World finds Chambers Bay

The proponents of Chambers Bay at University Place, Wash., claimed the waterfront links course on the shores of Puget Sound would become a destination for the best golfers in the world.

The shuttle bus that takes golfers to the first tee of the course is validating those beliefs.

On the back wall of the bus is a world map with push pins representing the various locales golfers have traveled from to play the highly regarded course.

Pins mark Australia, Chile, Finland, Japan and every corner of North American. Even Greenland is represented.

Amazing how a little thing like landing the U.S. Open less than a year after opening can boost interest.

“When I first saw the site, I knew it was a good enough site to hold the U.S. Open,” said Mike Davis, the U.S. Golf Association’s senior director of rules and competitions. “After that first visit I said, ‘If they build the kind of golf course I think they can build, this will be a home run.’ “

The USGA’s decision in February to bring its national championship to Chambers Bay is just another sign of the organization’s fondness for the region. More important, the 2015 Open, along with the 2010 U.S. Amateur at Chambers Bay and the 2010 U.S. Senior Open at Sahalee County Club in Sammamish, Wash., only validates the Pacific Northwest’s growing clout on the national golf scene.

“People have no idea what the U.S. Open is going to mean for the region – it’s phenomenal for golf,” said John Bodenhamer, the Pacific Northwest Golf Association’s executive director.

“It’s instant attention, instant credibility for the Northwest golf community.”

For years, golf’s decision-makers have stated their wishes to bring the top players in the world to the underserved region. Only two Champions Tour events and one LPGA stop are on the professional golf schedule for the Northwest.

But the region is becoming the little darling of the USGA.

“I’ve always felt there was a reasonable number of championships coming here. Maybe not the caliber of an Open … some of those higher profile events,” said Matt Allen, the new general manager at Chambers Bay and a Northwest native. “There’s been a pretty solid recognition and rotation.”

USGA believes upward of 60,000 spectators per day could funnel through Chambers Bay in 2015 and perhaps break attendance records for a U.S. Open.

PGA

The frustration was evident on Phil Mickelson’s face during a slow start Saturday in the third round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Fort Worth, Texas.

Mickelson was feeling a lot better – and still in the lead alone – when he finished the round with a 17-foot birdie putt from the front edge.

Mickelson overcame an early bogey and some missed chances with seven birdies in his last 13 holes for a 5-under 65 that got him to 12-under 198. He led Rod Pampling (63) and Stephen Ames (64) by one stroke.

LPGA

Jeong Jang, fresh from two straight top-three finishes that moved her to fifth on the 2008 LPGA money list, shot a 3-under 69 to tie Erica Blasberg for the lead after three rounds at the Corning (N.Y.) Classic.

Playing with a bandage that conceals a painful cyst, Jang sank a 3-foot birdie putt on her final hole to tie Blasberg (70) at 7-under 209.

Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., who began the day tied for second place, shot a 3-over 75 and fell into a tie for 22nd at 214.

Senior PGA

Steady Bernhard Langer held off Jay Haas’ late run, which included an eagle on Oak Hill Country Club’s No. 17, and took the lead after the third round of the Senior PGA Championship at Rochester, N.Y.

Langer, the Champions Tour money leader, finished with an even-par 70 to put him at 2-over 212 for the tournament, a shot ahead of Haas and local favorite Jeff Sluman.