-over
296 for the tournament.
DIVOTS
``Happy Father's Day,'' 19-year-old Tyler Coston told his dad, Jeff, as
they strolled up the 18th fairway together. ``What a way to spend this
day,'' the younger Coston, who caddied for his father, said afterward. ...
There won't be a grand slam this year. Masters champion Vijay Singh shot a
3-under 68 on Sunday but had dropped from contention with an 80 the
previous day. ``I'm very, very disappointed,'' the native of Fiji said.
``I'm more disappointed this week than I've been for any other golf
tournament.''
