It was the most-attended Western Open in history. And it wasn’t even close.
With 38,595 spectators walking through the gates Sunday at Cog Hill, this year’s Motorola Western Open rang up a four-day total of 169,771 fans, beating last year’s record by 23,206.
This year’s tournament had everything in its favor–save a little construction on Interstate Highway. 55. There was great weather all week. The field, with 20 of the top 25 money winners, may have been the strongest on the PGA Tour all year. And yes, there was also Friday–when 44,408 people came to Lemont to watch golf.
Tournament director Greg McLaughlin said he saw Friday coming 11 months ago.
“We knew Friday would be an incredible day,” McLaughlin said. “We predicted it 11 months ago. July 4th was Thursday. July 5th was Friday. We joked back then that we might need the National Guard out here.”
As he wrapped up some loose ends Sunday night, McLaughlin was left with one intriguing thought on attendance: How many fans would have showed up if Greg Norman and Nick Faldo had made the cut?
Traffic talk: Joe Jemsek, whose company runs Cog Hill, said he would look into ways to untie the roads next year. On Friday, Illinois Highway 83 from Illinois Highway 171 to the course entrance was backed up about an hour: “We don’t 100 percent know why the traffic was slow getting in (Friday) because 45,000 or so fans is what we want. Maybe if we had an underpass under the street, then the traffic wouldn’t have to stop for pedestrians. If it can be done and we get the money, we’d certainly strongly consider doing it.”
Justin time: Finishing in a five-way tie for eighth place, Justin Leonard said he was pleased with his performance throughout the tournament.
“I played really well. Unfortunately, a lot of other guys played really well also,” Leonard said after his the final-round 72. He finished even on the day and at 8-under 280 for the tournament.
“I’ve been playing fine. I’ve just been getting a few bad bounces,” Leonard said.
Beck back? Lake Forest’s Chip Beck fired a final-round 68 to finish at 6-under-par 282–good for $23,500 and a tie for 18th place with Ben Crenshaw, Curtis Strange and five others. That’s Beck’s best showing on the PGA Tour this year, by far. Beck’s previous best was the $7,600 he won at The Players Championship. He also earned $6,160 at the MCI Classic. His winnings this year: $88,927.
Long day: Steve Jurgensen ran out of gas. The first-year PGA Tour player from Newport Beach, Calif., whose 66 was Saturday’s low round, ballooned to a final-round 76 with a 40 on his front nine. After going bogey-bogey-double bogey on Nos. 7, 8 and 9, Jurgensen shot 36 on the back to finish at 284 for the tournament.
Another so-so finisher was a much bigger name. On the heels of his win at the Memorial this year there were high expectations for Tom Watson in the Western, a tournament he has won three times. But despite an eagle 3 on 525-yard fifth hole, Watson shot a final-round 75 to finish at 1-over-par 289.
Seattle Slu: Jeff Sluman is headed to Seattle to play in a Fred Couples charity event called the Ernst Challenge, and he may not need to fly. That steam pouring out of Sluman’s ears may be enough to propel him.
Sluman shot an even-par 72 Sunday to finish tied for 13th at 7 under, but the Hinsdale resident missed five 3-footers and double-bogeyed No. 13 to offset four birdies on the front side.
“All week I had trouble with short putts, and today it just got worse,” said an obviously disgusted Sluman, who played in front of numerous family members and friends. “No matter where you play, if you putt the way I did, you wouldn’t be happy.”
And finally: The $2 million purse meant that Joe Acosta Jr. still earned $3,600 for finishing last.
