If Justin Rose manages to pull off back-to-back feats in retaining the US Open trophy this week at Pinehurst, then one of the first phone calls he can expect would be from Curtis Strange.
If Rose wins.
And it is a big ‘if’.
Because Strange was the last player to successfully defend the championship, when he followed up his 1988 win at Brookline with a successful defence at Oak Hill in Rochester. He was the first player since Ben Hogan to manage the feat.
Was there any call on congratulations from Hogan?
“No, I never heard from him. But Justin will hear from me, like it or not . . . when I did this, I didn’t know Ben Hogan was the last back-to-back, because nobody expected me to do it. It hadn’t been done in so long.”
In truth, Strange hardly expected a call from the legendary Hogan. Not after uttering those “Move over Ben!” words in his first interview post-round.
Of that three-word quote, Strange attested: “It’s like Justin or anybody that’s ever won the National Open or The Open or the Masters or the PGA, it’s a lifelong dream. The feeling is hard to put in words when you come off that last green.”
Of why it is so hard to back up a win with a successful defence, Strange said: “You can go the obvious reasons, it’s a year removed, (played on) a different golf course. The talent level has always been deep. You have to be at the right place at the right time. Be fortunate. You can play well and still lose.”
Hogan’s back-to-back wins came in 1950 and 1951, sandwiched in between his breakthrough win of 1948 and his fourth success in 1953. Four titles in six championships.
But those who followed discovered that the US Open doesn't always favour its chosen sons. Jack Nicklaus failed to win back-to-back. Tom Watson. Lee Trevino.
“All the greats didn’t do it,” said Strange at Pinehurst yesterday, adding: “They thought if I could do it, it can be done a bunch in the future.”
Year upon year has gone past since Strange set out in that final round at Rochester three shots adrift and with hardly a mention of the fact that he was within touching distance of matching Hogan’s feat.
"I think the longer it goes the more fortunate I realise I was. I'd say you can play well and still not win, and I was a bit fortunate the second time, with Tom Kite not playing well on Sunday.
“You know as well as I do, it’s a tough game and a lot of moving parts, on the toughest test we have in golf, outside The (British) Open Championship.”
Strange said of the course: “It’s much different than I anticipated, just the rough area. I’d seen the rough a year ago, but there’s a lot of other growth that I didn’t anticipate that’s going to be very penal.”
