U.S. Open memories

The 2015 United States Open at Chambers Bay did not lack for dramatics. There was the grousing about the golf course and the greens. There was Tiger Woods not making the cut and looking like an ordinary weekend golfer. There was Jason Day suffering through a case of vertigo yet still in contention to win. There was Dustin Johnson three-putting the final hole of the tournament. And there were the distractions like the perpetual whining and complaining by the likes of Horschel and Garcia who didn’t play well.

Tacoma resident and PGA Tour player Michael Putnam hit the first tee shot of the tournament during the opening round. He shot 70 in the first round but had a 77 in the second round and missed the cut; Former University of Washington player Richard Lee came back from an injury to qualify for the U.S. Open however he missed the cut; Puyallup’s Ryan Moore had plenty of hometown fans in his corner hoping he would win the U.S. Open in his backyard but he also missed the cut.

• There was drama at the U.S. Open qualifying at Suncadia’s Tumble Creek as Cheng-Tsung Pan, Troy Kelly, and Richard Lee all made late birdies to finish 1-2-2 and take the three qualifying spots for the United States Open. All three are former University of Washington Husky golfers.

• Another interesting local note involved Andrew Putnam of University Place trying to qualify for the U.S. Open. Putnam is the brother of Michael, who also plays on the PGA Tour.

Andrew played at the Memorial and then tried to hop a flight to Memphis for the qualifier the next day and then get ready for the Memphis Open. But his plan was cancelled and he and his caddy had to drive nine hours to Memphis. He made it at 5:00 a.m. – just two hours before his tee time for the 36-hole qualifier. He missed out on the U.S. Open shooting a 74 in his first round and then withdrawing.