UNIVERSITY PLACE — Jordan Spieth is from Texas, but he was treated like a hometown golfer by the fans at Chambers Bay.
That’s because of his caddie, Michael Greller.
Greller was a middle school teacher in University Place before pursuing a career in caddying five years ago. He has carried bags for dozens of rounds at Chambers Bay and was even married at the clubhouse with a sweeping view of Puget Sound.
Greller’s connections in amateur golf led him to Spieth. They connected two years before the 21-year-old claimed his place among golfing elite by winning The Masters in April.
Spieth was quick to credit Greller for his U.S. Open victory on Sunday.
“That was probably the best work Michael has ever done this week to get me through,” Spieth said. “At Augusta, I was on and making everything and striking the ball fantastic. He was the one that got me through this week when I wanted to get down when things weren’t going well.”
Greller deflected the credit.
“He’s one of the best players in the world, and I was just trying to stay out of his way,” he said. “The guys that I caddied for (at Chambers Bay) usually can’t break 90, or it’s myself playing and I can’t break 80. I’m sure he’s being nice, but it comes down to Jordan just being one of the best players in the world.”
Spieth said he and Greller rode an emotional roller-coaster as they watched Dustin Johnson three-putt on the 18th green. Spieth was still ruing his double-bogey on the 17th hole.
“I closed the door and we went away from any cameras when it was happening,” Spieth said. “He just said, ‘Dude, be positive.’ I was sitting there going, ‘I think Dustin is going to make this, what did I do? How did I possibly let this happen?’ “
And when Johnson missed a three-footer to give Spieth the win?
“My eyes were wide looking at the TV screen, and he was silent as well,” Spieth said. “We didn’t really know what to do. Then we got up. He said, ‘Dude, give me a hug. You did it.’ ”
Mickelson fades
Phil Mickelson did not have the tournament he had hoped at the U.S. Open. After shooting 1-under in the first round, Mickelson was over par the following three. He shot 3-over Sunday to finish 13 over and in 63rd place. That included a double bogey on the par-5 18th that saw him whiff on a chip from deep greenside rough.
Campbell low amateur
Brian Campbell shot 2-under Sunday to finish 5-over for the tournament.
That was the best score among the 16 amateurs in the field.
The 22-year-old who just graduated from the University of Illinois even had a little fun. After he and Thomas Aiken made birdies on the par-3 ninth, each tossed a golf ball into the grandstand.
“I came into the week not really expecting too much,” Campbell said. “I’m definitely going to be incredibly proud of myself this week, no matter what happens.”
Parting shots
Despite shooting 3-under on Sunday, reigning FedEx Cup champ Billy Horschel took one last shot at the Chambers Bay greens and the United States Golf Association.
His frustration boiled over on the sixth hole, when he slammed his putter into the green after missing a short putt.
Ian Poulter bashed the greens in a post on Instagram, which included a close-up photo of patchy grass on a green.
“If this was a regular PGA Tour event, lots of players would have withdrawn and gone home on Wednesday, but players won’t do that for a major,” he wrote.
Horschel also took issue with the viewing experience for the fans, which were largely unable to follow players around the course because of its large mounds and ridges.
“Here we are in the Pacific Northwest, where we haven’t been since the late ’90s for the PGA Championship, and the viewing is awful,” he said. “They tell the fans early in the week, just sit in the stands and watch golf. … And when you’re not able to get up close and watch championship-caliber players play a golf course, it’s disappointing.
“And I feel like the fans got robbed this week.”
