Israelson ready for next year
U.S. SENIOR OPEN
On the 10 fairways Bill Israelson hit during last week's US Senior Open Championship at Whistling Straights, he was 3-under-par.
On the 18 holes he didn't find the short grass, the 50-year-old head PGA professional at The Vintage at Staples shot 19-over-par.
Israelson hit just 36-percent of the fairways preventing him from making the cut in his first Senior Open.
"I knew going into it that with Whistling Straights and Pete Dye, I was going to have to find the fairways and hit my driver a lot better," said Israelson. "If I could have done that it would have set up the rest of my game. Hitting only 10 fairways was really the telling tale for me."
Bill Israelson finished 16-over-par
With the fairways only 22-to-27 yards wide it wasn't easy, as Tom Watson showed on the back nine of the final round. Israelson felt for Watson because he had a nine-hole stretch that defined his opening round.
Starting on the par 3 seventh hole, Israelson went 9-over-par on the next seven holes with another double on the 18th.
Israelson shot a opening-round 83, but battled back with a 77 in the second round.
"I was never really comfortable on that course," said Israelson. "I'm more of a visual feel player. Even Tom Watson said he never felt comfortable even though he was scoring well and playing well. It's not like we didn't like the course it just never fit our eye. A course like that fits guys like Loren Roberts who pick their spots and think more about the golf swing."
Despite the 16-over-par score and tie for 130th, Israelson said he is rejuvenated. He'll play the Pines Pro-Am July 23 and then get ready for the Minnesota State Open. He's also on a short list of exemptions for the 3M Championship July 30 to Aug. 5 in Blaine.
There is also the Senior PGA Championship and next year's Senior Open.
"Absolutely I'll try and get back next year," said Israelson. "I think for me the tournament put a little more passion back into me to play well again. The last three or four years I haven't really been fired up about tournament golf. Now that I got a taste for it again it renewed my interest."
JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5856.