British Open 2009
Will Tiger Woods win the Open 2009?
American Trio Earn Late British Open Exemptions
Americans Bryce Molder, Paul Goydos and Brant Snedeker successfully earned their places in the 138th Open Championship at the AT&T National yesterday (Sunday).
Molder and Goydos secure their berths as the top two players, not already exempt, in a short-term money list which ran from the Players 
Championship up to and including last week’s event at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.
Molder booked his place courtesy of an impressive fourth place finish, while 45-year-old Goydos, who has recorded three top-five finishes on Tour in 2009, produced a solid performance to ensure his second successive Open Championship appearance.
“I knew I was fairly close,” said Molder, 30, who will make his Open debut in less than two weeks. “I knew it was a lot of factors going on; it wasn’t just me playing well, it was other people if they played well…I’m in now, and I’m really excited. I love playing golf over there [Great Britain], played Turnberry once, and just magnificent, so I’m looking forward to going back.”
Like Goydos, Snedeker also played at Birkdale in 2008 after displaying his Major Championship credentials with a tied-third finish at The Masters and a tied-ninth at the US Open earlier that year. The 28-year-old seals a second Open Championship start thanks to fifth place at the Congressional, making him the leading player, not already exempt, in the top-five at the tournament.
“[I’m] floored and excited,” explained Snedeker.
The 138th Open Championship takes place on 16 — 19 July 2009 over the Ailsa Course at Turnberry.
Tickets for the 2009 are still available. Click here for info.
Practice Rounds
Players will have the option of starting Practice Rounds at the first or 10th tee. Players electing to play a full round generally begin sometime between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. It is typical for some players to be on the golf course or Practice Areas until dusk. Monday, July 15 (Gates open – 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Tuesday, July 16 (Gates open – 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Wednesday, June 17 (Gates open – 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Championship Rounds 1 and 2
Play is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. from both the first and 10th tees. The last pairings each day will begin play at 2:42 p.m. and finish at approximately 7 p.m.
Thursday, July 16 (first round) — (Gates open – 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Friday, July 17 (second round) — (Gates open – 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Championship Rounds 3 and 4
The first starting time will be determined by the number of players who make the “cut” at the conclusion of the second round (60 players with the lowest scores including ties plus any player within 10 strokes of the lead). Generally, the first pairing begins play from the first tee between 8-8:30 a.m.; the last pairing for both days will start play from the first tee at approximately 2:50 p.m.
Saturday, July 18 (third round) — (Gates open – 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Sunday, July 19 (fourth round) — (Gates open – 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Playoff
If there is a tie for the lead at the end of 72 holes, an 18-hole playoff will be held on Monday, June 22. The playoff will begin at approximately noon and finish at approximately 4 p.m. Gates will open at 9:30 a.m.
US Open Recap
Tiger Woods arrived at Augusta on Monday with fellow American Steve Stricker saying the four-time Masters champion will be unstoppable if he is on form. The world number one launches his bid for a fifth green jacket and a 14th major title on Thursday having triumphed in nine of his last 11 starts.
Tiger Woods is in the unique position of not only being the defending U.S. Open champion but also the last player to win this championship at Bethpage Black.
“Obviously he’s the favourite coming in here,” world number four Stricker told reporters after practice on Monday.
“I mean, the course, and his play, the way he’s played this year, there’s no question he’s the odds-on favourite to win here.”
Woods has been virtually unstoppable this year, winning his first four tournaments before finishing fifth at last month’s WGC-CA Championship in Miami.
“How many has he won here already, four? That shows you something right there. You realise that he’s the guy to beat,” the PGA Tour’s 2006 and 2007 comeback player of the year added.
“If he plays well, no one is going to beat him. I’ve seen him enough lately that if he’s on his game, he’s impossible to beat.”
“He can’t have any slip-ups. It’s just tough to win a golf tournament and there’s so many good players that he’s going to have to play well to do it.”
With talk of a calendar grand slam abounding, Stricker said that a lot of intangibles will have to go right if Woods is to become the first to achieve golf’s greatest accomplishment.
“There’s a lot of factors that go into winning a golf tournament,” said Striker. “He (Woods) knows that, too?
“Especially going over to the British Open; you could get on the wrong side of a draw over there and be 10 shots back in a hurry.
“You’ve got to have some good breaks, and you have to play well, and hopefully, someone else doesn’t just tear it up that week, too, which is always a possibility.”
More Golf News from the official US Open site:
A Taste Of The Big Time
Kevin Silva, one of four players to advance out of the qualifier Monday at Old Oaks and Century Country Clubs in Purchase, N.Y., will be heading back to the U.S. Open.
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Stanley Hammers Way To U.S. Open; Lee Falls Short
Kyle Stanley was second to no one Monday at a U.S. Open sectional qualifier. Meanwhile, U.S. Amateur champion Danny Lee, 18, won’t be playing at Bethpage Black in two weeks.
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Final Stop On Road To Bethpage Black: Sectional Qualifying
More than 700 golfers, including two-time champion Lee Janzen (above), will be vying for spots in this year’s U.S. Open at 13 sectional sites across the U.S. on June 8.
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The Public’s Last Chance To Play Bethpage Black
For those golfers hoping for a last chance to play Bethpage Black before it closed for this year’s U.S. Open on May 31, there was little sleep, plenty of anxiety and for some, jublilation at the opportunity.
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The U.S. Open at Bethpage Black: The Stage Is Set
Farmingdale, N.Y. (May 3) - On a soggy early May day, USGA officials began an 18-hole trek, scrutinizing everything from teeing grounds to green complexes and everything in between.
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18 Questions With … Mike Davis
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The USGA’s course setup expert talks about the preparations for the U.S. Open at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course.
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USGA Course Setup Philosophy
The USGA selects venues for the U.S. Open that rank among the most challenging in the U.S. We intend that the U.S. Open prove the most rigorous examination of golfers.
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U.S. Open Presale
Visit the Merchandise Pavilion at Bethpage State Park June 11-14 for a pre-championship sale.
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Bethpage Black Walking Map
Find out how to navigate Bethpage Black during the U.S. Open.
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12 More Players Are Exempt For U.S. Open; Total Now 75
Paul Casey, the world’s third-ranked golfer, headlines a list of 12 players who became fully exempt for the 2009 U.S. Open on May 25.
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Ace Secures Peter Hanson Spot In U.S. Open Field
Peter Hanson of Sweden aced the second playoff hole during a sectional qualifier at Walton Heath G.C. in England on May 25 to earn a spot in the 2009 U.S. Open field.
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Local Qualifying: U.S. Open Hopefuls from Other Sports Fail to Advance
Seven current/former athletes from other sports filed entires for the 2009 U.S. Open, but none advanced out of the local qualifying stage.
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Local U.S. Open Qualifier Hoping for the Ultimate Big Break
Golf Channel reality show contestant Eugene Smith earns medalist honors at U.S. Open local qualifier and moves a step closer to playing Bethpage Black in June.
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Athletes From Other Sports Looking To Fulfill U.S. Open Dreams
Several pro athletes, including current Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and former big-league pitcher Erik Hanson, are trying to qualify for the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black.
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Additional 2009 U.S. Open Grounds Tickets Being Made Available
A limited number of grounds tickets for the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black will be available the week of the championship on a walk-up basis.
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Tiger Woods Eyeing U.S. Open Repeat At Bethpage Black
Tiger Woods has undergone many changes in his life since the 2002 U.S. Open triumph at Bethpage, but he still remains the world’s No. 1 golfer.
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U.S. Open Media Day: Tiger Woods Transcript
Tiger Woods talks via a conference call at 2009 U.S. Open media day at Bethpage State Park about defending his championship and the state of his game.
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U.S. Open Media Day: Mike Davis Transcript
A transcript of comments by USGA Senior Director of Rules and Competitons Mike Davis about the 2009 U.S. Open setup at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course at media day.
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Arizona Cop Giebelhausen Voted To Play U.S. Open Challenge
Arizona cop Larry Giebelhausen has been voted by the public to play Bethpage Black with three celebrities as part of the 2009 Golf Digest/U.S. Open Challenge.
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USGA Accepts Record Entries For 2009 U.S. Open
The USGA accepted a record 9,086 entries for the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course, with 63 golfers currently exempt from qualifying.
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