42nd Walker Cup Match at Merion

The 42nd Walker Cup Match is being played at Merion Golf Club this week. The biennial match pits 10 amateurs from the USA against 10 from Great Britain and Ireland. I took the rainy, 5 1/2 hour drive to the Philadelphia area on Friday morning. My reasons for going were two-fold. First, I had never been to a Walker Cup before and this one was driveable. Second, I lived in and around Philadelphia for nearly seven years in the 1980's to early-90's and really enjoyed the area. When I was workin at UPENN in Philly I used to caddy at Merion on weekends just for a chance to see the course. In fact, I was married nearby and was fortunate to play Merion with my dad the day before my wedding. So the course has some extra meaning for me personally.

And what a course it is. Designed by the father of the Philadelphia-style of golf course architecture, Hugh Wilson, the course features one of the most memorable collection of holes of any course this side of the Atlantic. The flagsticks are topped by red wicker baskets instead of traditional flags which only adds to it mystique. Bobby Jones completed the final leg of the Grand Slam by winning the US Amateur here in 1930. Ben Hogan came back from his brush with death in a 1949 car accident by winning the US Open here in 1950. Hogan's one-iron shot at the 72nd hole is immortalized in the famous photograph. These are the two most famous exploits at Merion, but that only begins to tell the story .

The 2009 Walker Cup marks the 18th USGA event hosted by Merion, more than any other club in the country. The scheduled 2013 US Open will be Merion's fifth. Short by modern standards, the backs tees measure 'only' 6,846 yards, and this after the course has been lengthened some 300 yards. This is the distance to course will play for 2013, but it's all the golf course a player could want. I've seen many of the best courses in the US - more as a caddy than a player - but Merion takes a back seat to none of them. And I'm talking Pebble Beach, Cypress Point, Pine Valley, Winged Foot, Augusta. You name them and Merion does not pale in comparison to any.

So do you get the sense that I really like this place? It's an absolute shrine to the game. Nicklaus said, 'Acre for acre Merion may be the best golf course in the world.' Other greats have spoken more eloquently about the place but none more succinctly. It's that good. That I had a chance to play it a couple of times and walk around it perhaps a hundred times as a caddy makes it even more special for me.

OK, now that I've completly gone over the top in gushing about the place, what about the Match? I arrived at Merion early Friday afternoon for what was scheduled to be a practice round and the Opening Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. There wasn't much practice going on as it was pouring buckets when I arrived. I had my full gortex on - coat and pants - and decided to walk the course anyway. I got about six holes in but decided the tent outside the clubhouse might be a better idea. I bumped into a gentleman, Clive, from the UK who is over here watching for the week. He was non-plussed about the rain so he pressed on. I headed for the pro shop to look at the merchandise.

The outdoor ceremony was supposed to be in the middle of the 1st fairway. There were chairs laid out for the teams and flag poles erected for the respective colors to be raised, but it was just raining too hard. Hastily, the Opening Ceremony was moved under the large tent that had been set up over the outdoor patio sited next to the clubhouse. It was quite cramped, but at exactly 5:30 the players and captains filed out followed by the committee members from the USGA and R&A. In his opening welcome, USGA President, Jim Vernon, wryling stated, 'Welcome to the 109th United States Open Championship at Bethpage State Park' which drew a round of laughter. The rainy conditions dampened the grounds but not everyone's spirits. After the GBI team was introduced, the local high school band played 'God Save The Queen' followed by the Irish national anthem (I forget the name of that one).

Then US Captain, Buddy Marucci, introduced the US team followed by the band's rendition of the 'Star Spangled Banner'. Made all the more poignant by the 9/11 anniversay, when Marucci went back up to the mike he said, 'If that doesn't get you then you're not breathing.' The entire ceremony was pomp and circumstance, but demonstrated all that was great about the Walker Cup - camaraderie and competition.

Today (Saturday) I was able to bump into and speak to many people who I knew. Everyone from MGA 1st Vice-President, Jack Dezieck, to one of my old Merion caddy friends, Poncho, who is caddying for one of the GBI players. I was even able to chat with Titleist CEO Wally Uihlein, who was not here as a giant of the golf industry but as a proud father watching his son, Peter, compete in his first Walker Cup Match. And Peter performed. He holed a crucial 15-foot par putt on the 18th hole of his morning foursomes match to win the hole and secure a 1-up victory for he and partner, Nathan Smith. It was an unlikely win after the team had been down all day. The crucial point helped the US to a 3-1 lead after the morning.

Peter continued his great play in the afternoon by winning a tight singles match against opponent Tommy Fleetwood. The star of the day, though, was Rickie Fowler. He and partner, Bud Cauley, closed out their match early with a 6-5 victory and then Fowler waxed Sam Hutsby 7-6 in his singles match. Although he's supposed to be entering his junior year at Oklahoma State, Fowler will be turning pro right after the Match. I can't say I blame him. This kid has got 'it' - that special something. I watched him play a few holes today. He's just got that Lanny Wadkins-style swagger that says, 'I'm going to beat you and you're going to watch me while I put this beating on you.' In other words, quietly cocky but with the game to back it up.

Truth be told it's tough to actually see the golf at the Walker Cup unless you sit on a green or tee. There is a charm to being able to walk the fairways with the players, but it doesn't translate into great golf viewing. Figuring that I'd seen some good golf, talked with friends and soaked up the atmosphere at my favorite course, I took the shuttle back to my hotel at about 3:00. I watched the remainder of the singles matches on the Golf Channel (while also flipping over to NBC occasionally to watch Tiger put the finishing touches on his 62) and the day finished up with the USA in command with an 8-4 lead. It's far from over, though. Sunday should be a good one. I'm driving back tomorrow, but my wife is setting the DVR.