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Grind merely a matter of course at public links championship

Top-rated amateur Fowler knows the stakes

By Lynn DeBruin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 13, 2008 at 11:04 p.m.

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Click to enlarge: Course map of Murphy Creek

Click to enlarge: Course map of Murphy Creek

If you go

* When: Today through Saturday.

* Where: Murphy Creek Golf Course, Aurora.

* Who: 156 amateur golfers who have been bona fide public-course players, with a U.S. Golf Association Handicap Index not exceeding 4.4.

* Format: Today, 18 holes stroke play; Tuesday, 18 holes stroke play and cut to low 64; Wednesday, first-round match play, 18 holes; Thursday, second-round match play (18 holes) and third-round match play (18 holes); Friday, quarterfinals and semifinals match play (18 holes each); Saturday, final, 36 holes match play.

* Information: usga.org.

In the swing

Players usually hit the range about an hour before their scheduled tee time, which means it will be packed today and Tuesday morning. It's one of the best times to check out some good swings.

Best vantage point

Spectators can catch a lot of action in a small area, watching players coming in on Nos. 9 and 18 and teeing off on No. 1.

No. 9, which is a drivable par 4, is flanked by a ravine, so eagles are there for the daring.

Toughest stretch

* Nos. 15-17.

No. 15 is a tough par 5, at 603 yards, and the 459-yard No. 16 has a water hazard all the way down the left side. No. 17 is a par 3 but plays at 248 yards.

Best birdie holes

* Nos. 1, 2, 7 and 9.

Tougher than it looks

* No. 14.

It's all about getting it in the fairway on this 424-yard par 4.

Best day to watch

There almost always is a playoff for a few of the final 64 spots in match play Tuesday afternoon. Saturday is a grueling test of nerves and skill, with the finalists playing 36 holes of match play.

Beat the heat

The clubhouse will be open to the public and there will be concession stands serving cold beverages on the course. With few trees, if you want shade, bring a hat or an umbrella.

Parking

The lot behind the clubhouse is open to the public, but there's also parking available at a K-8 school close to the 14th and 15th holes, both of which are challenging because they are lined by water.

By the numbers

106 players competing in their first Public Links.

51 is the age of the oldest player in the field, Benjamin Sumulong, of Anchorage, Alaska.

43 states represented, plus eight foreign countries.

23.49 is the average age of competitors.

21 players are from California, the largest block in the tournament.

16 is the age of the youngest player, Ian McConnell of Riverview, Fla.

14 is the number of times Danny Green, 51, of Jackson, Tenn., will have played in the tournament.

6-7 is the height of Grant Leaver, 22, of Centreville, Tenn., who played basketball for Austin Peay State University.

4 players ranked in the top 50 of the R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings: Fowler (No. 1), Fathauer (No 17), Jonathan Hodge, (No 19) and Billy Horschel (No. 33).

More Golf

More stories »

Can't wait a year to see the world's No. 1-ranked golfer?

You don't have to.

He'll be in Aurora this week, playing at Murphy Creek Golf Course.

Rickie Fowler might not be Tiger Woods, but he's the best there is in amateur golf, an aggressive, go-at-the-pin player who first started golfing when he was 3.

His skills will be on display along with 155 other top amateurs in the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.

Fowler might be only 19, but he knows what's at stake.

"The winner gets to play in the Masters, so that's what I'm shooting for," said Fowler, of Murrieta, Calif.

The first round starts this morning, with another 18 holes of stroke play Tuesday before the field is cut to the low 64 scorers.

Match play begins Wednesday, with the second and third rounds Thursday, the quarterfinals and semifinals Friday, then a 36-hole match-play final Saturday.

Fowler is used to the grind. Starting in late May, he played six rounds for Oklahoma State at the NCAA tournament, then drove to Columbus, Ohio, for a U.S. Open qualifier, where he was the last man out in an 11-man playoff (but eventually earned a spot as first alternate).

Then it was off to Pennsylvania, where he successfully defended his Sunnehanna Amateur title before heading to Torrey Pines, where he made the Open cut despite being the youngest player in the field.

"It's been a good year," said Fowler, who in May received the Ben Hogan Award as the top men's collegiate player.

He enjoyed a breakout summer in 2007, winning the Sunnehanna Amateur, making it to the quarterfinals of the Western Amateur and winning the Players Amateur. He capped his summer by earning a spot on the U.S. Walker Cup squad, for which he posted a 3-1 mark in helping the Americans to a 121/2-111/2 victory against the European squad.

While someone with his resume might consider turning pro, Fowler said he intends to play at least one more year at Oklahoma State and try to compete in the 2009 Walker Cup.

"Then I'll basically go from there. I don't have any set plans to stay two, three, four years. It's just kind of year by year, see how I'm playing," he said.

This week will be another good test.

Walk right up

Unlike in pro tournaments, there won't be any ropes to keep back spectators. In fact, admission is free and fans can walk right along with the players down the fairways.

"They can't carry their bag for them, but they'll be close enough to hear the club selection," said Pete Kowalski, a U.S. Golf Association spokesman.

Back for more

Seven of the top eight finishers from the 2007 championship are back, the only exception being Colt Knost, who turned pro in the fall.

Those competing again this year are Derek Fathauer, Aaron Goldberg, Lucas Lee, Corey Nagy, runner-up Cody Paladino, Andy Roberts and Robert Rohanna.

Going for broke

Many of the best players will be able to reach the 348-yard par-4 No. 9 hole off the tee, some with a 3-wood. But do they dare try? Miss it left or short and there's a ravine that gobbles up balls.

"You will see guys making 7s there (triple bogey) and 2 (eagle)," said Colorado State player Riley Arp, medalist in the local qualifier at Murphy Creek.

Brother act

Brothers Pat and Jim Grady, both University of Colorado products from Broomfield, will be competing this week. They certainly have history on their side.

The Barenaba brothers of Hawaii each won Public Links titles, Charles in 1974 and Randy in 1975.

Eddie (1976) and Jodie Mudd (1980 and 1981) of Kentucky combined for three titles.

Colorado connections

Besides the Grady brothers, University of Wyoming teammates Zachary Zaremba and Gabriel Maier will be competing this week along with Arp.

The spoils

In addition to an invitation to compete in the 2009 Masters, the winner receives:

* A gold medal and possession of the James D. Standish Jr. Cup for one year.

* A 10-year exemption from sectional qualifying for the Public Links.

* An exemption from local qualifying for the next three U.S. Opens.

* An exemption from sectional qualifying for the 2008 and 2009 U.S. Amateur.

* An exemption from sectional qualifying for the 2008 and 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur, if otherwise eligible.

Did you know?

Michael Brown, 35, of Cheltenham, Pa., was on Nickelodeon's Double Dare television show in 1986. He failed to win a go-cart because he couldn't find a flag in an oversized peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Did you know? II

Jeremy Franklin, 32, of St. Louis shares the same birthday as Woods, which is Dec. 30, 1975.