Thoughts From Torrey Pines

The self-sufficient Fowler, whose longish hair and demeanor project a California cool, shot a smooth 70 in the first round to get on the leader board and trail Kevin Streelman and Justin Hicks by only two shots, but he wasn't as successful Friday, shooting a 79. Still, along with Derek Fathauer (73-73) and Thompson (74-73), it was the third-largest number of amateurs to make an Open cut since 1980 (four played 72 holes in 1996 and 2004).

Oklahoma State's Rickie Fowler, one of two current Cowboys in the field, sported a self-made swing -- and a silver medal -- at Torrey. photo: darren Carroll

"It's been an awesome week," Fowler said Sunday, when he wore Oklahoma State-orange slacks visible through the most dense marine layer. "I'll probably remember the 18th hole. I had 230 to the front edge of the green. Wind was slightly into us. Normally, I hit my hybrid 230 total in this air. It was kind of gutsy taking a hybird and trying to get it there [over water], but I just swung as hard as I could and hit it as good as I could to pull it off." Fowler two-putted from 25 feet for a closing 72—297 that edged Fathauer (75—299) for the silver medal.

Aside from the gold medal he got for being low amateur, Thompson—who had his longtime golf instructor Susie Meyers caddieing for him—will benefit from a PGA Tour stipulation that allows any golfer who completes 72 holes in a major or the Players championship to bypass the first stage of that year's Q school. "I learned that I have a lot more composure than I thought I did," Thompson said. "I never gave up this week, and I'm very proud of that. The last couple of days I've gotten off to some pretty bad starts and played one under from there on in. And that speaks more than if I would have finished second. I was hitting the ball pretty decent, but not my best, so I think the way I played, I've got some good things to look forward to."

Another Open as an amateur is not among them. Thompson will compete in this week's Travelers Championship and then conclude his amateur career as a member of the U.S. Palmer Cup team in two weeks. "I feel like I belong out here," said the Tucson native who went to Alabama after Hurricane Katrina aborted his enrollment at Tulane. "This is fun. I don't feel any different than the rest of the pros out here. I will miss Alabama. I'm going to miss being in that atmosphere and playing for a team. But at the same time, I'm ready to start my life."

As Thompson walked up the 18th fairway Sunday afternoon, a spectator who noticed his score said to no one in particular, "Pretty damn good for an amateur."

Yes, indeed it was a fine showing by an amateur, but it was a long way from winning, a far cry from what Goodman achieved in 1933 or even what Patton, Nicklaus and Simons nearly accomplished. Goodman was only 60 years old when he died of a heart attack in 1970, but his distinction as the last man playing for fun to conquer the serious business of a U.S. Open most likely will never change. For amateurs in the Open, fairy tales have to be graded on a curve.