Phil Mickelson
THE DAY OF HIS LIFE: Mark McCormick (above), a 49-year-old New Jersey club pro, spent yesterday chatting with fellow left-hander Phil Mickelson before teeing off at the U.S. Open in San Francisco tomorrow at the Olympic Club. (AP; Mark McCormick Jr. (inset))
SAN FRANCISCO — The tall, old-fashioned Olympic Club clock peering over the hedges to the left side of the first tee box read a few ticks past 8 yesterday morning. There was Mark McCormick, a 49-year-old left-handed New Jersey club pro who before last week was 0-for-24 trying to qualify for a U.S. Open. He was chit-chatting with his idol, Phil Mickelson, both getting ready to play a U.S. Open practice round.
Further enhancing the dream day was the presence of McCormick’s two sons — Ryan, a sophomore on the St. John’s golf team, and Mark, a competitive tennis player who just graduated high school last week.
They were both inside the ropes with their dad, walking the course, occasionally mixing it up with Mickelson, his caddie, Jim “Bones’’ Mackay and Mickelson’s coach Butch Harmon.
“It’s kind of mind-boggling,’’ McCormick said. “I’m playing with Phil. My kids are walking the fairways with us. I’m playing in a U.S. Open practice round. It’s beautiful out. I’m in sunny California and I’m playing Olympic.’’
McCormick already has lived his ultimate dream and he’s still a day from actually teeing it up as one of just four club pros who made it into the U.S. Open field.
The other two players in the Mickelson practice round group were a pair of 17-year old amateurs — Alberto Sanchez, who’s headed to Arizona State next year, and Beau Hossler, who still wears braces but is playing in his second consecutive U.S. Open.
“The lefties are going to take on you guys,’’ Mickelson told the youngsters as they stood on the first tee, setting a $40 match with $20 automatic presses.
McCormick, anticipating the chance to play with his favorite player, said on Monday he feared not being able to get a ball airborne in the presence of Mickelson. When he pounded his opening tee shot down the right side of the fairway on No. 1, he mouthed the word, “Phew,’’ as he slinked off the tee.
Five minutes earlier, McCormick had run into the locker room to change into his red New York Giants hat to show allegiance to his beloved Super Bowl champions despite being in 49ers’ territory.
As the group approached the third green, Harmon, who grew up in Westchester, noticed McCormick rocking the Giants lid and said, “You can wear that hat wherever and whenever you want. I grew up with the Mara family. I love the Giants.’’
When Mickelson drained a putt to win a hole for the lefties moments later, McCormick told him, “You hit that like a U.S. Open champion.’’
Mickelson is the only player in the field McCormick might want to win the U.S. Open more than he wants it for himself. In 2004, when Mickelson had positioned himself to win his first major at the Masters, McCormick flew to Augusta on a Saturday night so he could witness the final round and see his favorite player don the Green Jacket.
Mickelson, embracing the mentor role for his three inexperienced playing partners, read greens for them and pointed out where the likely pin placements will be for the tournament.
The pointers and good-natured banter continued to the end of the round, which McCormick and Mickelson would lose 1-down to the 17-year-olds.
“Phil was everything I expected, because I’ve seen the way he always treats people,’’ McCormick said. “But what surprised me was how competitive he was in our match. This guy is worth I don’t know how many millions and he was grinding over $40, which I thought was so cool. This guy loves golf.’’
Besides the sheer surreal element to the day for McCormick, the reality is it could not have provided a better preparation for him playing the U.S. Open because Mickelson’s presence drew large galleries that gave it the feel of a competition day.
Who knows what’s in store for McCormick, but what cannot be disputed is that dreams do come true.
McCormick lived one yesterday.