Oh No! 2007 US OPEN Tickets all Sold Out

[rosskoss]

I'm too late. Can someone PLEASE help me?

To say I'm depressed would be putting it mildly. You see, I'm an international student studying in the US and I've never seen a Golf Tournament in person, only on TV. This was my one big shot at watching a big tournament (a Major) and I didn't even want to watch the actual game, just the practise rounds. The problem was that the US Open site only accepted AMEX credit cards and I only have Visa. I applied for an Amex card a while ago but I didn't get a response from them. I was going to apply again today online but I checked the US Open site and all the tickets are gone, even the practise round ones.

Is there anything at all that I can do to get tickets to this year's US Open in Oakmont, PA? My degree gets over in December 2007 and after that I'll be leaving the country so I doubt I'll ever get to see a major (or any golf tournament for that matter with top players) in my life again. What are my choices? (are there any at all?) :friends:

[meroj]

rosskoss, I just looked at the USGA ticket site and there are practice round tickets available.

 

https://members.usga.org/tickets/general_tickets/index2.asp

[4over]

ross - I have 2 badges for Wednesday's practice round and I have 2 badges for Thursday's first round. If you're interested I will sell them to you at a reasonable price. I am unable to go this year and would like for someone to have them.

[rosskoss]

rosskoss, I just looked at the USGA ticket site and there are practice round tickets available.

 

https://members.usga.org/tickets/general_tickets/index2.asp

 

Oh Wow!!! :friends: :cheesy:

 

Thank you so much Meroj!! I was looking over here all this time.

 

http://www.usga.org/championships/get_tickets/soldout.html

 

Man oh man, am I pumped!

[meroj]

Anytime, have fun. It should be a great time. There was an article in the pittsburgh paper about the up coming open. The president of Oakmont was at the Masters and felt that if the players thought that Augusta was playing tough, just wait until June and Oakmont. Unless it rains the whole time the speed of the greens and with high rough, some players may not finish.

[rosskoss]

This is going to be my first time attending a Professional Golf Tournament ever and it's going to be a Major. AND, the venue is one of the hardest courses in America (if not the hardest). Should be a treat! I just purchased the $70 practise package so I'll be attending all three practise days. It's very expensive for my college student budget but this is too good an opportunity to pass up.

 

I'm now even thinking about attending one of the tournament days (only Thursday tickets are available) however I don't know if it'll be worth the money.

[sheppy335]

It is well worth the money!

[meroj]

It all depends on what you want to get out of the experience. I went to the lsat couple of Open's played at Oakmont and loved it. I was able to once go on a Sunday and there is more excitment on a day of the tournament. However, I went to a practice round at last years Master's and I have to admit, I think I liked it more. During the practice rounds, you can get closer to the players it seems and take as many pictures as you want. All of this is strictly forbidden during the tournament. Either way, it is great fun.

[rosskoss]

That's basically a yes and a no. Other than the competition itself, what is different between the practise rounds and the actual competion days? Can you follow a player for 18 holes on a practise day? Since I now have three practise day passes available, I want to see at least a few of my favorite players up close.

 

Would it be worth attending Thursday on top of that? What can I expect different? If it's really worth it, I'll buy the ticket.

[meroj]

SOme of the differences that I have seen is that on practice days, the players at times seem approachable. As I said, you can take your camera, there is a more relaxed atmosphere. And you can follow players for all of the holes that they play. The only thing that may be diificult is knowing when they will tee off. On competition days, you know what the tee times are, and you can follow players all day long. But there are no cell phones and no cameras. Either way it is a blast.

[rosskoss]

That's a major difference! I didn't realise that player tee times aren't posted up on practise days. I guess the only solution to that problem would be to arrive up early in the morning and wait till your favorite player shows up. But then if you started following him around for a few holes, you wouldn't know when your other favorite player would show up.

 

Looks like I'm going to have to buy a tournament day ticket as well so that I can just stay at one hole and watch all the different players hit their drives.

[rosskoss]

One more question, can you just hang out at the driving range and just watch the players hit balls?

[ToddGsell]

I've attended a handful of PGA tournaments, including some majors (never at Oakmont, though), and every PGA tournament I've ever attended has had bleachers/grandstands out at the range.

So I would assume that, yes, you can just watch players at the range--unless someone who's been to Oakmont can say otherwise.

[Petch1973]

One more question, can you just hang out at the driving range and just watch the players hit balls?

 

Absolutely. Bring your best camera....and save up some beer money. The USGA doesn't subscribe to the $2.00 beer theory like Augusta National does. $5.00-$6.00/beer.

[meroj]

One more question, can you just hang out at the driving range and just watch the players hit balls?

 

Absolutely. Bring your best camera....and save up some beer money. The USGA doesn't subscribe to the $2.00 beer theory like Augusta National does. $5.00-$6.00/beer.

 

 

Amen brother. That is why I loved going to Augusta last year. Had lunch and a few beers for something like $10. They do set up a grandstand at the range. At least they always have.

[jreed]

What are the crowds like during the practice rounds?

 

Im going to get tickets for Wednesday and have no idea what times to show up. I would assume the bigger names play the earliest tee times?