Victory Club Questions for USGA Senior Staff Writer David Shefter

This month, members of the Victory Club Presented by Lexus had the opportunity to send in their questions to USGA Senior Staff Writer David Shefter about his experiences covering USGA championships for the past 25-plus years. "Shefty," as many in the industry and in the office call him, has worked 195 championships since starting at the USGA in 1999. Here are his responses to your inquiries:

What was the worst weather you've experienced at a USGA championship?

Shefty: A bunch come to mind. The 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur at Erin Hills is at the top of my memory. It rained so hard during stroke play that nearly a dozen pumps were brought in to stroke-play co-host Blue Mound Golf & C.C. just to get the venue playable for a restart on Monday. Because of all the delays, the 36-hole final was not completed until Saturday morning, two days after it was scheduled to end. The paying public was actually starting rounds as the championship match made its way to the back nine.

The other championship that comes to mind was the 2018 U.S. Girls' Junior at Poppy Hills. This was due to more than 20 hours of fog delays that played havoc with the schedule. The most remarkable aspect of the championship came on the final day. That Saturday, both 18-hole semifinal matches were completed in the morning, and then finalists Yealimi Noh and Alexa Pano played the 36-hole final. When the day concluded, the two had played a combined 100 holes of golf, with Noh prevailing. Had the match dragged on for another 30 or so minutes, the fog rolled back into the Monterey Peninsula, and they might have had to finish the match on Sunday.

One more weird weather situation comes to mind. In 1999, the semis and finals of the U.S. Junior Amateur were contested on the same day. The 36-hole final for this event was still six years away. That Saturday, the Country Club of York (Pa.) was hit with a hail storm. Play was delayed for more than hour so volunteers could get the greens ready. They were out in droves using divot-repair tools to smooth out the putting surfaces. Thanks to that yeoman's effort, the semis and finals were contested, with future PGA Tour winner Hunter Mahan defeating another future PGA Tour winner Camilo Villegas in the final.

Favorite snack to munch on while typing up a great story?

Shefty: Pretzels. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love pretzels. I always make sure to buy a few bags or a barrel before each championship.

What is the toughest shot you ever saw attempted and pulled off at a U.S. Open?

Shefty: The two shots Gary Woodland pulled off in the 2019 U.S. Open during Sunday's final round on Nos. 14 and 17 were remarkable. To hit a 3-wood from 250-plus yards onto that challenging green at the par-5 14th to set up a two-putt birdie, and then the pitch from the front of the hour-glass green at 17 (he was on the putting surface) to 3 feet for a clutch par save were two heroic shots that ultimately led to his victory over Brooks Koepka. A close second might be Bryson DeChambeau's 53-yard fairway bunker shot on the 72nd hole of Pinehurst No. 2 to 4 feet that set up his championship-winning putt in the 2024 U.S. Open. It's hard shot in a practice round. To do it with everything on the line made it one of the best in U.S. Open history.

Hi David! What is your favorite piece of merchandise you have purchased at these nearly 180 championships? :)

Shefty: I loved the tie-dyed t-shirts/sweatshirts that were sold during the 2021 U.S. Women's Open at The Olympic Club. Very Californian and my sister and mom both loved them. As for myself, I love the fleece button-down sweatshirts sold at Pebble Beach for the 2010 and 2019 U.S. Opens.

What hole have you witnessed that you deem the hardest hole to achieve a par score?

Shefty: So many holes would fit this category. No. 8 at Pebble Beach I would say is the toughest par 4 in the world, given the accuracy needed off the tee and the breathtaking approach to a very tiny green. During the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, the 10th was made extremely difficult. Some players couldn't reach the fairway because of the extreme yardage needed to carry the fescue and thick rough. I recall one player, and it might have been Fred Funk, trying to hit the narrow walkway from the teeing ground to the fairway. And I would say almost every hole, outside of Nos. 2 and 17, at Oakmont is a tough par. It's the most difficult U.S. Open venue, and I believe, our best one. The course extolls a total examination of a golfer's skills.

What's the best way to take in a golf tournament in person, follow a specific group/player OR find a good hole/vantage point to camp out on for the round?

Shefty: My advice for a newbie is to use a practice round to walk the entire course. Maybe go out early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds and get a feel for the venue. Get a feel for the kind of shots each hole will requre for a golfer to succeed. It's a great way to familiarize yourself with the layout. You can also decide if you just want to camp out at a particular hole during a competition round. It's really a personal preference.

Sometimes it's very hard to follow one group, especially if it includes a top player like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy or Scottie Scheffler. Those players attract galleries that can run 10-15 rows deep and can make it terribly difficult to follow the action. If you want to follow a group, find one that isn't getting a lot of hype. That way you can get closer to the action and better views of the particular players. You might even get to hear their interactions with the caddies or officials (for a ruling).

Most memorable interview/gamer you ever wrote and why?

My final gamer from the 2024 U.S. Open was a memorable one, just because that Sunday had so much drama. Those situations just lend themselves for great storytelling and you had a lot going on that day in Pinehurst.

When it comes to a headline, one of my all-time favorites is "These Bears are Golden." Two University of California teammates won the 2023 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball at Kiawah Island Club. The school's nickname is Golden Bears.

Who is the best interview subject you've ever spoken to?

Shefty: Tiffany Joh. She is an all-timer. Not only was she a very talented player – she won a pair of U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links titles in 2006 and 2008 – but she's plain hilarious. She gives you great quotes while also being insightful. I wish more players were like her in post-round interviews. Just a delight to chat with.

What is the most shocking USGA championship moment you've ever covered?

Shefty: Again, there are plenty to choose from. Seeing Rory McIlroy miss two putts inside 4 feet on the 70th and 72nd holes of the 2024 U.S. Open was shocking. Seeing what happened to Phil Mickelson – and a few others – on the 72nd hole of Winged Foot at the 2006 U.S. Open. Seeing decorated amateur Megha Ganne, now a U.S. Women's Amateur champion, sign an incorrect scorecard to DQ herself from her last U.S. Girls' Junior start in 2022. Seeing 54-hole leader Dustin Johnson fail to break 80 in the final round of the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

Another one that comes to mind: Inbee Park, the defending champion at the time and the stroke-play medalist, had a 5-up lead with 10 holes to play in the 18-hole final of the 2003 U.S. Girls' Junior at Brooklawn C.C., and proceeded to lose to Sukjin Lee-Wuesthoff. Wuesthoff only made one birdie in that comeback bid.

What is your favorite championship?

Shefty: U.S. Mid-Amateur. To me, these are the true amateurs. I know many are reinstated but even most of those guys only had a cup of coffee in pro golf. These are the guys you see winning your club championships. They are husbands and fathers. Golf doesn't define who they are. They are not trying to be the next Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy or Tiger Woods. They have jobs, kids and lives. They are lucky to get in a round or two per week. They make for great story subjects.

This year, I did a piece on a Ph.D. candidate at Columbia University who won the Byron Nelson Award while playing at Division III Carnegie Mellon University. Even ex-pro athletes from other sports have competed in this event, including Erik Hanson and Chris Sabo. You get similar stories at the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, where in the past four years we've had the likes of Tony Romo and Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford qualify. The beauty of golf is great players can come from all walks of life, and our amateur championships bring those stories to life.

In your amazing career with the USGA, what championship delivered your best dining experience?

Shefty: Nassau Country Club (2014 U.S. Women's Amateur). The food was amazing, from the players' reception to the daily meals in the clubhouse that included an omelette station every day. The players' reception was a buffet featuring virtually every type food imaginable, from a raw bar to a pasta bar to carving stations. Hands down, the best food I've ever experienced.