Sports

Georgia and Georgia Tech Alums With Chance to Win U.S. Open

Both the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech have alums who are good shots to win this weekend's U.S. Open at Pinehurst, NC. Who do you think will snag the title?

Could “Dawgs on top” apply to this week’s 114th U.S. Open at Pinehurst, NC?

Or will a Georgia Tech alum follow in the footsteps of golf legend Bobby Jones to snag one of professional golf’s top tournaments? 

The experts at PGATour.com offer up these picks for the likely U.S. Open winner on Sunday, and they include both Georgia and Georgia Tech alums: Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els, and the tourney’s youngest player, Jordan Spieth.

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Who do you think will win the U.S. Open? Tell us in comments below.

The August Chronicle reports the University of Georgia has eight former Bulldogs playing in one of golf’s major tournaments: Masters winner Watson, Russell Henley, Harris English, Chris Kirk, Brendon Todd, Erik Compton, Hudson Swafford and Kevin Kisner.

Bulldogs coach Chris Haack recruited all eight players.

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Thursday and Friday, Kirk, Todd and Henley will play together. The Chronicle says Kirk and Todd were roommates for four years in Athens.

“It’s a testament to how far that program has come under coach Haack and the quality of players he’s turning out,” Kisner said. “As they say in football, ‘Dawgs on top.’”

Three Georgia Tech alumni, including 2009 British Open Champion Stewart Cink and seven-time PGA tour winner Kuchar, are in the Open field, according to RamblinWreck.com. All-American and 2007 graduate Roberto Castro also is playing at the tourney.

Georgia Tech's legendary Bobby Jones won two U.S. Amateur titles at Merion Golf Club, in 1924 and 1930, the website says, and was the last alum to snag the title.


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