Meeting USGA legend P.J. Boatwright
I went to the course Sunday to watch the final round of the 1973 U,S, Open and Arnold Palmer and John Schlee. Remember him?
He was the man I caddied for the year before at the PGA Team Championship at Laurel Valley, where he told me all his astrological signs were pointing positively to June 1973 and he was going to win the U.S. Open.
I would have bet all that I had that he wouldn’t, but here he was in the final group on Sunday.
Was there something to astrology, or did he just talk himself into it? I had no idea, but as he came off the practice green, I said hello and told him who I was. He actually remembered. I wished him luck. He went to the first hole and promptly drove the ball onto Hulton Road out of bounds. A double bogey start.
Johnny Miller sets a blistering pace
I looked at the scoreboard and my jaw dropped. Johnny Miller had birdied the first four holes. It would be the great start that propelled him to a final round 63 and the win.
Arnold Palmer faded, but John Schlee hung in there. He made it to the final hole one shot behind Miller. He had a chip from off the back of the green to tie, but it stopped a few inches short. Amazing. I was glad, however, that my friend Les from Plum Borough caddied for Schlee. He was the father of 10 kids and he probably got a very nice paycheck.
On my way off of the course on Sunday, Joe Stoner asked me if I would drive one of the USGA officials to the airport the next day in one of the courtesy cars. I agreed and drove P.J. Boatwright to the airport. Mr. Boatright would go on to become a legend at the USGA as an authority on the Rules of Golf, amateur status and the handicap system. There is are internships at USGA affiliates across the country named for P. J. Boatwright.
Making a quick getaway
Mr. Boatwright said that he was trying to get out of town in a hurry because many of the members of Oakmont Country Club thought the pin placements were too easy for Sunday at the U.S. Open and they were embarrassed that a 63 was shot on their course.
Not only that, but Lanny Wadkins shot a 65. Mr. Boatwright said that he ruled against the suggested pin placements on many holes because he felt they were too severe, so he eased up on some of them.
And now he was trying to get out of town quickly. I told him I did not know how quick it would be because I had never driven to the airport before. He assured me we would be OK. I made the mistake of being in the right lane on the Fort Pitt bridge over the Monongahela River and we were headed to McKees Rocks.I was upset, but he was very calm and very nice and we made it on time.
I met some very important people during this whole process and almost all of them were nothing but nice. I continued to caddie until my graduation from Pitt in 1975 and securing my first job. I told everyone I would come back and caddie on weekends so that I could continue to play there on Mondays. I never went back but will never forget the great times that I had as a caddie at Oakmont.
Ed Wieszcznski lives in Pittsburgh
Featured photo illustration of Ed Wieszczynski at Oakmont wearing his 1973 U.S. Open jumpsuit created with ChatGPT
Have a story idea or a news item to report to Alabama Golf News? Email gregg@alabamagolfnews.com
