U.S. Open Contest: The Final Five
Standing out in a crowd of more than 56,000 contestants is a tough task, but not nearly as tough as breaking 100 at Torrey Pines South in June, which is the challenge that lies ahead for one of these average golfers. Here's your chance to meet the five finalists of our inaugural U.S. Open Contest.-
• More about the selection process
- 1 / JOHN ATKINSON
FRIENDS CALL ME: John
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-0/180
BORN: 11-10-68, Lincoln, Neb.
RESIDENCE: Omaha
FAMILY: Wife, Lori (13 years), daughters Machaela (10), Andrea (7), son Christopher (4)
EDUCATION: B.A.-Journalism-University of Nebraska (Lincoln)
OCCUPATION: Sales (Bard Peripheral Vascular)
DREAM JOB: I'm doing it!
HANDICAP INDEX: 8.0
HOME COURSE: Indian Creek, Elkhorn, Neb.
ONE COURSE FOR LIFE: Sand Hills
TIGER OR PHIL: Love them both, but I have to go with Tiger
BEST ROUND: After being diagnosed with lung cancer last year, I shot 78 with my dad. I realized that life wasn't over because of a diagnosis
WORST ROUND: Having a side effect from the cancer meds, I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to play golf. I've learned to deal with it. Nothing is stopping me!
HOLES-IN-ONE: Still trying
MY FOURSOME: My dad, my brother, my grandpa
MOST EMBARRASSING GOLF MOMENT: Using a metal detector to try to find the head of my original Ping Eye 7-iron after it snapped and disappeared in tall brush. I still get teased, and that was 15 years ago
THE U.S. OPEN IS ... where my friends and family will be in 2008!
EVER THE OPTIMIST, HE'LL NEVER GIVE UP
A year ago, John Atkinson thought he was a perfectly healthy 38-year-old. His shoulder bothered him from time to time, but cancer? Atkinson had never smoked, but suddenly he learned he had Stage IV (inoperable) lung cancer. John's friend, Terry, nominated him for our contest and described him as a wonderful father, husband, friend and son. "Last summer he had a double treatment of chemo, walked 18 holes the next day and shot 76." It was really an 82, says Atkinson, but the encouragement he gained that day inspired his optimistic approach to life. "Never, never, never, give up!" he says. "My target? A bogey-round of 89."
- 2 / PHIL DEMBURE
FRIENDS CALL ME: Phil
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5-9/160
BORN: 4-15-72, Buffalo, N.Y.
RESIDENCE: Atlanta
FAMILY: Wife, Kasanje (12 years), daughters, Zani (11), Seka (8), Naya (3)
EDUCATION: B.S.-Biology-Emory Univ.
OCCUPATION: Health-care services
DREAM JOB: PGA Tour pro
HANDICAP INDEX: 7.9
HOME CLUB: The Strokers G.C. of Atlanta
ONE COURSE FOR LIFE: TPC Sawgrass
TIGER OR PHIL: Tiger! Not even close
BEST ROUND: 75, Oak Mountain Championship G.C., Carrollton, Ga.
WORST ROUND: Selective memory will not allow me to recall
HOLES-IN-ONE: Nil
MY FOURSOME: Andre Deas, Kerry Mills and Nathan Jones
MOST EMBARRASSING GOLF MOMENT: Witnessing a drunk woman fall from the lap of her friend while riding three in a cart. She fell on her back and hit her head
THE U.S. OPEN IS ... a means to bring humility to the touring professional. It's a test that no one passes
HOOKED AFTER TIGER, COMPETITIVE AS EVER Phil Dembure represents the new, Tiger-era golfer. Encouraged to take up golf by his wife ("It's what old guys do," she said) and mesmerized by a first-ever trip to the Masters in 2002, the former Augusta (Ga.) College soccer star brought competitive fire to the Strokers, a USGA associate club made up of African-American golfers in Atlanta, Washington and Chicago. In no time, he was a single-digit handicapper and winning the low-gross prize at the Strokers' national tournament in Florida. Modest and soft-spoken, Dembure works with special-needs adults. He's a little more vocal on the course. "My wife wants me to be the articulate, college-educated Phil, not the trash-talking, in-your-face Phil," he says, laughing. "But I think that's what you need to break 100, to sink that three-footer when you need it." Phil's target score at Torrey Pines: 85.
- 3 / ERIK NORTON
FRIENDS CALL ME: Erik, E, Nortie and now Lucky
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5-11/175
BORN: 7-1-71, Portland, Me.
RESIDENCE: Boston
FAMILY: Wife, Melissa (seven years), daughters Hannah (2), Samantha (1)
EDUCATION: B.S.-Mathematics-M.I.T.
OCCUPATION: Hedge-fund trader
DREAM JOB: To be the Tiger Woods of professional poker
HANDICAP INDEX: 4.7
HOME COURSE: Old Sandwich G.C., Plymouth, Mass.
ONE COURSE FOR LIFE: I've yet to play it: Royal County Down
TIGER OR PHIL: I love 'em both. There will never be another golfer like Tiger, ever
BEST ROUND: 72, in college, at C.C. at New Seabury. Too bad it was in the practice round
WORST ROUND: I've blocked them all out
HOLES-IN-ONE: One. Aug. 16, 2004, at the 166-yard eighth hole at Nantucket G.C.
MY FOURSOME: Tiger Woods, my buddy Tiger Harris and Charlize Theron (please tell me she plays golf)
MOST EMBARRASSING GOLF MOMENT: Blowing a 6-up lead with six holes to play with partner Dan (Loob) Strum in the 2003 Googel Cup to finish all square (I guess I haven't blocked them all out)
THE U.S. OPEN IS ... special and quite often magical. As sacred as Augusta
EX-M.I.T. GOLFER IS SMART GUY IN GROUP Erik Norton doesn't star in the recently released film "21," but he did play for the M.I.T. blackjack team that mastered card counting and occasionally beat casinos in the 1990s. He also played for the prestigious university's golf team all four years and was captain his senior year. "I guess I'm that rare combination of math geek and golf lover," says Norton. He has even tried his hand at the World Series of Poker, where smarts are important but good fortune conquers all. "I've been so blessed," says Norton. "I don't come from money, and I've worked hard for what I've achieved. It's hard to put into words what this would mean to me. My target score? 87."
- 4 / MATT RICE
FRIENDS CALL ME: Matt
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-0/185
BORN: 12-14-71, Santa Clara, Calif.
RESIDENCE: Los Angeles
FAMILY: Wife, Michele (13 years), son Xavier (3), daughter Monica (1)
EDUCATION: B.A.-Kinesiology-Cal State Northridge
OCCUPATION: Police officer
DREAM JOB: PGA Tour pro
HANDICAP INDEX: Approximately 10
HOME COURSE: Lost Canyons G.C., Simi Valley, Calif.
ONE COURSE FOR LIFE: Pacific Dunes, Bandon, Ore.
TIGER OR PHIL: Tiger -- best combination of athleticism and mental toughness
BEST ROUND: 75, Pumpkin Ridge G.C., North Plains, Ore.
WORST ROUND: River Course at Alisal (near Santa Barbara). Left course after nine holes (first and ONLY time) because of 35 mile-per-hour winds.
HOLES-IN-ONE: Still waiting
MY FOURSOME: Myself, my father, Seve Ballesteros, Bobby Jones
MOST EMBARRASSING GOLF MOMENT: My father's never-ending quest to find lost golf balls, regardless of the green fee he paid or the beauty of the course
THE U.S. OPEN IS ... the ultimate physical and mental test of golf
A POLICE OFFICER WITH A SOFT TOUCH
Matt Rice is the cop you hope your kid meets during his first traffic violation. An All-America guy who has played golf since junior high, competes hard, has a smile that would win a spot in any foursome and brags not at all. It was his wife, Michele, who wrote his essay. "I wasn't sure what to write about myself, so I wouldn't be in this contest without her." As a police officer in Santa Monica, Rice has been the target of bad guys' bullets and a verbal barrage from an incarcerated celebrity. Though he thrives on challenge, for him golf is all about getting closer to his dad. "I learned from my father's love of the game, and to this day we plan all of our get-togethers around playing golf together." Matt's target at Torrey Pines: 92.
- 5 / ROSS TROIKE
FRIENDS CALL ME: Ross
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-1/210
BORN: 8-13-69, Dayton, Ohio
RESIDENCE: Collierville, Tenn.
FAMILY: Wife, Alissa (13 years), daughter Marin (11), son Wyatt (8)
EDUCATION: B.S.-Mathematics-U.S. Naval Academy
OCCUPATION: Pilot, Federal Express/U.S. Navy Reserve
DREAM JOB: I kind of did it in the Navy, flying F/A-18's. Everything else is gravy
HANDICAP INDEX: 6.4
HOME COURSE: Windyke C.C., Memphis
ONE COURSE FOR LIFE: The Old Course, St. Andrews, Scotland
TIGER OR PHIL: Although I love rooting for the underdog, I have to say Tiger. I don't think anyone will be able to touch him in my lifetime.
BEST ROUND: 72, even par, on a course I had never seen, with my dad. I was 17 and will never forget playing with him
WORST ROUND: There have been a lot. During a high school match I holed out a sand wedge to card a 96
HOLES-IN-ONE: None to date. I think my dad got the family lot with 6
MY FOURSOME: Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Jon Troike (my dad) and me
MOST EMBARRASSING GOLF MOMENT: I caddied for a pro at a golf camp at Iowa State. On the first hole, I stepped on his ball to move a bunker rake
THE U.S. OPEN IS ... the ultimate test in golf
PRESSURE? I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT PRESSURE
If this were only about the essay, Ross Troike would already be a winner. Troike used to fly fighter jets in the Middle East. Today, until he's called in from the Navy Reserve, he flies planes for Federal Express. "Pressure?" Troike wrote. "Tiger doesn't know real pressure. He's the most talented golfer the world has ever seen, but ... pressure is staring at the back of an aircraft carrier on a pitch-black night after flying for two hours over Iraq knowing there's only enough fuel for one attempt to land or you're swimming in the Persian Gulf. Men who choke on the course are still breathing afterward. I can break 100. I'm thinking 82."
