Father’s Day at U.S. Open: One of Golf’s Greatest Traditions Explored

The U.S. Open’s rich traditions add to its uniqueness. One such age-old tradition observed on Sunday every year at the major championship’s greens is the Father’s Day celebration. Each June, the event’s schedule is so adjusted that the final round falls on the day when Father’s Day is commemorated.

Fathers and sons and daughters grace the U.S. Open venue each third Sunday of June to create lifelong memories. Be it the 2010 event when Tom Watson asked his son to be his caddy or in 2013 when Justin Rose remembered his late father, who died of cancer in 2002, as he lifted his first major trophy, Father’s Day for golf lovers is just different.

Both fathers and their children rejoice in this sunny outing skillfully planned by the USGA. Apart from the real-life fun, even the advertisements run by the USGA on Sunday of the U.S. Open are curated to feature players and their father’s anecdotes. For many fathers, this slow day of watching golf translates into more invaluable time spent with their loved ones, doing what they love the most.

It is not just the fans and their families who find peace and happiness in the swinging of the golf club. Players, winners or not, have deeply embedded memories at this emotional moment on the thrilling final day of the major championship. So what are some moments engraved on the records of history between players and their loved ones?

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods’s special moments from the U.S. Open’s Father’s Day tradition

Many winners have a fond Father’s Day memory associated with their success in this major. One such story is that of Rory McIlroy, who claimed his first major title at the 2011 U.S. Open. He recorded this win by turning in the lowest score (268) in the championship’s history at the time. All of this was possible with the support of his dad, Gerry McIlroy, who was present on the sidelines to share this moment with his son, for whom he once built a putting green in his backyard.

Another noteworthy story is that of Tiger Woods from the 2008 U.S. Open, when he registered his name on the trophy for the first time as a father. After a memorable playoff, Mr. Woods celebrated his win with his then-1-year-old daughter, Sam Alexis!

It remains to be seen which father (or son) will carve another memory out for themselves at Pinehurst this year. Stay tuned to find out!