GOLF:A US Open Miscellany

Rocky road: Travel woesNEWLY crowned Italian Open champion Robert Rock had further added expense to go with his legal fees in finally getting a US visa and clearance to play in the US Open. When he arrived at JFK airport in New York on Wednesday night after midnight, he discovered there was no transport waiting for him and he was left with no option but to fork out $1,000 for a taxi ride to Washington DC. Rock, who earned his place in the field in the International qualifying at Walton Heath, had his travel plans delayed after encountering some difficulty acquiring a visa due to an old driving violation in the States when he was 18.

Patient Louis

SOUTH Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen charged to a runaway victory at last year’s British Open but he proved yesterday he can smoothly adjust to the patient approach so necessary at US Opens. The 28-year-old recovered from a potentially destructive bogey-bogey start to shoot a two-under-par 69 in the opening round. “It’s all about just trying to be patient, knowing that there are birdies out there and that it’s a US Open,” Oosthuizen said after carding six birdies and four bogeys. “It’s a tough tournament and there are definitely bogeys out there as well. You never want to get too far ahead of yourself or try to make miracle shots.”

Makes You Think

US hopefuls Graeme McDowell and Louis Oosthuizen were given some perspective when they left the 10th green of their opening round and came across paramedics administering emergency treatment to a 30-year-old spectator who had

suffered a heart attack at the Congressional Country Club yesterday. “You’re out there trying to do your best, but it certainly puts golf in perspective when you see someone obviously fighting for their life, said defending champion McDowell. “All the people that USGA has in place this week for events like that, it’s great to see the paramedics reacting and doing the job they’re here to do,” added McDowell.