Drexel product Crawford in awe of being at U.S. Open

OAKMONT, Pa. - According to no less of an authority than Roy McAvoy of "Tin Cup" fame, the best thing about the U.S. Open is that it's the most democratic golf tournament in the solar system.

According to Chris Crawford, that would not be wrong.

"I'm living proof of that," the 22-year-old Bensalem native said Monday afternoon at Oakmont Country Club, where he will soon play in the game's second major of the season. "I don't think there's a better example probably than me."

According to the USGA, 9,827 nonexempt players tried to qualify for this championship. Eighty spots were available. Only 27 of those went to guys who had to go through both local and sectional qualifiers. Crawford, who just completed his senior season at Drexel, is one of them. One of 11 amateurs in the field, he's the first player from the Golf Association of Philadelphia to make it since Jay Sigel in 1989. And Sigel had an exemption into the sectional qualifier that year.

Did we mention that Crawford had to make a 40-foot birdie putt on his final hole last Monday to avoid a five-way playoff for one spot at the sectional at Canoe Brook in Summit, N.J.?

Nothing but net.

"I didn't want to be part of (a playoff)," Crawford said, smiling. "If I had, I might not be sitting here.

"It was the best putt I ever made, for sure. It has to be. I was one of the lucky ones.

He'll tee off Thursday at 2:42 p.m., in the final group, with Austin Jordan, of the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, and Tyler Raber, of UC Davis. Don't worry, he doesn't know who they are, either.

He got here Saturday and played nine holes. He played 18 Sunday and another 18 Monday, in a group that included Matteo Manassero, who's one year older and has already won four times on the European Tour.

On Tuesday, he's hoping to play with reigning PGA champ Jason Day, who's ranked No. 1 in the world. We'll see.

"I was one of the first ones here," Crawford said. "I looked at the signup sheet (for practice rounds) and most of the spots were empty. I looked at 12:40 on Tuesday and saw his name. I figured, 'Well, I might as well give it a shot.' I asked the guy (in the locker room) how that went, and he said, 'Well, he might have someone else (already).' You never know. But that would be something."

As he sat in front of the clubhouse, reigning Masters champ Danny Willet walked by with his wife and new son. Crawford noticed. Later, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, who have six major wins between them, walked off the 18th green to the kind of ovation you'd expect. Crawford stood up to take a look. When someone mentioned he's seen those guys before, Crawford nodded, then added, "I know, but . . . "

There's a part of him that can't help it. And that's perfectly understandable. Maybe even mandatory.

You can see it in his face. Nothing wrong with that.

"It's hard not to be in awe," he said. "You try to get that out of the way, but it's not so easy. I'm OK with being a fan a little bit. It's an experience. You want to enjoy everything about it."

He's played in three U.S. Amateurs, although he never made it to match play in any of them. He played here in the 2014 Pennsylvania Amateur, a stroke-play event where he finished eighth. This is the third or fourth time - "I can't remember," he acknowledged - he's tried to get into the national championship.

Now he's here.

"I didn't know if I was going to make it back (when he played Oakmont two years ago), but I definitely was aware the Open was coming," he said. "They were selling stuff (with the logo on it) in the pro shop . . .

"There's no water, but the bunkers are the hazards. That's the biggest thing I remember. I'm sure I'll be shaking a little bit. There's a lot of things to think about. I just want to play. At the time, the Amateur's a big deal. I'm going to play it again this summer. But after having played in this, it can't feel quite the same."

He's here with his parents, Joe and Karen, and his younger brother Matt. They're staying in a nearby rental condo. Good friend Billy Henningan, who brought his wife, caddied for him the last few days. His former coach at Drexel, Mike Dynda, walked with him every step of the way Monday. Many of his teammates are coming out to watch. We're pretty sure he'll be the only one in the field with a blue Drexel golf bag with gold trim and a Dragon headcover. And it weighs a lot less than the ones Day, Spieth or McIlroy will use.

Current Dragons coach Ben Feld, a former teammate, would have been part of the traveling party, but he qualified for this week's Philadelphia Amateur at Merion. He caddied for Crawford at Canoe Brook. Maybe Dynda will take over those duties, which he has done before.

"I asked him if he was here to win or for the experience," Dynda related. "He took a moment and then said both. I said right answer."

If Crawford just survives the cut, it'll be some story. That, of course, isn't the point.

"If I'm playing Saturday, I would still care what I shot, but . . . " he said. "The week's been pretty crazy, a little overwhelming at times. You have to slow yourself down. It was nice to finally get here and play.

"After I made it in, my phone blew up completely. I still haven't caught up with a few people. I probably should have. It's starting to become normal. But you come back the next day and you're, like, wow again. It's hard to shake the feeling that it's actually happening. It's the dream of any player."

He signed a bunch of autographs, something he didn't anticipate.

"These kids, they want to get everyone in the field," Crawford said. "Anyone. That's me.

"I was happy to do it. I could be right next to a somebody."

He already is. That's democracy in action.

"It's still golf," Crawford said. "You have to hit good shots. It's doable. Knowing that is a little reassuring. But you have to prepare for adversity.

"I've watched every Open. I wanted to watch the guys struggle. Now, I don't know. Maybe they'll cut the rough a little bit.

"I really don't know what the future has (in store). I just want to keep getting better. I'll take my chances with whatever that winds up being."

And he'll always have Oakmont.

@mikekerndn