Some of the highlights from Michael Campbell's spectacular come-from-behind victory in the U.S. Open were the win coming as his first on the PGA Tour this year, making him the sixth first-time winner on the Tour in 2005; becoming the first New Zealander to win on Tour since Greg Perks won the 2002 Players Championship; earning a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour, an exemption into the U.S. Open for 10 years and a five-year pass into the Players Championship, Masters, British Open and PGA Championship and his $1.1 million first-prize check comprises 46.9 percent of his career Tour earnings.
How bad was it for Retief Goosen and Jason Gore in the final round Sunday? They posted a combined 25-over par score, shooting 81 and 84, respectively. "On 16, I said at least we have to try to play for something on these last three holes," Goosen said. "And, unfortunately, he messed up on the last one, and I won the five bucks."
Now that the men's Open is in the books, the golf spotlight shifts to the U.S. Women's Open, which will be contested this week at Cherry Hills Golf Club in Denver. And there is at least one guy who competed at Pinehurst last week who'll be watching rather closely when the ladies tee it up Thursday. "I have the week off, so I'll be watching it pretty intently," said Phil Mickelson, who did not have a good week at Pinehurst. "I've become a big fan of Annika Sorenstam's, especially since we're now on the same team at Callaway, and we're using the same driver. The way she's been playing, I'm trying to emulate. I've gotten a chance to know her a little better since we've been on the same team, so I'm certainly pulling for her."
Greensburg's Rocco Mediate had a good week at Pinehurst, finishing in a tie for sixth. How did he stack up statistically? He ranked 36th in fairways hit; 40th in greens in regulation; 10th in putts (115 total); 55th in birdies and tied for 17th in driving distance at 300.9 yards.
Gore, the burly Nationwide Tour player who hung around with the leaders for a couple days at Pinehurst, before imploding Sunday with an 84 seemed to have the whole experience in perspective. "It was a heckuva week. I had a wonderful time," Gore said. "I feel very strongly that I'll be back. Stuff like this happens in the U.S. Open, and I'll be a better player because of it. There was a point on No. 14 when that hole seemed like it would never end. But it did end. So be it. I'll be back."
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