Foreigners Leave Their Footprints

OAKMONT, Pa., June 17 -- America's national golf championship had quite an international flair Sunday, and it was much more than just Argentina's Angel Cabrera.

Australia was there with Aaron Baddeley, the leader after 54 holes. England had Justin Rose and Paul Casey three shots off the pace. Even Trinidad and Tobago could claim representation in contender Stephen Ames, who was born in the tiny Caribbean country but resides in Canada.

By the time Cabrera survived a punishing final round to win the U.S. Open, the international field had more than left its imprint on the event Americans had dominated until recently. Cabrera became the fourth straight foreign-born player to win the U.S. Open, and for much of Sunday, other internationals dotted the top of a fluid leader board.

Sweden's Niclas Fasth was the next highest non-American finisher, two shots behind Cabrera's winning 5-over 285. England's Nick Dougherty was tied for seventh at 10 over, and Rose, Casey and Ames were one shot worse.

"I think obviously European golf is incredibly strong right now," said Rose, who began the day tied for third, "and you have to only look at the Ryder Cup to realize that and to realize that there's players in Europe who could and should be winning majors."

Rose, ranked 19th in the world, certainly has that potential. Since turning professional the day after finishing tied for fourth as an amateur at the 1998 British Open, he has three victories on the European tour.

Countryman Casey has fared even better. He has eight European tour wins and last year captured the World Match Play Championship.

Casey also appeared to have won over the partisan U.S. galleries at Oakmont after firing a second-round 66, the lowest score at this year's tournament.

"I've never had an issue with the American fans, and I've been having a great time over here for a long time," Casey said. "They were tremendous. . . . I've never played here before, but they are great golf fans, and they are very appreciative, very knowledgeable. They know when somebody has hit a great golf shot, even though it may not be close to the flag."

Perhaps the most disappointing finish was that of Baddeley, who plummeted to a four-way tie for 13th with an 80. That was his only score higher than 72 for the tournament.

Baddeley began with a triple-bogey 7 at No. 1. He tried to shake off that hole by waving in jest to the gallery after three-putting, but he never recovered while playing in the final group with Tiger Woods.

Baddeley was born in Lebanon, N.H., but spent only the first six months of his life in the United States. He took up golf at age 12, and six years later he became the first amateur in 39 years to win the Australian Open and the event's youngest winner in a field that included Greg Norman and Colin Montgomerie.

"I know that in Australia, we don't have anything, any sort of rough like this," Baddeley said. "So it's something where you have to learn how to play those shots, to hit those shots out of the rough.

"In Australia, you just blast away, and if you hit in the fairway great, and if you hit it in the rough, it's no problem. But it's not like that here at all."