Fans watch players tee off on the 10th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)
Luke Donald, of England, looks at the clouds overhead before he tees on the 10th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)
Maryland's own Fred Funk tees off on the first hole to open his first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Rod Lamkey, Jr./The Washington Times)
Dae Hyun Kim, of South Korea, tees off on the first hole to open the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Rod Lamkey, Jr./The Washington Times)
Course workers post the pairings and scoreboard before the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Rod Lamkey, Jr./The Washington Times)
Course workers post the pairings and scoreboard before the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., on Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)
Dae Hyun Kim of South Korea tees off on the first hole to open the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., on Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)
Maryland's own Fred Funk tees off on the first hole to open his first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., on Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)
Some of the golf clubs Ken Venturi used when he won the U.S. Open at the Congressional Country Club in 1964, seen on display at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 9, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)
Phil Mickelson hits a tee shot during the second day of practice rounds at the U.S. Open, at Congressional Country Club, in Bethesda, Md., Tuesday, June 14, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)
DREW ANGERER/THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Phil Mickelson, shown during practice at Congressional Country Club, has been runner-up at the U.S. Open five times - most recently to Lucas Glover at Bethpage Black in 2009. Alll told, he's 0-for-20 in the tournament.
Justin Rose lines up a putt during the first day of practice rounds at the U.S. Open, at Congressional Country Club, in Bethesda, Md., Monday, June 13, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)
Alex Rhea, who works at the Falls Road Golf Course in Potomac, discusses the impact of the U.S. Open on the community. (Pratik Shah/The Washington Times)
Tiger Woods withdrew from The Players Championship after nine holes back in May due to leg injuries and on Tuesday announced he'd also be skipping the U.S. Open. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Drew Weaver will attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open on Monday at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville. The Open will be held June 16-19 at Congressional. (Dave Knachel/Virginia Tech)
DAVID TULLIS/ATHENS BANNER HERALD
Billy Hurley, shown during a practice round for the Athens Stadion Classic at the University of Georgia, will qualify for the U.S. Open with a top-10 finish at the sectionals June 6 at Woodmont Country Club.
Long grass (a "Natural Preservation area") awaits errant balls throughout the course at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, site of the U.S. Open. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)
Jeff Lim-Sharpe, of La Plata, Md., lets go of his club in frustration after an errant tee shot on the last hole during the U.S. Open local qualifying tournament at Worthington Manor Golf Club, in Urbana, Md. (The Washington Times) **FILE**
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DREW ANGERER/THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Jeff Lim-Sharpe, of La Plata, Md., lets go of his club in frustration after an errant tee shot on the last hole during the U.S. Open local qualifying tournament at Worthington Manor Golf Club, in Urbana, Md.
Tournament official Randy Reed enters the scores on the leaderboard in the clubhouse, during the U.S. Open local qualifying tournament at Worthington Manor Golf Club.