To borrow the words of former United States Golf Association Executive Director Frank Hannigan, something magical always seems to happen at Olympic.
From June 14-17, the strictly private Olympic Club in San Mateo County just south of the City of San Francisco will host the national championship of the United States for the fifth time over its Lake Course – 14 years since the last Open staged there in 1998.
The US Open’s four previous ventures to Olympic have certainly been memorable. But perhaps more tellingly they have also seen a handful of the game’s legends endure some of the most heartbreaking defeats ever on the major championship stage.
There was the seemingly impossible victory by Billy Casper in 1966, where he defeated Arnold Palmer in a play-off after the King held a seven-shot lead with only nine holes to play. And then was there was the classic ‘David and Goliath’ story of unheralded club professional Jack Fleck who caught and then beat the genius that was Ben Hogan in an 18-hole play-off in 1955. These stories have been recounted so many times that the stories have been etched into folklore.
In a similar vein, Tom Watson – already an eight-time Major winner – was thwarted over the final holes for a second US Open crown at Olympic in 1987 by journeyman Scott Simpson. Watson's fellow luminary Seve Ballesteros finished close behind in a tie for third.
Current USGA Executive Director Mike Davis echoed his predecessor’s thoughts about the US Open’s return to California for a third time in the past five years.
"I know I love coming to coastal California, there is something magical about it. First of all, in June it's great weather but coming to San Francisco is great. To travel (here) to the US Open, whether it's domestic or international, people love coming to this city; the hotels, restaurants, it's just great to be here," said the highly regarded Davis said.
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