Michael Whitehead gets lucky as Tiger Woods withdraws from US Open
Michael Whitehead, the Rice graduate, felt on top of the world when he was asked by the USGA if he would be interested in playing at the US Open. Whitehead came out to be the first alternative after the qualifying rounds in the US and finally broke into
the field when none other than Tiger Woods himself, withdrew from the second major of the season.
"It's kind of surreal," Whitehead said "I just got a phone call from the USGA asking if I wanted to play in the U.S. Open because a spot had come open. I said, 'Um, yes.' She said Tiger had withdrawn from the Open -- that was the implication, at least. So,
'Thanks, Tiger.' I guess I'm glad he was listening to his doctors."
The news came out on Tuesday as a bitter surprise for the Woods' fans when the 14 major winner announced his withdrawal owing to his lingering knee and Achilles injuries. Whitehead had just finished his 36-hole round at the Monday qualifier at Dallas Athletic
Club where he had a disappointing finish on the first Playoff hole. He was taken in as the first alternate in case any of the players of the filed would decide to opt out.
"It didn't feel very good. To have come so far and almost have it, and then not have a very good hole. Praise God it turned out the way it did," Whitehead was later talking to the reporters.
The young golfer has just graduated from the Rice University where he earned a degree for sports management. This will be his first high profile event in his short professional career in golf.
Sergio Garcia, who has not missed a major since 1999, finally qualified for the tournament via the qualifiers at Springfield Ohio on Monday June 6. Garcia, currently ranked number 75th in OWGR, has been battering a finger nail injury for some
time and had pulled out from the British Open qualifier before.
This is the first time Garcia had to qualify for the US Open mostly because of his lopsided performance in two years. Young Korean Noh Seung-yul also qualified for the event while Vijay Singh did not show up for the qualifying rounds.
Tags: