The dream is the same for fathers and sons who play golf at a high level — to participate in the U.S. Open.
Henrik Simonsen, head professional at The Honors Course, has been trying to earn his way into our national championship for at least 20 years. Simonsen’s son, Oliver, will be making his first attempt at getting through a local qualifier today.
“I asked my wife yesterday, ‘So who are you going to watch all day?'” said Simonsen, whose spouse, Tamara, caddied for him during his younger competitive playing career. “She said, ‘Who do you think?’ I knew what that answer meant, and I guess I’m not as interesting to watch as I used to be.
“Still, it’s a proud moment to know that Oliver has reached the level of playing ability where he’s able to compete in the same tournament as me and go for same goal.”
The Simonsens are among more than 20 golfers with Chattanooga=area ties who have attempted, or will be attempting, to earn a spot this year in one of the four most prestigious golf tournaments in the world — and the only one where a golfer with a handicap of 1.4 or better can attempt to earn a spot in the same tournament as Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Ricky Fowler, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.