Auburn's David May has made it one of his missions this year to keep his emotions at an even keel, and to better manage the psychological aspect to his game of golf. That said, Thursday will be the biggest test of his life , teeing off in his first ever U.S. Open at the age of 24.
"Patience is huge, and even more so at the U.S. Open," explains May, who arrived at Congressional Country Club four days early, "I'm getting used to it now, at first it was definitely kind of an eye opener. I've kind of gotten over it a little bit, but I'm sure that will be different once the tournament starts."
May advanced through the local qualifier at Bellevue Country Club in May and went on to finish tied for 7th on June 6th in Maryland to earn his right to play at the U.S. Open. He's been paired up with guys he's used top seeing on T.V. in his practice rounds, something he says was both thrilling and educational. He's had a few days to soak in the larger than life atmosphere and the golf course over the past few days, and says he is ready to start playing.
"I played a practice round, my first round with Adam Scott. He was a nice guy and I talked to him quite a bit, and he have me some tips here and there. And then (Tuesday) I played with Stewart Cink and Lucas Glover and Angel Cabrera, so I got to play with some really good players and that's helped me relax some because they've been great guys to me, and it's just been really enjoyable."
May didn't come out of no where to earn this opportunity. A graduate of Auburn High School, he headed to Clemson University with the # 1 national junior ranking at the time. In 2009 he won the individual title at the ACC Championships. And while he hopes this will be the first of many big time tournaments he's play in this week, it's a thrill to see all the support he's getting from back home, and to have his family with him in Maryland.
"My parents wanted to come to the sectional qualifier, and I was link don't even worry about it. I was like hopefully I'll make the open and my father was like that'll be your Father's Day present, and it worked out perfect."
As the Men's league teed off at his home course Owasco Country Club this week, everyone was buzzing about May and how he might do at the U.S. Open. Many of them have watched May play since he was a young boy, and are so proud to see Auburn represented on a National golf front.
"It's a great thrill," explains Chris Geherin, "we always thought he's be there some day and I think the community is very excited about this weekend."
"He's had a lot of achievements in his life," says George Shamon, "he did great at Clemson, he's just an all around great golfer for 24 years old."
"It's having that opportunity to take that swing," says head pro at Owasco Country Club Mark Flurschutz, "to play that round, to walk those holes. To be at Congressional this week, I can't even imagine the feeling he has, and we're just all behind him and obviously very proud and rooting him on."
Meanwhile, May is busy developing a game plan to success in what will be the biggest rounds of his life.
"It all starts by hitting balls into the fairway off the tee, if you can do that all week you can score a lot out here. The rough is pretty long according to a lot of the guys I've talked to. It's not quite as bad as usual, but it's kind of a long course, so they've kind of been a little bit more generous with the rough which is nice, but just (putting the ball on the fairway) you'd have a lot better chance at holding the greens because they're fast."
