Sports

Justin Rose Wins Open, Merion Wins Grudging Respect

The 2013 U.S. Open was hardly the cakewalk many expected. Did you go or watch?

 

The last time a U.S. Open was played at Merion there was no "widey-used-by- the-general-public" internet. There was no golf channel, ESPN had been on 24/7 for only a few months and many of the fans who flocked to Merion Golf Course last week to watch in person had not been born.

In other words,many people who watched the tournament either in person or on TV had no personal memory of seeing the 1981 U.S. open played on the course

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Entering the 2013 U.S. Open, the conventional wisdom was that the relatively short holes at Merion Golf Club, coupled with the wet conditions, would lead to low scores.

The conventional wisdom was wrong.

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After four days of brutal play on a course that reduced the finest golfers on the planet to par, South African-born Englishman Justin Rose won the tournament with a score of +1.

But while Rose took the trophy, according to some of the competitors, Merion itself might have been the real winner.

"As tough a course as I've ever played," pro Russell Knox told ESPN.com's Gene Wojciechowski after a few rounds he'd just as soon forget.

"Perhaps next time you guys will believe when we say it's really not that easy," added Geoff Ogilvy. "Because it's really not that easy."

Merion: underestimate it at your peril.

What did you think of the U.S. Open being staged in suburban Philly? Would you like to see it come back to our region again?

Tell us in the comments at the bottom of this article.

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Below is roundup of some of Patch's coverage of the event. As the week rolls on, there will be more to come, as we take a look at the economic impact, both near- and long-term, the tournament had and will have on the area.

  • Fan Heckles Sergio Garcia with 'Fried Chicken' Chant
  • Golfer Hits Historic Hole-in-1 at U.S.Open
  • Merion U.S. Open Compared to Old Dog that Needs to be Put Down
  • Locals Get Inside The Ropes View of U.S. Open
  • U.S. Open Resumes After Suspension for Storm
  • 2012 U.S. Open Champ Praises Merion
  • Parking at Rose Tree Park Closed for Remainder of U.S. Open
  • Tiger Says 'Kicking Butt' is All He Wants to Do
  • Local Towing Company Cleans Up After Rain at U.S. Open


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