The U.S. Open finds new appeal with first stop at public course

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- The U.S. Open has always been filled with stories straight out of Tin Cup.

Derek Tolan, a 16-year-old high school student, knocks in an improbable shot and gets to play with Tiger Woods. Adam Speirs, who spends most Mondays just trying to qualify for the lowly Canadian Tour, starts out all even with David Duval and Phil Mickelson.

That said, this is the first time the Open has truly lived up to its name. In the past, it was played at members-only clubs or exclusive resorts that charge exorbitant green fees -- c'mon, can Pebble Beach really be called public when it costs $375 to play there?

"The problem at Pebble is you can't sleep in your car to get a tee time," John Daly said recently, "because they'll arrest you."

Not so at the Black Course, where any ol' hacker can catch some shuteye in his backseat for a chance to land one of the coveted tee times. The payoff isn't costly at all -- $31 to play on a weekday, $39 on the weekends.

"I remember parring this hole the last time I played it," said Bob Bross, standing alongside the 18th green during a practice round Tuesday.

For Bross and plenty like him, this will be a really open open. They've walked these same grounds at Bethpage State Park, grumbling about the imposing length and experiencing the thrill of a few well-placed shots.

"I used to play here every Sunday when I was younger," said Gene Flynn, watching Tuesday alongside Bross. "The last time I played it, I finally broke a 100. That was 28 years ago."

On the other side of the ropes, several guys were still pinching themselves as they prepared to play the Black Course with America's national championship on the line.

Tolan, a high school junior-to-be in Highlands Ranch, Colo., holed a 50-foot chip during a qualifying tournament to become the youngest member of the 156-player field. Man, he'll have some stories to tell when he returns to class in the fall.

"At first, it was sort of confusing," the teen-ager admitted. "It really didn't hit me that I was going to be playing the biggest golf tournament in the world."

The U.S. Golf Association has qualifying tournaments throughout the country. If a player shoots low enough through the various stages, he gets to play in the Open.

"That's golf in a nutshell," said Speirs, a 23-year-old Canadian. "You shoot a score, you get to play. That's a real neat aspect of the Open."

Tolan made it through qualifying with a dramatic flourish. He bogeyed three of the last five holes in regulation, forcing a playoff for the final Open spot that also included PGA Tour winner Mike Reid and professional Mike Zaremba.

On the first extra hole, Reid and Zaremba flew over the green, while Tolan landed short. He just wanted to get the next shot close, but it wound up dropping in the hole.

"In sudden death, anything can happen," Tolan said. "Chipping in crossed my mind a little bit."

The teen is already a winner -- no matter how he scores on the longest course in U.S. Open history. His dad promised a new car if he made it to Bethpage; now, he's got to pay up.

"I bought a Matchbox Ferrari, wrapped it up and gave it to him," John Tolan said.

Nice joke, dad. How about the real thing?

"I'm sure he'll come up with something," Derek said confidently. "He's a good guy."

Tolan, a round-faced youngster who wears glasses, admits that golf is about his only passion. He'll hang out with his friends, maybe see an occasional movie, but he'd rather be out on the course with a club in his hand.

And when it comes to school? Fuhgetaboutit.

"I'm not a very good student," Tolan admitted. "I don't have any good subjects. I really have a hard, hard time putting an effort into two things. I feel like golf is going to get me further than school. I may be wrong. I may be kicking myself later. I'm trying my best to try harder in school, but it's just tough for me."

Maybe he can get a few tips from Speirs, who graduated from college in December and turned pro. The Winnipeg native is now struggling to qualify for minor-league events in his native country, hoping that we'll eventually lead to a spot on the PGA Tour.

The U.S. Open gave him a chance to see how the other half lives, if only for a week. He qualified at a sectional in North Barrington, Ill.

"There's definitely a story at every Open," Speirs said, "whether it's an 18-year-old making the cut or some kid from Canada making the field. You never know what story we'll see in the days ahead. That thought is in the back of my mind. You never know."

That's the beauty of this Open, where the unknowns can dream and the gallery can reminisce.

"If you were standing right here when I was playing, you'd have to get out of the way," quipped Flynn, who was stationed next to a bunker, far left of the 18th green.

"The word fore," Bross chimed in, "was made for him."