One Of Pinehurst’s Own Hits First Shot Of US Open
The 124th US Open Golf Championship is being contested for the fourth time in the last twenty-five years on Pinehurst’s legendary No. 2 course in the North Carolina Sandhills. The first shot was sent into the air by Michael McGowan. If you’re going to have anyone hit the first shot, why not Pinehurst royalty.
Who Is Michael McGowan?
Michael McGowan was born in the Sandhills. His grandmother is Peggy Kirk Bell. Bell was a professional golfer, golf instructor, and advocate for women’s golf who was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2019. In 1990, she received the United States Golf Association’s highest honor, The Bob Jones Award. On a local level, she was the longtime owner of Pine Needles. Pine Needles is one of the golfing gems in the Sandhills that has hosted multiple US Women’s US Opens and other USGA events. So, her grandson, Michael McGowan was raised in and around the game of golf under the watchful gaze of one of golf’s grandest women.
So Michael McGowan Just Lives At Pinehurst?
Uh, no. McGowan played his college golf at the University of North Carolina, but since turning professional, has been on the road chasing his golf playing dreams. On playing Pinehurst No. 2, he tells ABC 11, “Growing up here, I played quite a bit out here just from the junior amateur events but after college, really haven’t been out here much and definitely been trying to make up for lost time the past month or so, but yeah, it’s just a fun course to play,”
Did Michael McGowan Have The Dream Start At The US Open?
Thursday morning at 6:45, Pinehurst’s Michael McGowan stepped to the first tee in his hometown, on his home course. He was announced, the crowd roared with approval and then, the nerves kicked in. I’d love to tell you McGowan hit a majestic shot down the middle of the fairway and opened The US Open with a birdie. Alas, he pulled it left of the fairway into a spot of bother and eventually opened his championship with a double-bogey, six.
