Can You Break 100? Third Golf Digest/U.S. Open Challenge Taking Applications

Nov. 10, 2009

Far Hills, N.J. – Do you want to make history at Pebble Beach? For the third consecutive year, Golf Digest, the United States Golf Association and NBC Sports will give one average American golfer a chance to experience the thrill and challenge of playing a U.S. Open layout under championship conditions.

Can you handle that kind of pressure? All you need to do is explain in 60 words or less how playing in the Golf Digest/U.S. Open  

The par-5 18th at Pebble Beach is one of the most famous and picturesque holes in golf. (John Mummert/USGA)

 Challenge at Pebble Beach will significantly change your life. We’d also like to hear what kind of score you’d expect to shoot as the representative for average golfers around the country.

The lucky winner will play the USGA-prepared Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links with three celebrities, surrounded by USGA officials and a television crew recording every shot for the NBC telecast.

Interested applicants can enter now at www.gdopencontest.com.

Last year, Arizona police officer Larry Giebelhausen won the right to play the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y., with singer/entertainer Justin Timberlake, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Hall of Fame basketball player Michael Jordan.

“I’ll tell you right now, I’ve never been more nervous in my life than that first tee shot at Bethpage,” said Jordan, who guided the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles.

The contest came about after Tiger Woods said in a post-round 2007 U.S. Open interview at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club that a 10-handicapper couldn’t break 100 on that course.

In the two previous contests, the winner has not been able to break 100, shooting 114 and 101 at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif., and Bethpage Black, respectively. But four out of the five celebrity participants – Timberlake played in 2008 and 2009 – have managed to break 100, including an 81 by Roethlisberger last year and an 84 by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo in 2008 at Torrey Pines. Jordan carded an 86 and Timberlake shot 88 last year after posting 98 at Torrey Pines.

“Because of that day – not only breaking 100, but breaking 90 – I’m a much better golfer,” said Jordan.

Pebble Beach will be hosting its fifth U.S. Open in June. Jack Nicklaus, who won the U.S. Amateur at Pebble in 1961, won the first U.S. Open held on the layout in 1972. Tom Watson (1982), Tom Kite (1992) and Tiger Woods (2000) followed with Open victories at Pebble. Woods’ triumph was by a record 15 strokes.

For more information about the Golf Digest/U.S. Open Challenge and to watch video from the 2009 program, visit www.golfdigest.com.