Withdrawals come with the territory in golf tournaments, particularly when you’re dealing with players 50 and older.
But this week’s U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor has had an unusual number of big-name participants who have pulled out of the field over the last week.
Fan favorite John Daly is the latest to withdraw as the USGA announced on Monday morning that the two-time major champion isn’t coming to Colorado Springs due to a right knee injury.
Daly, who finished seventh on Sunday in the American Family Insurance Championship in Wisconsin, said via Twitter that the USGA had denied his request to use a cart at The Broadmoor:
“I had to WD from the U.S. Senior Open. The deteriorating osteoarthritis isn’t helping my rt knee,” Daly wrote on Twitter. “I fall under the ADANational but USGA turned down a cart for me this week. Just going to give the knee a rest. Don’t know what’s ahead for me.”
Said the USGA on Twitter: “Consistent with the ADA, the USGA reviews each request for cart usage on a case-by-case basis, and can confirm John Daly followed the USGA process, which includes working with a medical consultant.
“… However, his submission did not support a waiver of the walking condition. We offered Mr. Daly the opportunity to provide additional information to support his request for a cart. He informed us this morning that he decided to withdraw.
“Scott Verplank also followed the USGA process for requesting cart usage and the information he provided supported his request.
“We respect the privacy of all of our players and unfortunately we are not at liberty to discuss any player or caddie’s medical condition.”
Previously withdrawing from the U.S. Senior Open in the last week have been World Golf Hall of Famer Tom Watson (personal reasons), 1996 U.S. Open champion and former University of Colorado golfer Steve Jones (knee surgery) and 12-time PGA Tour winner Steve Stricker (overloaded schedule).
Slotted into the field with Daly’s WD on Monday was Australian David McKenzie, the first alternate from the South Bend, Ind., qualifying site.
Also withdrawing from the Senior Open on Monday was Len Mattiace (for personal reasons), who will be replaced in the field by Todd McCorkle, the second alternate from the Opelika, Ala., qualifying site. Mattiace had earlier replaced Watson in the field.
The Senior Open begins on Thursday.
Tee Times Matters: It’s not unusual for players to be paired together for a particular reason, and that’s certainly the case for a couple of tee times for the first two rounds of the Senior Open.
For example, the 1:43 p.m. tee time off No. 1 on Thursday and the 8:13 a.m. time off No. 10 on Friday will feature three winners of the U.S. Open: Hale Irwin (1974, ’79 and ’90), Tom Kite (1992) and Corey Pavin (1995).
And the group off at 1:12 p.m. on No. 1 on Thursday and 7:42 a.m. on No. 10 on Friday includes three winners of the PGA Championship: Vijay Singh (2 PGAs, one Masters), Davis Love III (one PGA) and David Toms (one PGA).
TV Factoids: For its coverage of the U.S. Senior Open this week, FS1 will utilize 38 cameras, 84 microphones, 16 miles of fiber optics, five mobile production units and 225 staffers.
Notable: During the practice days, various CGA volunteers are serving as honorary starters at The Broadmoor. And some volunteers and staffers are also helping out at one of the holes that they’ve “adopted” for the championship. (At left, CGA co-president Juliet Miner was starting on the first tee Monday.) … A total of 234 junior players are scheduled to participate in the Drive Chip & Putt qualifying event that will be held on Tuesday at the 18th hole of the West Course of The Broadmoor. … Throughout the week, a Youth Golf Experience (pictured below), hosted by the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado, is situated near the first hole of the West Course.
(Pictured at top is Bernhard Langer.)
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For all the essentials regarding this week’s U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor, CLICK HERE.
