US Open qualifier Chris Doak has an extra special reason to entice his long-time coach, Bob Torrance to travel with him next week to the Merion club in Pennsylvania.
It had been reading reports of Ben Hogan’s 1950 US Open triumph at Merion and then witnessing the Texan three years later capture The Open at Carnoustie that inspired the now 80-year old Torrance to become a golf coach,
In fact, after writing to Hogan soon after his Open Championship triumph Torrance and his wife, June travelled to Hogan’s residence in Fort Worth, Texas to spend three days with Hogan.
Chris Doak hoping to entice Bob Torrance to Merion and next month’s US Open. (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)
It had been at Merion, and just 16 months after his near fatal car accident, Hogan hit his now infamous 1-iron second shot into the 72nd green for par to force his way into a play-off. Hogan then went out the next day to capture the first of three US Open titles.
“It would also be special for him to visit the course where his great hero Ben Hogan hit his legendary 1-iron shot in the 1950 US Open to set-up a two-putt par and force a play-off, which he subsequently won,” said Doak.
“Bob once spent a few days with Hogan at his home and he never stops talking about him. As far as Bob’s concerned, Hogan’s the greatest golfer of all time.
“I spoke with Bob immediately after I got through in the play-off and again this morning, but the reception on my mobile was poor, so I am not sure what his thoughts are.
“But he knows I want him there as support and I’ll get back to him over the next few days in the hope that I can persuade him to come.
“Having Bob standing next to me on the range to make any last minute tweaks to my game would be a tremendous help.
“But no matter what he decides, I won’t be fazed rubbing shoulders with the big-names. I’ve met most of them before and I take the view that I’ve earned the right to stand alongside them.
“It’s no big deal to me. Everyone starts level and this is my golden ticket, so I’ll make sure I don’t waste this chance to make an impact at the highest level.
“And if I happen to bump into Tiger, I’ll introduce myself and tell him who I am and where I from.”
The 35-year old Glaswegian headed off to Sweden early yesterday (TUES) to join 10 other Scots, including fellow US Open entrant Paul Lawrie, in tomorrow’s (THURS) Nordea Masters in Stockholm.
Doak will then have next week off including spending time on the range at Largs under Torrance’s watchful eye.
”I’ve never even been to a Major before, not even as a spectator, and the closest I’ve come before now was beaten in a play-off last year at Southport and Ainsdale for a place into The Open at Royal Lytham,” added Doak.
“I’ve been to the States before and the golfing over there is great but never played any of the US Open venues, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Meantime, Doak said before heading to Sweden and this week’s Nordea Masters that his phone is about to go into meltdown mode given the number of calls and congratulatory messages from his efforts at Walton Heath.
“Everyone is delighted for me and I have to say that I’m also quite pleased with myself although I always knew deep down that I was capable of this,” said Doak
And joining Doak in Stockholm will be fellow Glaswegian Marc Warren and looking to draw on the inspiration of having captured his first Tour event in the Swedish capital in 2006 in defeating overwhelming crowd favourite, Robert Karlsson
“I won my fist tournament in Sweden and given how well I played last week in the BMW PGA my form is good,” said Warren.
“It’s a different course to the one I won on and I’ve only played it once. But it’s a good feeling going back to a country I won in and I hope I can capitalise on last week.”
