US Open: Chris Doak 'really excited' ahead of major debut
Chris Doak will follow in the footsteps of his idol Ben Hogan when the 113th US Open gets under way at Merion.
Last Updated: 13/06/13 4:46am
Hogan won the US Open on Merion's famed East Course in 1950, famously hitting a brilliant one-iron into the 72nd hole to help secure his place in a three-man play-off he won the following day.
A plaque on the 18th fairway marks the spot from where Hogan hit his approach and Doak has been itching to see it for himself ever since qualifying for his first major in a play-off at Walton Heath.
"It's my first major and I am really excited," said the Scot, who is in just his second full year on the European Tour after 10 visits to the qualifying school.
"I know they use baskets for flags so that will be interesting and my icon Hogan won there and hit his famous one-iron shot.
"My coach Bob Torrance loves Ben Hogan and is always telling stories of when he spent a week with him at his home in Texas. He always says Hogan had the purest golf swing of any player who has lived and I've lost count of the number of times he mentions him.
Zoned in
"So it will be good to walk the same ground where Hogan won and see the place where he hit his one iron."
Doak is one of four European Tour members making their major debut in Philadelphia - the others are Eddie Pepperell, John Parry and Jaco van Zyl - and Pepperell is enjoying the hype which goes with the event.
"It is just great," said Pepperell, who was sixth in the BMW PGA Championship last month in his rookie tour season. "The American hospitality and people, they love it. You can see the crowds here Monday and Tuesday and they are mad for it.
"It is a new thing for me to see that kind of hype and I am enjoying it. But at the end of the day it is another tournament and once you step out there on the first tee you have to start playing and nothing will be that different, other than the amount of people hooting and hollering.
"I will be zoned in on each shot and trying to learn as much as I can from each shot and play as well as I can.
"No question the opening tee shot will be a nerve-wracking shot so I have to step up and commit to that. That will be one of the hardest shots of the week but I am looking forward to it."
