golf is dominating my brainal cord right now...

did anyone watch this? who is this guy?

PINEHURST, N.C., June 19 - Before Michael Campbell paced the final green to tap his golf ball two more times, he lifted his glance toward the twilight sky at Pinehurst No. 2.

For a dozen years he had played professional golf across oceans, damaging his wrist and losing his game, until a gallery stood in silence Sunday, waiting to applaud him.

Campbell, born in the shadow of New Zealand's Mount Taranaki, sank a short putt for bogey and his eyes clouded over, for he had just triumphed in a back-nine battle to claim the United States Open championship by two strokes over Tiger Woods.

"I can't believe I'm holding this trophy," said Campbell, who became the first qualifier to win the Open since Steve Jones in 1996. He is the first golfer from New Zealand to win the United States Open and the second to win a major; the first was Bob Charles, who won the British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in 1963.

"It's unbelievable," said Campbell, who shot a one-under 69 Sunday to finish at even-par 280. "I worked hard for it, I deserve it, and it's all mine."



For Queens's considerable population of Korean immigrants, the Alley Pond Golf Center driving range in Douglaston dispenses the American dream by the bucketful.

Many signs at Alley Pond are printed in Korean and English, and most mornings, a vast majority of players are Koreans who live nearby in the heavily Korean neighborhoods of Flushing, Bayside and Douglaston.

Korean immigrants have become a common sight on local golf courses, but they are especially a fixture at this range, incessantly honing and perfecting their swings and shots, and spending plenty on buckets of balls, which start at $7.50.

Golf is extremely expensive in Korea, and once Koreans immigrate to America, many are astonished at how comparatively affordable it is here, said Kyung Na, 37, a teaching pro at the range who goes by Jay Na professionally.

"To be able to hit golf balls for $10 is a dream come true for Koreans," said Mr. Na, a Korean immigrant whose two sons are named Palmer and Augusta.



also fredeeky shot a career-low 87 this weekend in the first state, just so you know. thought reggie would appreciate this photo as famous number 87 dwight clark hauls in "the catch". observe and respect.