Dream Comes True: Sherwood Wins Playoff To Advance To U.S. Open
June 5, 2012
CRESWELL, Ore. - Nick Sherwood always dreamed about playing in the U.S. Open. That dream became a reality on Tuesday when he defeated Daniel Miernicki of Oregon on the third sudden-death playoff hole of a sectional qualifier to advance to next week's 112th U.S. Open Championship.
Sherwood made a four-foot par putt on the par-4 12th hole at the Emerald Valley Golf Club for the win after making a critical 12-foot par putt on the par-3 11th hole to extend the match. Both players made par on the first sudden-death playoff hole, the par-4 10th, after finishing with a 3-under 139 on Monday before play was suspended due to darkness.
"I've been envisioning myself playing in the U.S. Open since I was five or six years old; especially since Tiger Woods won back in 2000" Sherwood said. "I can't believe it's actually going to happen."
Sherwood's win on Tuesday comes 25 years after his dad, Bill Sherwood, hit one of the biggest shots in Oregon State basketball history, a three-pointer in the final seconds to defeat Oregon at McArthur Court in Eugene. The younger Sherwood has heard plenty about his dad's shot and now has his own athletic story to tell.
"This does justice for sure; 100 percent for what this was for and what it means," Sherwood said. "Anyone would be pumped up for a U.S. Open spot. Playing against a Duck makes it extra special. I'm good friends with Danny and he's a really good guy. But all of this is a dream come true and something I'll never forget."
The 112th U.S. Open Championship will be played June 14-17 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif., and Sherwood earned his way to the field by taking medalist honors at a local qualifier on May 7 and then claiming the second and final berth by finishing in the top two at the sectional qualifier.
Oregon State senior golfer Jonnie Motomochi carried the bag for Sherwood at the local qualifier and sectional qualifier and was by far more emotional of the two after the round.
"I honestly didn't know how to react after he made the final putt," Motomochi said. "I wanted to cry. I mean he's going to the U.S. Open. I can't imagine what his parents (Bill and Lynn) are feeling. I saw tears. It's unbelievable. I love the kid. It couldn't have happened to a better guy."
The 36 holes of the sectional qualifier were supposed to end on Monday but a two-hour rain delay forced the sudden-death playoff to start at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. Sherwood and Motomochi hadn't planned for an extra day in Creswell.
"Matt (Rawitzer) brought us some underwear and some clothes," Motomochi said. "We didn't take anything with us because we expected it to be over yesterday. It was seriously one of the longest days we've ever had. Nick and I were even trapped in a bathroom together during the rain delay."
Sherwood said he didn't sleep much on Monday due to the excitement of being so close to playing in the U.S. Open but didn't get nervous until the final putt.
"I was really nervous and could feel my heart beat on that final putt," he said. "I stuck to the process and told myself that I've made a million of these putts. I only needed one more from that distance to win. The putt on the 11th hole was harder, but I had a weird feeling I was going to make that one. I knew I had to make it to have a chance."
"We lived together for two years and we talked so much about golf," Motomochi said. "I told him it's all about process and it all worked out with three of the most pressure-filled holes of golf that anyone will ever play. I gave him a little hint to keep his head down and he did that and made two huge putts to advance to the U.S. Open."
Sherwood said his dad will serve as his caddy at next week's U.S. Open as Motomochi has family obligations.
"My dad has supported me for so long so it will be an honor for him to carry my bag for me at the U.S. Open," Sherwood said.
"It will be a way cooler experience for his dad," Motomochi added.
Anthony Arvidson is the only Oregon State golfer believed to have previously played in the U.S. Open as he advanced in 2003 but missed the cut with a 75-78--153.
Ten past winners are in the field for the 2012 U.S. Open, including defending champion Rory McIlroy, two-time winners Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, and three-time winner Tiger Woods. Only four men have claimed more championships (four wins each): professionals Willie Anderson, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus and amateur Robert T. Jones Jr.
The following is a complete list of champions of the men's U.S. Open, which has been held every year since 1895 (except the war years of 1917-18 and 1942-45):
Year, Champion
1895, Horace Rawlins
1896, James Foulis
1897, Joe Lloyd
1898, Fred Herd
1899, Willie Smith
1900, Harry Vardon
1901, Willie Anderson
1902, Laurence Auchterlonie
1903, Willie Anderson
1904, Willie Anderson
1905, Willie Anderson
1906, Alex Smith
1907, Alex Ross
1908, Fred McLeod
1909, George Sargent
1910, Alex Smith
1911, John J. McDermott
1912, John J. McDermott
1913, Francis Ouimet (amateur)
1914, Walter Hagen
1915, Jerome D. Travers (amateur)
1916, Charles Evans Jr. (amateur)
1919, Walter Hagen
1920, Edward Ray
1921, James M. Barnes
1922, Gene Sarazen
1923, Robert T. Jones Jr. (amateur)
1924, Cyril Walker
1925, William Macfarlane
1926, Robert T. Jones Jr. (amateur)
1927, Tommy Armour
1928, Johnny Farrell
1929, Robert T. Jones Jr. (amateur)
1930, Robert T. Jones Jr. (amateur)
1931, Billy Burke
1932, Gene Sarazen
1933, John Goodman (amateur)
1934, Olin Dutra
1935, Sam Parks Jr.
1936, Tony Manero
1937, Ralph Guldahl
1938, Ralph Guldahl
1939, Byron Nelson
1940, Lawson Little
1941, Craig Wood
1946, Lloyd Mangrum
1947, Lew Worsham
1948, Ben Hogan
1949, Cary Middlecoff
1950, Ben Hogan
1951, Ben Hogan
1952, Julius Boros
1953, Ben Hogan
1954, Ed Furgol
1955, Jack Fleck
1956, Cary Middlecoff
1957, Dick Mayer
1958, Tommy Bolt
1959, Bill Casper Jr.
1960, Arnold Palmer
1961, Gene Littler
1962, Jack Nicklaus
1963, Julius Boros
1964, Ken Venturi
1965, Gary Player
1966, Bill Casper Jr.
1967, Jack Nicklaus
1968, Lee Trevino
1969, Orville Moody
1970, Tony Jacklin
1971, Lee Trevino
1972, Jack Nicklaus
1973, John Miller
1974, Hale Irwin
1975, Lou Graham
1976, Jerry Pate
1977, Hubert Green
1978, Andy North
1979, Hale Irwin
1980, Jack Nicklaus
1981, David Graham
1982, Tom Watson
1983, Larry Nelson
1984, Fuzzy Zoeller
1985, Andy North
1986, Raymond Floyd
1987, Scott Simpson
1988, Curtis Strange
1989, Curtis Strange
1990, Hale Irwin
1991, Payne Stewart
1992, Tom Kite
1993, Lee Janzen
1994, Ernie Els
1995, Corey Pavin
1996, Steve Jones
1997, Ernie Els
1998, Lee Janzen
1999, Payne Stewart
2000, Tiger Woods
2001, Retief Goosen
2002, Tiger Woods
2003, Jim Furyk
2004, Retief Goosen
2005, Michael Campbell
2006, Geoff Ogilvy
2007, Angel Cabrera
2008, Tiger Woods
2009, Lucas Glover
2010, Graeme McDowell
2011, Rory McIlroy
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