Whitehead Ready For Opportunity
8/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Aug. 18, 2010
Michael Whitehead will look to advance his playing career on the biggest stage for amateur golfers next week when he competes for the first time at the U.S. Amateur.
"In my book, the Amateur is just such a tremendous opportunity," he said. "The players who advance to the finals are invited to the Masters and the U.S. Open. If you go there and have your best week, you can launch your pro or amateur career."
Whitehead qualified for the 110th U.S. Amateur set to start Monday at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash., by winning a sectional tournament held at The Woodlands Country Club last month. Sparked by a bogey free, five-under par 67 on the first day of the qualifier, he finished with a two-round score of 137 (-7) and won the tournament by a stroke.
While he enters every tournament preparing and looking to win, Whitehead's first goal next week is to advance to match play.
The tournament tees off with 312 golfers alternating to play 18 holes each on two golf courses Monday and Tuesday. The top 64 players after stroke play will move on to match play beginning Wednesday, August 25th.
Unlike stroke play, where the total number of strokes is taken for a score, match play is head-to-head golf. The final 64 golfers will be bracketed much like the NCAA Basketball Championship. In match play each hole can be won, halved or lost with a competitor gaining no more than one point per hole. The golfer with the lowest score on a given hole receives the point. If the two golfers finish with the same score, the hole is halved.
"I have been in several match play tournaments and always played well competing in that format," Whitehead said.
This past January, Whitehead won four straight pairings to win the Houston Golf Association Collegiate Match Play Championship.
"My game fits match play well," he said. "It's one-on-one and allows for an aggressive style of play. I like my chances against anybody."
Rice golf coach Drew Scott agreed with Whitehead's assessment of his play.
"He is kind of a streaky player," Scott said. "Sometimes you have to be numb to your overall score in match play. Michael is very aggressive and has the fire power to make a bunch of birdies in a row."
Whitehead said he has prepared over the summer to put himself in position to win and is looking forward to the chance afforded him. In recent weeks he has gone back to the basics - practicing swing fundamentals as well as chipping and putting.
In addition to Chambers Bay, stroke play for the Amateur will also be held at The Home Course in nearby DuPont, Wash. Whitehead will play both courses during practice rounds Saturday and Sunday. The tournament field will play one competitive round at each of the two courses alternating locations on Monday and Tuesday. Tee times for stroke play will be released this weekend and be available at usga.org.
"It is going to be different for him," Scott said. "The conditions are going to be cold, wet and long. You look at the conditions here in Houston and it is hot, dry and the courses play fast. There, the courses will play long and slow."
In fact, the par 71, 7742-yard Chambers Bay course is the longest in U.S. Amateur history. The previous record holder for longest course for the championship was Hazeltine National Golf Club (7,473 yards) in Chaska, Minn., which hosted the 2006 U.S. Amateur.
"It is going to be a different type of golf course," Whitehead said. "It is not your typical country club course like Pinehurst. It's a link course a lot like Whistling Straits (which just hosted the PGA Championship).
"I am just going to try to play steady through two rounds of qualifying," he said. "Then hopefully have an opportunity to set myself loose and see what happens (in match play)."
Added Scott, "Michael has had a lot of success this summer after playing well during the collegiate season. He is not going to be intimidated. I expect him to go up there, put up some good numbers and do well."
Players Mentioned
