Reflections of the BMW Championship: Saturday, September 12, 2009 - Round 3
Tiger’s course record 62 squashes any hope of luring a National Championship
I woke up sometime after sunrise and made my way over to my older brother’s house on the morning of round three. My brother jumped in the car and after pleasantries were exchanged, we made the bulk of the 45 minute trip in silence. Finally, my brother spoke up.
“What’s with the flashing red light,” he asked looking at my dashboard?
“It’s a service notice,” I replied. “The passenger airbag is off and I need to get it fixed.”
“Oh,” he said.
“But don’t worry,” I mumbled. “If anything happens, I’ll be fine.”
We arrived at Cog Hill Number Four in time to catch a couple of the early pairings. We walked the course together for a few hours and then retreated to the media tent to fill up on Pepsi and Italian Beef sandwiches before heading out to the first tee to follow the final pairing of Mark Wilson and Tiger Woods.
Tiger opened his round in mortal fashion, scoring a bogey 5 on the par four first. What ensued over the next 17 holes was nothing short of a masterpiece.
Woods bounced back with birdies on holes 3, 6 and 8 before taming the 610 yard par five ninth with 
an eagle for a 31 at the turn.
Not even the cruel elevation changes of Dubsdread’s back nine could slow Tiger as he roared through the second half of his round with birdies on 11, 13, 14, 15 and 17; posting back-to-back 31s for a third round total of 62 and a new course record.
It was the single most thrilling and terrifying experience I had ever witnessed. It was thrilling in the sense that I was watching the greatest golfer in the world bring a tough golf course to its proverbial knees. It was also terrifying because any chance of Cog Hill hosting a U.S. Open had literally been crushed under the weight of Tiger’s course record 62. The U.S. Open selection committee never bestows the prestigious honor of hosting a national championship to a course that nearly allowed a double digit round under par, regardless of who happens to post it.
The curse of Len Ziehm, as I anticipated, had come true in the most brilliant and heart wrenching way possible. Tiger’s 62 not only squashed any short-term hopes of luring a U.S. Open to Cog Hill, but also gave him a commanding seven stroke lead going into Sunday’s fourth round; eliminating any chance of final round drama.
By the way, Mark Wilson was able to post a humble even par round of 71; neither losing nor gaining ground in the shadows of Tiger’s masterpiece. He will be nine shots off the pace when the final round commences tomorrow morning.
To be continued...