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Rice University Athletics
Burrow Ready for First U.S. Amateur
8/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Aug. 23, 2009
Rice University junior golfer Robert Burrow will step onto arguably the biggest stage in amateur golf Monday afternoon, and with an opening drive off the No. 1 tee at Cedar Ridge Country Club will begin play at his first U.S. Amateur.
Burrow is one of 312 golfers taking part in the 109th U.S. Amateur being held this week in Tulsa, Okla. Earlier this month, Burrow shot a three-under par 139 to win the U.S. Amateur Qualifier played at Wahconah Country Club in Dalton, Mass.
"It means a lot to qualify for the U.S. Amateur because of the history and past champions," Burrow said. "Tiger (Woods) won it three times. Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson and Bobby Jones are all past champions. With that type of history, and how hard it is to make it to the championship, it makes it special."
The tournament begins with 36 holes of stroke play slated for Monday and Tuesday. Each competitor will play 18 holes at two different courses. Burrow will be paired with Richard Lee (Bellevue, Wash.) and Russell Boring (Westlake Village, Calif) for Monday's 2:35 p.m. tee time at Cedar Ridge.
The threesome has a 9:20 a.m. tee time for Tuesday's second round which will be played at Southern Hills Country Club.
Following stroke play, the tournament field will be paired down to 64 players for match play which will be held exclusively at Southern Hills Wednesday through next Sunday.
Southern Hills has played host to 14 major championships including three U.S. Open Championships (1958, 1977, 2001) and four PGA Championships (1970, 1982, 1994 and 2007).
"Obviously Southern Hills has hosted many major tournaments," Burrow said. "I watched the 2001 U.S. Open that Reteif Goosen won and also the 2007 PGA Championship that Tiger won. Most of the players in the field are very familiar with those two events and that probably adds to the excitement."
As far as expectations, Burrow said he does not have any specific goals in mind heading into the tournament.
"This is my first U.S. Amateur but I feel that I have enough national experience that I really shouldn't have many problems," he said. "The course and the field are some of the hardest that any competitor will face in amateur golf, but I am confident if I play to my abilities, I can go far."
Players Mentioned
