My experience caddying for Monte at the 2023 U.S. Senior Open

[GungHoGolf]

10 minutes ago, bobfoster said:

Leaderboard has him +16 after 17 (not updated yet). So think it will be +24.

+20 by my quick count. 

 

Gutted for our man. Ugh. 

 

edited to add: 99.9% of players would have WD’d being that sick. Kudos for you finishing, @MonteScheinblum

Edited June 30, 2023 by GungHoGolf

[bobfoster]

Some thoughts.

 

First, many thanks to the OP to take the time to write that long and fascinating initial post. Was great to hear about US Open practice rounds (Senior or not) from the inside out. 

 

Second, @_Hawk3y3_ - many thanks for the hole by hole play by play. 

 

Finally. Gawd Monte - hearts breaking for you. Golf can be cruel. Life can be even more cruel. I've had food poisoning before. Can't even imagine playing golf, let alone pro golf. It isn't just that nausea is incredibly distracting (and distorts the body), but you also can't keep anything down ... so you get weaker and weaker as the day goes on. 

 

So ... don't care how you finished, the fact that you actually played 18 (when many, if not most, would have WD by 9 if they were dry-heaving on every hole) is nearly heroic. Everyone here is tipping their hat to you and cheering. What you did was just sheer willpower. Good on ya man ... 

[_Hawk3y3_]

From a very quick post round chat...

 

He will look back on today in 40 years and view it as the least fun round of golf he has ever played. Ever.

 

I asked him if he wished he had WD'd. He stopped walking, thought for a second, and firmly said yes.

 

I told him that very few people would have the stones to take on a course like this with food poisoning. I know his playing partners and everyone we were walking with felt terrible for him. So proud that he gutted it out. I sincerely hope he feels better enough to come back tomorrow and fight his way out of DFL. 

[bobfoster]

17 minutes ago, GungHoGolf said:

+20 by my quick count. 

 

Gutted for our man. Ugh. 

 

edited to add: 99.9% of players would have WD’d being that sick. Kudos for you finishing, @MonteScheinblum

Yep, +20, my bad.

[_Hawk3y3_]

1 hour ago, betarhoalphadelta said:

Just saw Monte on the broadcast, as he's paired with Strickland who is T2. 

Strickland and Aber both hit in the right greenside bunker on 7, then both proceeded to hit the wrong ball. They didn't realize until they both got up on the green. What a train wreck of a hole that was.

[_Hawk3y3_]

2 minutes ago, bobfoster said:

Yep, +20, my bad.

The official scoring didn't realize that he whiffed the shot on 7. Fixed it in post round scoring. +21 92 today.

[betarhoalphadelta]

1 minute ago, _Hawk3y3_ said:

Strickland and Aber both hit in the right greenside bunker on 7, then both proceeded to hit the wrong ball. They didn't realize until they both got up on the green. What a train wreck of a hole that was.

 

Oh wow... I was watching in the background while working and completely missed that. What was the penalty for both?

[betarhoalphadelta]

Well I guess it's time for Monte to throw down a 57 tomorrow and shove it in Furyk's face 😉

 

[RSinSG]

I would have been sitting in the hotel after a few holes. Last time I had food poisoning I literally thought I had a deadly illness. Pretty gutsy of him to finish.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

I probably should have told Monte after my previous experiences that he should stay away from the deep fried cheese curds. They're not suitable for SoCal stomachs...

[Sp4zRX]

Hopefully he goes straight to hotel with some nourishments and goes right to sleep. I wouldn’t be surprised if he felt worse tomorrow than today after what he put his body through. Hopefully he does feel better tomorrow and can come out swinging to put up a good round to remember. 

[_Hawk3y3_]

22 minutes ago, betarhoalphadelta said:

 

Oh wow... I was watching in the background while working and completely missed that. What was the penalty for both?

2 shots each

[_Hawk3y3_]

20 minutes ago, betarhoalphadelta said:

I probably should have told Monte after my previous experiences that he should stay away from the deep fried cheese curds. They're not suitable for SoCal stomachs...

It was bad chicken from an Italian restaurant 

[robp11]

Man I hope he can at least get some good sleep tonight but my guess is he'll have a real early tee time tomorrow....

[betarhoalphadelta]

21 minutes ago, _Hawk3y3_ said:

It was bad chicken from an Italian restaurant 

 

Klaus & Greta's Trattoria?

 

In all seriousness, hate to see someone have to deal with an acute medical issue while trying to accomplish something that most will never even get a chance to attempt. 

 

Hopefully he can go low tomorrow just for the hell of it. 

[CSagan]

Well good job standing up all day Monte. Can't imagine playing a US Open setup with food sickness! Goodness.

 

Hope you feel better in the morning.

[Mike_C]

This so totally sucks, can't imagine playing in that condition.  I had food poisoning once, on a boy scout outing with my son, improperly handled hamburger.  I thought I was going to die, took a few days to fully recover....

[indianagolf2]

On 6/28/2023 at 3:37 PM, johnrobison said:

Is that your way of wishing him best of luck?

Think he was being realistic vs tour pros

[CasualLie]

I'm so gutted by this I'm on my 4th martini.  Not because of the score but because I know Monte gives so much to this forum and others in his life, because he's a great father, a great man... And I only want the best for Monte.  I want to see him savor just a fraction of the success he deserves from all the effort.  Yes, I know it's limited preparation based on his busy teaching activities, limited reps, limited tournament experience, but still...even though golf can be cruel, golf owes a little karma to Monte.

 

Try and have a relaxed round tomorrow, soak up the atmosphere, play like it's your last chance, and who knows...make a few birdies.  Regardless, you are still one on the best instructors out there and a damn fine man.

 

Cheers!!!

[Soloman1]

Sorry for the bad luck, Monte. They’re holding it again next year.

 

 

Edited June 30, 2023 by Soloman1

[grm24]

59 minutes ago, robp11 said:

Man I hope he can at least get some good sleep tonight but my guess is he'll have a real early tee time tomorrow....

Monte's group tees off the front side at 8:55am (CST) for the 2nd round. Hope he feels better and plays great.

Edited June 30, 2023 by grm24

[_Hawk3y3_]

7 minutes ago, grm24 said:

Monte's group tees off the 10th hole at 8:55am (CST) for the 2nd round. Hope he feels better and plays great.

Off 1 tee, not 10. He went off 10 today.

[grm24]

11 minutes ago, _Hawk3y3_ said:

Off 1 tee, not 10. He went off 10 today.

Thanks! I'll blame it on my reading glasses!

[bobfoster]

24 minutes ago, grm24 said:

Monte's group tees off the 10th hole at 8:55am (CST) for the 2nd round. Hope he feels better and plays great.

Very good - hope he's feeling better tomorrow and will give it a shot. The second half of his round would be televised, or at least played during televised hours (GC coverage starts at 11AM CST). Unfortunately, there's unlikely to be cameras on someone that far down in the draw. 

 

Still - I'll be rooting for him. 

[rooski]

Gosh dangit I hate to hear about the food poisoning. I looked at the leaderboard and wondered what happened and I'm just devastated

 

It is genuinely not possible to play 18 holes of decent golf (while walking) in 90 degree weather on 3 crackers and the taste of puke. The best golfers in the world would become bogey golfers in that scenario. If I don't put down 600+ calories while walking 18 holes my hands start shaking by the end and I just can't fathom going through something so much worse on such a big stage.

 

Hats off for making your way through it @MonteScheinblum, hopefully tomorrow is better for ya although if I know food poisoning it may not be. 

 

 

Edited June 30, 2023 by rooski

[mshills]

9 hours ago, _Hawk3y3_ said:

It was bad chicken from an Italian restaurant 

Unfortunately that isn’t likely to be any better today….may really need IV hydration at the very least. 
 

Took big balls to try to play golf at the highest level, on that golf course with that setup.
 

@MonteScheinblum you are appreciated so much for what you bring to this forum. Thank you! 

[bcjim]

"Food poisoning " is often norovirus.  If that's the case here,  good luck to those of you hanging with Mr Monte this week. Its extremely contagious 😝💀💩

 

And good luck to him.  

[toc]

2 minutes ago, bcjim said:

"Food poisoning " is often norovirus.  If that's the case here,  good luck to those of you hanging with Mr Monte this week. Its extremely contagious 😝💀💩

 

And good luck to him.  

Jesus what a ray of sunshine you are.  Hoping Monte can is feeling better today and can turn it around.  Hole by hole updates were awesome yesterday, martinis and other such nonsense probably belongs somewhere else though.

[ebrasmus21]

Good luck today Monte.  Be like Samson channel strength from your hair to get through today.  
 

play well, we are rooting for you 

[_Hawk3y3_]

He's gonna try and give it a go today, boys. Let's have some prayers, seances, voodoo, liturgical dances, incense burning...maybe some of you have a firstborn you wouldn't mind sacrificing...let's get some good mojo going, cuz nobody deserves it more!!!

Edited June 30, 2023 by _Hawk3y3_