The Storm Surrounding the 2009 U.S. Open

The storm that passed over Bethpage, New York on the first day of the 2009 US Open was entirely appropriate - given the circumstances surrounding the event.
Months after Northern Trust was called upon by Barney Frank and 17 other Democratic lawmakers to repay the amount spent entertaining employees and clients during the golf tournament that bears the company’s name, Northern Trust is readying to repay the $1.6 billion in bailout funds that it received at the height of the economic downturn.
“There were people saying things about golf that were just absurd,” said George Fellow, president and CEO of Callaway Golf Co. “Because of the economy, a lot of things have been demonized and demonized inappropriately.”

And Then There Were None?

The US Open, back in Bethpage, New York after seven years, didn’t sell out its 42,500 daily tickets in advance - something that had not happened since 1986 (although tickets for the four competition rounds eventually sold out on June 14).
54 air-conditioned tents housed the event’s sponsors, including: International Business Machines (IBM), American Express (AMEX), Rolex, Lexus, and Royal Bank of Scotland. This number is significantly down from 2002’s 78 tents, but the US Golf Association made between 1,000-1,500 additional tickets available to the public in hopes of reducing the economic downturn’s impact on its purse.

After The Storm

Though the gloom that surrounded the US Open in Bethpage was only exacerbated by first-day showers, the weather would clear for the remainder of the weekend - with several bright spots promising sunny returns.

• American Express, although signaling earlier in the year that they would reduce the number of sports events that it sponsors, reaffirmed their commitment to the sport. “We remain committed to golf and the U.S. Open,” said spokeswoman Leslie Berland.
• In advance of the start of the tournament, the top tent areas in Empire Village (along the 18th hole) and Tillinghast Village (along the first), were sold out.

Although Ricky Barnes, a former All-American at the University of Arizona, held a one-stroke lead over Lucas Glover at the close of three rounds, it was Glover who pulled away on the final round of competition at Bethpage to finish with a 3-over 73, for a two-shot victory.

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