The week of the 56th U.S. Women’s Open began with dark clouds, heavy rain, high winds, thunder and lightning and even a little hail.
But that was nothing compared to the fireworks that were being forecast for later in the week. If this isn’t one of the most competitive Open Championships in history, lots of people are going to be surprised.
The ongoing rivalry between Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb for supremacy of women’s golf is the big story, of course. But the other 148 players in the field were no nearer to conceding the title to the superstars than they were to conceding a two-foot putt. There hasn’t been a bogey made yet that has to be posted.
The inclement weather forced the cancellation of some pre-championship activities, such as the four-hole exhibition featuring NASCAR drivers Dale Jarrett and Kyle Petty. Instead of a colorful stream of the best women golfers in the world going off the No. 1 tee at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club, USGA officials, early arriving media types and hundreds of volunteers huddled, looking for ways to stay dry.
‘Mia and Friends’
The special feature today is “Mia and Friends,” featuring soccer stars Mia Hamm, Caria Overbeck, and Wendy Gebauer, paired with former U.S. Open champions Betsy King, Juli Inkster and Laura Davies.
The exhibition is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on the new four-hole practice facility. Spectators who had tickets for Monday only will be able to use them for practice rounds on either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Complications other than rain plagued the NASCAR exhibition. Jarrett broke a rib on Friday when his Ford hit a wall while attempting to qualify for the Coca-Cola 600 and was too sore to swing a golf club. His father, Ned, was planning to substitute.
Meanwhile, Petty, a motorcycle buff, was planning on showing up at the course astride his two-wheeler, but the rain dampened that plan.
“I really hate that the NASCAR thing didn’t come off,” said Pine Needles owner and USGA hostess Peggy Kirk Bell. “We were really looking forward to the kids getting a kick out of that.”
But there was still plenty going on as the contestants arrived and eagerly sought a glimpse of the Donald Ross-designed course that will test their games, their nerves and their resolve over the next few days. As soon as the rain slackened to a sprinkle, many of the golfers headed for the practice area.
By early afternoon, the course was filled with players.
Although the weather obviously kept many spectators away, there were still quite a few who showed up to get a few autographs and watch the professionals hit balls.
One of those players hitting balls wasn’t a professional, but you couldn’t tell it from the way she swung. Carol Semple Thompson, the oldest contestant in the field, is making her 31st appearance in a U.S. Open, and the thrill’s as great now as it was in the first one.
‘Fantastic’
“It really is fantastic,” the 52-year-old Thompson said. “Every year I wonder if I’ll be able to be here.”
Thompson qualified for the Open this year at a course near her Sewickley, Pa., home. And she didn’t just sneak in, she was the qualifying medallist with a 72.
“That was kind of nice,” she said. “It wasn’t a large field and there were only two spots available. I knew I had to play well.”
Thompson’s best finish in an Open Championship has been a tie for ninth. And she always goes into it with a goal.
“My goal used to be to just hang around and make the cut,” she said, “but now it’s to be low amateur. I’ve managed to do that three times, but the year that I finished ninth, another amateur beat me out.”
Thompson has made the cut 10 times and feels good about her chances this week.
“I played here in ’96 and liked the course very much,” she said. “Other than that, I haven’t played it that much.”
While Thompson is hoping to make the cut, wants that low amateur trophy and would like nothing better than to be in one of the final groups on Sunday, she understands that all those things probably won’t happen.
“Realistically, being low amateur will make my week,” she said. “The thing for me now is that I just love being here with a lot of good friends. I’ve met so many people over the years and this is all about seeing old friends.”
For Semple, it was all about seeing her caddie after the rain had stopped.
“I’d like to play a few holes,” she said, “but I haven’t been able to find my caddie yet. I’ll probably just hit some balls.”
That’s what most of the other golfers were doing, too. Hitting balls and hoping to find something magical that will last through Sunday.
