U.S. Open -- Day 3 Wrap-Up

Notes from a day at the U.S. Open with most of my family:

1. After the usual two-hour commute, we got to the course around 11:20 AM. It was a bright clear day; warm, but not too hot. As the day wore on, we got the sort of hazy cloud cover so common on hot summer afternoons, but it never turned to thunderstorms.

2. Of course, we immediately started at the Trophy Club with another round of concessions. Number 2 Son went for a BBQ brisket sandwich, while Smart Girl stuck with her hot-dog order from yesterday. Smart Mom had what appeared to be a very nice salad, while Number 3 Son had a chocolate chip cookie and a meat-lover's pizza slice. I had my usual two hot dogs. The place was packed as always. I can honestly say that in three days at the U.S. Open, almost every concession stand I saw was absolutely packed. Americans must be the hungriest people on earth.

3. After eating, we set out in search of golf. Smart Mom wanted to see McIlroy, but he didn't tee off until 3:50 PM, which left us with quite a bit of time. We started by going to the 10th hole, which was an absolute madhouse with people everywhere. (The crowds today were simply enormous.) Then we wandered up to the third green, where we watched a few holes. And then we tried the fourth green.

4. By this time, it was getting close to 2 PM and morale was very low among the kids. So we left Smart Mom at the fourth green and went back to the concession stand. This time we got three bottles of Mountain Dew, one bottle of Pepsi, one bottle of water, and four Blue Bunny Lemon Chills. The latter is basically a very tangy, very thick lemon sherbet, and it was excellent.

5. But our location at the fourth green was not ideal. Smart Mom could see the green, but not the hole. Plus spectators were constantly having to work their way around the kids, who had taken to sitting on the ground. So we worked our way over to the second hole. This time we found a perfect location for Smart Mom where she could see the entire green complex, including the hole. Plus, about 50 yards away, between the second and third fairways, was a small cluster of shade trees far enough from either hole that no spectator ever walked there. The kids and I settled into this area, which we called "The Grove." We lay on the grass. We watched the Met Life blimp. We talked about a version of Plants vs. Zombies set at a golf course. I explained to the kids that the Grove symbolized the virtues of rural life; there's not as much to do or see in the country, but folks leave you alone and let you live as you please. Number 3 Son later decided that the Grove was the high point of the day, and that the trees were happy to have had someone finally sit under them. (Smart Girl and Number 2 Son went with the Trophy Club as the high point.)

6. Finally, at around 4 PM, it was time for McIlroy. We left the Grove and strolled over to the 2d fairway. We saw him hit his drive, watched him walk up to the green, and then headed over to the ropes used to mark a path from the 2d green to the 3d tee. We knew from past experience that the golfers would have to walk along that path -- and so we were within a few feet of McIlroy as he headed to the 3d tee. After watching his tee shot, we met up with Smart Mom and headed for home.

7. Of course, we had to make one more stop at the Trophy Club. Brownies, cookies, fruit and Pepsi were the order of the day, as we restored ourselves for the homeward journey. And then we went to the merchandise pavilion, where Number 2 Son got two polo shirts, Smart Girl and Smart Mom got tee shirts, and Number 3 Son said he didn't need anything.

8. We ended up getting home about 7:30 PM. All in all, it was an excellent day, and I am already curious about the possibilities of getting to the 2013 Open in Philadelphia.

9. As far as I could tell, the crowd today was very pro-McIlroy. This makes sense, as all of us in Washington tend to be very good at spotting when a new leader is on the horizon and in rallying behind that leader.

10. Oh, and the South abides. While on the course I saw people wearing gear from 10 of the 12 SEC schools; the only ones I couldn't find were LSU and Mississippi State.

11. There's really not much to say about the golf until after the fourth round, at which point I have a feeling that there will be quite a few things to say. For now, I will simply note that we are on the verge of a new era in golf history:

1. R. McIlroy (NIR): -14 (65+66+68=199)

2. Y.E. Yang (KOR): -6 (68+69+70=207)

T3. R. Garrigus: -5 (70+70+68=208)

T3. J. Day (AUS): -5 (71+72+65=208)

T3. L. Westwood (ENG): -5 (75+68+65=208)

T6. S. Garcia (ESP): -4 (69+71+69=209)

T6. M. Kuchar: -4 (72+68+69=209)

T6. F. Jacobsen (SWE): -4 (74+69+66=209)

9. K. Kim (KOR): -3 (69+72+69=210)

T10. D. Love III: -2 (70+71+70=211)

T10. H. Slocum: -2 (71+70+70=211)

T10. B. Jobe: -2 (71+70+70=211)

T10. H. Stenson (SWE): -2 (70+72+69=211)

T10. B. Van Pelt: -2 (76+67+68=211)