U.S. OPEN NOTEBOOK
Off to a Slow Start, Cabrera's Quest Ends in a Hurry
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Friday, June 13, 2008
SAN DIEGO, June 12 -- Angel Cabrera's bid to become the first player to win consecutive U.S. Opens since Curtis Strange in 1988-89 derailed early in his round Thursday. Cabrera, who won the Open last year at Oakmont, began with three straight bogeys, then had three more bogeys and one double bogey to complete the front nine at 8-over-par 43.
Cabrera entered the tournament with his game in poor shape. He missed the cut at the Players Championship a week after finishing 72nd at the Wachovia Championship. He also missed the cut at the Honda Classic and Houston Open.
The native of Argentina has been adjusting to life without cigarettes after giving up the habit this year.
"I'm feeling much better now that I don't smoke," Cabrera said earlier this week. "But my life goes on whether I smoke or not, so I don't really care much about it."
Cabrera rebounded from a poor third round (6-over 76) last year for a closing 69 to finish one shot clear of Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk.
Role Reversal
Bob Tway has won the PGA Championship and is a veteran of 18 U.S. Opens. This week Tway is serving as caddie to his son Kevin, who is making his first appearance in the tournament.
"I've enjoyed watching him play, playing with him," said the elder Tway, who withdrew from U.S. Open sectional qualifying. "Being out here, it's the reason I didn't really try to qualify. I thought if he could make it, this would be a lot more fun than playing it, and it is."
Kevin Tway shot 4-over 75 and was tied for 82nd place.
"It's great because if I need to know anything, he's played this game for a long time," said Kevin, 19. "I can just ask him questions. It's just fun having him out here."
Winning Company
Yani Tseng, the 19-year-old native of Taiwan who won the LPGA Championship last week at Bulle Rock in Maryland, had one of the best seats in the house to watch Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott play their first round Thursday.
She was inside the ropes and walking with Dottie Pepper, the former LPGA Tour star who is working for ESPN and NBC this week. Pepper was assigned to that marquee group, and Tseng walked with her every step of the way. After the round, Pepper introduced her to Scott, and she asked him to sign the cover of the current GolfWorld magazine for her. Tseng's picture was on the cover.
Chip Shots
Two alternates made the field after two other players withdrew because of injuries. Gary Wolstenholme took the place of Sean O'Hair, who had a pulled chest muscle, and Andrew Svoboda replaced Brett Wetterich (sore wrist). . . . Mark Calcavecchia withdrew after nine holes, citing leg and ankle soreness.
