Golf

First cut is the deepest

LexisNexis Feed GrandRapidPress
Share This Story

Updated Jun 22, 2009 10:31 PM ET
     
 
Clark Klaasen started his U.S . Open week with a coincidental walk through the parking lot at Bethpage Black with Tiger Woods, who encouraged him with sporting make-the-cut words: "See you on the weekend." Klaasen, last summer's Kent County Amateur champion and a recent graduate of Duke University, made it to Saturday of his first U.S. Open, but because heavy rains in Farmingdale, N.Y., forced the second round into the third day of the national championship. Klaasen finished his second-round 4-over-par 74 by about 10:30 a.m. Saturday, and it was clear he would miss the 36-hole cut that Woods was working to avoid at that point, too. Klaasen's 74, which included 11 remaining holes of play in the second round, left him at 10-over-par 150 and a trip home from his first professional event. "I have some work to do with my game obviously to play at this level, but a lot of what happened the last few days was a surprise, just all the stuff that goes on around a major," he said. "I had a hard time focusing just on my Golf, even though I'm playing extremely well. It kind of came down to my putting. If I had putted decent, I probably would have made the cut." Klaasen, a Grand Rapids Christian grad, made double bogey on the 459-yard par 4 15th hole in each round and also collected five birdies, 18 pars and 11 bogeys in his 36 holes of play. Putting proved to be a problem with five three-putt greens. His double-bogey at 15 Saturday included a plugged lie underneath the lip of a bunker. He had to opt for an unplayable lie, take the penalty stroke and move on. "You don't really know until you get out there how much it takes out of you mentally to play in a major," said Klaasen, who shot a 76 in the first round. "It's more than any other event I ever play in. It was a blast, but it takes a toll on you. I'm as tired as I've ever felt after playing Golf." Klaasen, who finished 30th as an individual in the recent NCAA Championships, plans to head up north to Crystal Mountain Resort once he is home and work on his game with his swing teacher, Brad Dean, who is the director of Golf at Crystal. "I'm going to start a workout program and start to treat Golf like a job," he said. "I'll start playing some (mini-tour) events in July, try some Monday qualifiers and try to gear up for (PGA Tour Qualifying). You know, now that I've had a taste of this, I really want to be out there."
Tagged: Tiger Woods

Related Stories

World Golf Tour


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

GOLF Videos

Tiger Woods 13: Legacy mode Posted: Feb 09, 2012
Tiger Woods talks about the new 'legacy mode' in Tiger Woods 13.

Keeping up with Kuchar Posted: Jan 18, 2012
FOXSports.com talks with PGA Tour golfer Matt Kuchar.

Golfers hit up Vegas Posted: Dec 15, 2011
Phil Mickelson and Alvaro Quiros pull off golf shots at some Las Vegas hot spots...

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Mitchell & Ness Los Angeles Lakers #8 Kobe Bryant Gold Authentic Throwback Basketball Jersey http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/124407/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_124000/FF_124407_xl.jpg&w=100 259.95 Mitchell & Ness Los Angeles Lakers #8 Kobe Bryant Gold Authentic Throwback Baske..
    adidas Milwaukee Bucks #22 Michael Redd White Home Swingman Jersey http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Milwaukee_Bucks/browse/featuredproduct/141061/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_141000/FF_141061_xl.jpg&w=100 29.99 adidas Milwaukee Bucks #22 Michael Redd White Home Swingman Jersey
    adidas San Antonio Spurs Black Primary Logo T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_San_Antonio_Spurs/browse/featuredproduct/172441/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_172000/FF_172441_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 adidas San Antonio Spurs Black Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Los Angeles Lakers Purple Primary Logo T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/172442/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_172000/FF_172442_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 adidas Los Angeles Lakers Purple Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Miami Heat Black Primary Logo T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Miami_Heat/browse/featuredproduct/173566/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_173000/FF_173566_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 adidas Miami Heat Black Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Boston Celtics Green Primary Logo T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Boston_Celtics/browse/featuredproduct/173567/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_173000/FF_173567_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 adidas Boston Celtics Green Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Atlanta Hawks #15 Al Horford Navy Blue Road Swingman Basketball Jersey http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Atlanta_Hawks/browse/featuredproduct/178055/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_178000/FF_178055_xl.jpg&w=100 49.99 adidas Atlanta Hawks #15 Al Horford Navy Blue Road Swingman Basketball Jersey
    adidas Boston Celtics Green Primary Logo Long Sleeve T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Boston_Celtics/browse/featuredproduct/179331/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_179000/DS_179331_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 adidas Boston Celtics Green Primary Logo Long Sleeve T-shirt
    adidas Boston Celtics #5 Kevin Garnett Green Road Swingman Basketball Jersey http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Boston_Celtics/browse/featuredproduct/182418/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_182000/FF_182418_xl.jpg&w=100 59.99 adidas Boston Celtics #5 Kevin Garnett Green Road Swingman Basketball Jersey
    adidas Denver Nuggets Light Blue Primary Logo T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Denver_Nuggets/browse/featuredproduct/188059/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_188000/DS_188059_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 adidas Denver Nuggets Light Blue Primary Logo T-shirt