IMAGINE IF THE USGA HAD BEEN USING the new two-hole aggregate playoff throughout U.S. Open history instead of the 18-hole playoff (and earlier the 36-hole playoff).
That's what veteran golf writer Gary Van Sickle did in a clever piece for MORNING READ.
Sickle rewrote U.S. Open history based on the two-hole playoff. It turns out that bridesmaid Sam Snead won the U.S. Open after all. Sorry, there was no miracle at Merion for Ben Hogan. Arnold Palmer recovered from his epic collapse to edge Billy Casper at the Olympic Club. And more.
Here's one fun snippet from Van Sickle's revisionist history:
Amateur hour … almost: The best underdog story that never was belonged to caddie-turned-amateur Francis Ouimet.