Korean-born American amateur brings US Open thrills

Michael Kim of the United States hits his tee shot on the second hole during Round Three of the 113th U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club on June 15, 2013 in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. (Getty Images)

Eighty years after the US Open was last won by an amateur, a 19-year-old South Korean-born amateur raised hopes Saturday that the feat might be repeated this weekend at Merion.

American Michael Kim, ranked 12th in the world among amateur players and considered among the top US college golfers, birdied four of the first six holes on the back nine to reach third place at level par for the event.

But the teen’s stunning third round came crashing down over the final three holes, with bogeys at 16 and 18 and a double bogey at the par-3 17th leaving him at one-over 71 for the day and four-over 214 after 54 holes.

“It was a great day and it has been a great week and I’m just looking forward to tomorrow,” Kim said.

In 10th place, only five strokes behind leader Phil Mickelson, Kim has a chance to make history on Sunday by winning on the same course where legend Bobby Jones completed a sweep of the 1930 US and British Opens and Amateurs.

“I didn’t really know what to expect coming in, honestly, just wanted to make the cut. I thought that would be a pretty good week,” Kim said. “I come in here with not too much expectations and just trying to keep it that way.”

Making a run up the scoreboard could also prove a distraction for a sectional qualifier who is slightly starstruck this week.

“I kept looking at the leaderboard, not because I wanted to know how I was doing in the tournament, but it was so cool to see my name next to those names like Mickelson, (Luke) Donald, (Charl) Schwartzel,” Kim said.

“It was just an incredible feeling.”

Not since John Goodman in 1933 has an amateur won the US Open, but this year marks the 100th anniversary of the first time it happened, Francis Ouimet’s epic 1913 upset of British stars Harry Vardon and Ted Ray.

Kim’s effort had another historical aspect, stirring memories of the 1971 US Open at Merion when amateur Jim Simons led by two strokes after 54 holes and was only one stroke adrift before a closing double bogey doomed his bid.

“At 15, kind of went through that what if situation in my head — what if I won or what if I did this,” Kim said. “But it was cool and I tried to snap back out of it, but I hit an awful tee shot on the next hole.”

That was the start of trouble for Kim. It was the last three holes that snared him as they did almost all of the other leaders.

“I didn’t feel that nervous, but I definitely think I was, looking back on it, and made just a few loose swings and just a couple bad putts,” Kim said.

“Probably on 16 I got a little nervous, a little too excited. But I was pretty calm the entire day.”

Kim was so unprepared for the Open that he arrived on Monday without a caddie and with some help was linked with Merion bagman LaRue Temple, who at 30 has caddied at Merion almost half his life.

“It has been great so far,” Kim said. “He has been a great help.”

Kim has a running bet with world number one Tiger Woods about winning the US Open and the amateur will start five strokes ahead of his hero on Sunday.

“If I do finish in front of him, great,” Kim said. “If I finish behind him, that’s fine.”

No matter how he fares on Sunday, Kim has had a thrilling experience already.

“It has been pretty special,” Kim said. “It’s been definitely a memorable week and one that I’ll probably never forget.”