Funk Wins, Sets Record In Doing So
6 p.m. - Last year at The Broadmoor Fred Funk, nipping at the heels of eventual champion Eduardo Romero, walked to the 14th teeing ground and realized his hopes for a U.S. Senior Open title were dashed. He had just triple-bogeyed the 13th en route to posting a mediocre 5-over 75. His efforts were only good enough for runner-up.
That feeling stuck in his gut as he entered the week at Crooked Stick Golf Club. He was determined to do better. That he did as he used the fourth round Sunday to run away with the 30th U.S. Senior Open and grab his second senior-circuit major. He shot 7-under 65 Sunday and 20 under, entering the USGA record book for most strokes under par at any point in any championship. He eclipsed Hale Irwin's Senior Open mark of 17 strokes under par, set in 2000.
More amazing, he did it while suffering from a torn labrum and knee injury that will likely need to be replaced.
The amiable Funk, a fan favorite, walked onto the 18th-hole green to thunderous applause. He smiled wide and took his hat off. He then sank a 15-foot putt for birdie and raised his arms in triumph as his kids raced onto the green.
“I’ve been searching for the patience I needed,” said Funk immediately afterward.
His first thoughts upon winning were devoting the victory to the families of professional golfers Ken Green, Phil Mickelson and Chris Smith, all of whom have suffered through illness or death tragedies.
Entering the 17th hole, Funk tried to look away from the scoreboard. "I had blinders on," he said.
The runner-up Joey Sindelar, with a solid 2-under 70, completed his championship at 14-under 274. Or six strokes behind Funk.
When the round began, Funk had been clinging to a one-shot lead over Greg Norman and Sindelar. Yet as the birdie putts started to fall – pouring in seven – everyone else in contention must have felt like they were climbing a greased rope. Sindelar stayed within one stroke only after the first hole. Then Funk took off like he was shot out of cannon.
In the meantime Norman, who spoke early in the week about improving on two fourth-place finishes, took erratic swings. He tumbled with a double bogey on the par-3 sixth, falling five shots off the pace.
All About Records Now
5:23 p.m. - With Fred Funk's latest birdie, this one from 3 1/2 feet on No.15, he has established a Senior Open record for most strokes under par at any point. He's now 19 under, six shots in front of Joey Sindelar.
Norman In Fourth
5:08 p.m. - Early in the week Greg Norman talked about how he'd really like to do three places better than his only other two Senior Open finishes. In those he placed fourth. Currently at 11 under and tied with Loren Roberts, guess where he's at on the leaderboard? Fourth. Still not over yet.
Russ Cochran got to 12 under with a birdie on the par-5 15th. He's tied with Joey Sindelar.
Funk Birdies Again
4:41 p.m. - It could be a moot point now. Fred Funk birdied the par-4 12th, finessing in a mid-range putt. He's 18 under and has opened up a six-shot lead on Joey Sindelar.
Sindelar Bogeys, Roberts In
4:34 p.m. - Joey Sindelar lost a stroke when he was looking at a chip-in for par on No. 12. He drove into the rough and scrambled all the way in. He fell five shots behind Fred Funk, who had seven holes to complete. However, Funk needs to work his way through four of the five hardest holes yet.
Loren Roberts finished up a marvelous round, posting a 8-under 64. It may not be enough since he stands six strokes behind Funk.
Funk In Control
4:03 p.m. - Like a vicious bulldog, Fred Funk has clamped down on this championship after birdieing the ninth and 10th holes. He's now 17 under, four shots head of Joey Sindelar. Funk sank putts of 5 and 8 feet, respectively. While Funk nailed his second putt, Loren Roberts (-12) tried knocking in his 4-footer for birdie amid the cheers ahead. He pushed it wide and settled for par.
Roberts Slips, Sindelar Heads Upward
3:41 p.m. - Joey Sindelar kept the heat on leader Fred Funk. Sindelar pushed in a right-breaking 6-footer for birdie that got him to 13 under. He trails Funk by two strokes.
Loren Roberts cooled at least for one hole, making bogey on the par-4 14th. He missed his 12-footer to save par.
Interesting Factoid
3:26 p.m. - In case you were wondering, the last player to hold the Senior British Open and U.S. Senior Open titles in the same year was ... Gary Player. 1988. Loren Roberts is trying to also hold such a distinction.
Roberts Moving Up Quickly
3:18 p.m. - He began the day at three under. By the time Loren Roberts completed his 13th hole, he was 12-under total. he's birdied his last five holes, knocking in an 18-footer from the fringe. He threw an animated fist pump. He's nine under for the round, and three strokes behind Fred Funk.
Greg Norman continues to fall. His approach shot found the left greenside bunker on No. 7. He blasted out to 15 feet, but couldn't get up and down. He's nine under now.
Here's the way it stands: (Funk -15), Roberts and Joey Sindelar (-12), Russ Cochran and Scott Simpson (-10).
Norman Falters
3:07 p.m. - After his ball found a water hazard on the sixth hole, Greg Norman chipped to within 12 feet of the flagstick. He absorbed a double bogey to drop to 10 under. Meanwhile, leader Fred Funk two-putted for par and holds a comfortable three-strok cushion on Joey Sindelar.
Bryant Eagles No. 9
2:52 p.m. - Past Senior Open champion eagled the par-5 ninth. He gained two strokes, jumping from six under to eight under. The hole was tucked back left.
For your information, the last player to card a double eagle was Bruce Lietzke at NCR Country Club in Kettering, Ohio, in 2005.
Sindelar Birdies 5
2:47 p.m. - Joey Sindelar bounced back with a birdie on the par-5 fifth to get even with Greg Norman.
Fred Funk, incidentally, has not hit into a greenside bunker or three-putted this week.
Course Setup
2:44 p.m. Green Speeds are approximately 12 feet on the Stimpmeter. All greens were double cut this morning after which Stimpmeter readings were taken. Any green that was below 11-feet 6-inches was rolled – only four greens (4, 14, 15 & 16) required rolling. All greens were single cut Saturday night and none required rolling.
All grass inside the ropes was cut either Saturday evening or Sunday morning.
Corrective watering was done last evening as well as this morning to all putting greens that required such to ensure consistent firmness as well as to address a few “hot spots." We also put two revolutions of the sprinklers (approximately six minutes of water) on the fairways this morning. We did receive 1/10th of an inch of rain last night. This may slow down the fairways a touch, however.
The following tees are being used on the holes with multiple teeing grounds: Hole 5 (600), Hole 9 (520), Hole 12 (331), Hole 14 (480) and Hole 18 (455)
Hole 12 – We are using the 331 tee. The hole measures 307 yards from the tee to today’s front-left hole location. I’d anticipate a number of players being able to drive this green. A tee shot of approximately 230 yards is required to carry the ball to the fairway and from that point the fairway slopes from right to left and toward the green. We caught a break with the wind being from the northwest, which is a helping wind on this hole.
Par 3s
Hole 3 – 157
Hole 6 – 195
Hole 13 – 180
Hole 17 – 214
Playoff – Should we have a playoff, our procedure will be to play holes 10, 17 and 18 and the lowest aggregate scorer for those three holes will be the champion. If we are still tied, we will play the 18th hole on a repeated basis until a winner is determined. As for groupings, if two to five players are tied they will be grouped together. Six players will be grouped in two groups of three.
The following is a summary of the weather for the day from our Thor-Guard meteorologist, Greg Quinn:
Another fantastic summer day is in store for everyone across central Indiana. The frontal
passage last night has brought cooler and drier air to our area. Expect temperatures in the
upper 70s to near 80 with breezy northwest winds. A few clouds will develop this afternoon but
skies will remain mostly sunny. Look for warmer and more humid conditions to return early in
the week with a chance of thunderstorms by late Monday and Tuesday afternoon.
Funk Birdies, Roberts Posts 31
2:35 p.m. - Fred Funk converted a 12-foot birdie on the par-4 fourth hole to go three strokes up on Greg Norman, who was 12 under. Norman had yanked his drive outside of the ropes, then asked the gallery if everyone was OK. He sank a 12-footer, as well, to save par.
Loren Roberts made the turn eight under after posting a 5-under 31 on the front. He then birdied No. 10 and stands at nine under. The left-handed hitting Russ Cochran moved to 10 under with a birdie on the fifth hole. Joey Sindelar, who began the day tied for second, bogeyed par-4 fourth and is 11 under.
Funk Two Up
2:16 p.m. - Fred Funk increased his lead after making a downhill birdie putt from inside 10 feet. Greg Norman nearly holed out from the fairway, but the ball spun back before he missed the short birdie putt.
Funk, Norman Par
2:07 p.m. - All pairings are out. Greg Norman began by hitting the right edge of the fairway while Fred Funk split it. Norman had a 25-foot uphill putt for birdie but left it short. He tapped in for par. It was reported that his wife, Chris Evert, is in the gallery. Funk slid a downhill 20-footer 4 feet past the hole. He also took par.
They're Off
1:45 p.m.: Carmel, Ind. - And here we go. After today, unless we have some sort of weather delay, we should a champion at the 30th U.S. Senior Open. Most of the leaders have gone off.
Scott Simpson, the 1987 U.S. Open champion, wasted little time in birdieing the first hole to get to nine under par. He's tied with Russ Cochran and Mark O'Meara.
Keep on eye on Loren Roberts. Through the first five holes he's four under. He eagled the par-4 second by holing out from the fairway. He's 7-over total.
Fred Funk (-13), Greg Norman and Joey Sindelar (-12) and Tim Jackson (-10) are the leaders.
