U.S. Amateur notebook: 2003 champion Nick Flanagan returns to Oakmont

Australian Nick Flanagan was in town for the U.S. Amateur, but he had to warm up his throwing arm, not his driver and putter.

Talk about a tough pitch shot.

Flanagan, the last U.S. Amateur champion to win at Oakmont, in 2003, threw out the first pitch Friday night before the Brewers-Pirates game at PNC Park.

Flanagan held up the Havemeyer Trophy and tossed out the pitch, but the game was rained out.

“I was the best pitcher there last night,” Flanagan said as he watched the semifinals Saturday. “It was a little low and outside.”

Flanagan, 37, loved the views at PNC Park, but not as much as the views at Oakmont.

He said his playing days are winding down but he was pleased to know he is an honorary member at the legendary course.

“It was great to be back here,” Flanagan said. “It’s so nice to be welcomed here. This is arguably one of best courses in the world and being part of that is pretty special.”

He recalled his win, and the slightly different look to Oakmont 18 years ago.

“I was just a 19-year-old teenager who hadn’t been to the states before,” Flanagan said. “The bunkers are deeper now and there were trees on 1 and 9 that are gone now. And it’s strange to see guys hitting from 1 to 9 and 10 to 11 (fairways). I know that didn’t happen back then.”

Flanagan held off Casey Wittenberg in 37 holes to take the title and become the event’s first non-American winner since 1971.

Where’s he aiming?

Many players decided it was better to play from adjacent fairways this week, to avoid bunkers and have better angles at flagsticks. That includes Travis Vick, who played 10^th hole from the 11^th fairway in his semifinal.

The unique approach, like a defensive shift in baseball, is nontraditional, but it got the job done for many players.

“It’s not exactly something you like to see happen,” Oakmont head pro Devin Gee said. “And it’s odd because these kids hit it so straight. Match play lends itself more to it. I mean, if I am playing and I see an advantage by doing so, I would do it too.”

Gee said the course set up also impacted the strategy.

“You’re not going to see that in a U.S. Open because the rough is so thick,” he said. “You’re more concerned about keeping it out of the rough than position sometimes. If Mr. (Henry C) Fownes was here, he’d probably do something about (the adjacent fairways approach). Maybe he’d have a bunker put in overnight or something.”

Gee said the rough this week is about 3-1/2 inches, compared to 4- to 6-inch rough at a U.S. Open.

Lending a hand

The Athletic golf writer Brendan Quinn found himself in an odd position while covering the U.S. Amateur on Thursday.

He was approached by Ireland’s Hugo Townsend, who carried his own bag for the first two rounds of the tournament. The tall, long-hitting Townsend’s request was simple. He was looking for a caddie as the heat index topped 100 at rain-softened Oakmont.

Quinn obliged and worked the loop before returning to the media center to do his usual job.

“I couldn’t do much for him,” Quinn said. “One thing is that he had to rake his own bunkers, so I was able to help him with that. I just tried to stay out of his way. We had some good conversation out there.”

Twin pack

Finalist Austin Greaser has a twin brother, Byron, who normally caddies for him. But health issues have forced Bryon to the gallery, and he was walking along with his brother’s group Saturday.

Byron Greaser had open-heart surgery. He got a big hug from Austin moments after the semifinal match ended.

“He’s believed in me as much as anybody,” Austin Greaser said.

Bouncing back

The heavy rains that caused 10 hours worth of delays to the U.S. Amateur this week made Oakmont softer and more receptive, but the course is drying out as the 36-hole finale draws near.

Sunday’s forecast calls for 80 degrees and dry conditions.

“If we don’t get any more rain and it stays dry, you’re going to see more bounce,” Gee said. “In match play, you have to make a lot of birdies to win, so the (approach) is different. When it’s firm and fast, par is a good score on a lot of holes.”

Said Gee’s wife, former Hempfield star Katie Miller Gee, “It’s going to grow its fangs back.”

Divots

Golf Channel will broadcast the final match Sunday from 3-4 p.m. and NBC will pick up coverage from 4-6. … Greaser hasn’t played the 18th hole in five matches, Three previous players, Matthew Fitzpatrick (2013), Bryson DeChambeau (2015) and Viktor Hovland (2018), did the same thing when they went on to convincing wins in the final. … Greaser is trying to become the first UNC golfer to win the U.S. Amateur since Harvie Ward in 1956. … James Piot will look to become the first Big Ten player currently enrolled at a school to win a U.S. Amateur title since John Cook (Ohio State) in 1978.