CONGRESSIONAL CC MARYLAND (OUTSIDE DC) IS THE HOST OF THE 2011 US OPEN

What are the best US Opens in history. Where was the best drama, who were the
key players. What made them so good that people haven't forgot them.

Looking back I pose these following 10 US Opens as the best for variety of reasons.

1. The 1895 US Open Newport GC, Newport Rhose Island. Horace Rawlins was
the winner. It was the first open and something went right, that it would make it
keep happening all these years. Thanks to the forefathers of the USGA for starting
this championship and still have it running today.

2.The 1913 US Open at The Country Club in Brookline, MA. Amatuer Francis Ouimet
was the winner. The kid skipped school, to beat the best players in the world at
the time, and give this event the following it deserved.

3.The 1950 US Open at Merion GC, Ardmore PA. Ben Hogan recovering from his
car accident with Greyhound Bus, wasn't sure he could walk the 36 hole final.
Somehow he did, and history was made.

4.The 1960 US Open at Cherry Hills CC, Englewood CO. Arnold Palmers only
US Open win. Needing to come from several shots behind. Palmer drove the
first green a par 4, in route to an easy birdie and the charge to victory was on.

5. The 1964 US Open at Congressional CC, Bethesda MD. Ken Venturi fought
off illiness from the extreme heat to win. A doctor walking the final round with
him tried to convince him to stop playing.

6. The 1973 US Open at Oakmont CC, Oakmont PA. Johnny Miller final round
63 is maybe the finest final round at a US Open ever played.

7 The 1980 US Open at Baltusrol GC. Springfield NJ. Jack Nicklaus won 18
majors and the US Open four times. People still say this open, his last open
was his best. Enough said..

8. The 1982 US Open at Pebble Beach, Pebble Beach CA. Tom Watson held
off Nicklaus by holing a chip on the par 3 17th. The highlight of Watson running
around the green afterwards never gets old.

9. The 1990 US Open at Medinah CC, Medinah IL. Curtis Stranges bid to win
three consecutive US Opens died at the hands of 46 year old Hale Irwin, the
oldest man to win the US Open. Irwin playing on a sponsors exemption, holed
a 45 foot putt on the 72nd hole to position himself one shot back of leader
Mike Donald. When Donald bogeyed 18, a Monday playoff was held and it
took a suddent death playoff after the first 18 for Irwin to win. Drama at it's best.

10. The 1999 US Open at Pinehurst, Pinehurst NC. Payne Stewarts final win
before his death in a plane crash just over four months later. Stewart had to
one putt the 18th green, and did so from just over 20 feet for the win. Holding
off Phil Mickelson by a shot, who was going to leave the tournament if wife
Amy went into labor with their first child. Stewarts winning pose is captured
in a bronze statue behind the 18th hole of Pinehurst #2.

There are others. Honorable mention's to Tom Kite in 1992 at Pebble Beach,
fighting off a wind storm the final round. Jeff Ogilvy's win over Mickelson when
Lefty collapsed on the 18th hole at Winged Foot in 2006. Tiger Woods winning
at Torrey Pines in 2008, and having to play 91 holes on a broken leg to do it.

HOPEFULLY NEXT MONDAY, 2011 WILL JOIN THE LIST. Comments, thoughts,
are welcome via this website, on Twiter @GogBlogGuy. Or on Golfers on Golf
radio next monday night 6 PM AM-1530 WJJG. Enjoy the championship.