The 120th U.S. Open kicks off Thursday morning at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York, and it will feature six decades of Sun Devil’s golf.
Chun An ‘Kevin’ Yu is Arizona State’s only current Sun Devil student-athlete who will be teeing it up this weekend. Yu heads into the U.S. Open ranked No. 3 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, and is competing in his third consecutive U.S. Open.
“I’ve learned so much from the past two times at the U.S. Open,” Yu told reporters Friday. “I was super nervous the last two times, so this time I am just going to try to relax. I am ready, and I can win this time.”
Last year, Yu missed the cut when he finished with a +5 score of 73 and 74. This year he plans to make it through. One of the adjustments he’s made is a caddie change. He’s chosen ASU head coach, Matt Thurmond.
“I just believe so much in him, so I would do whatever he asks me to do,” Thurmond said. “I’m honored that he would ask me, and I think that we are going to have a great time.” When it came to choosing his caddie, Yu said, “on the course, he knows how to calm me down.”
Thurmond, however, said he is a little more nervous than Yu for the Tournament. He hasn’t caddied since the U.S. Open in 2015, where he caddied for Pan Cheng-Tsung, and he doesn’t want to do anything that will embarrass Yu.
“I told him, I’m your servant, you’re my boss,” Thurmond said.
To Yu, honoring Arizona State at the biggest golf tournament in the world is a privilege. That’s why he has chosen to use a bag that will pay tribute to Pat Tilman. Yu’s bag will be camouflage and feature a ‘PT42’ patch and ASU pitchfork logo on it.
Along with Yu, six former Sun Devils will compete in the U.S. Open ,including, 28-time U.S. Open veteran, Phil Mickelson, as well as Paul Casey, Matt Jones, Jon Rahm, Chan Kim and Chez Reavavie.
Mickelson, Rahm and Casey are paired in an all Sun Devil group for the opening two days of the tournament. They’ll tee off at 10:27 a.m. Thursday morning.
For Yu, competing against the rest of his former Sun Devil’s gives him “inspiration.” He said it shows that he, too, can play at a high level. Last U.S. Open, he was able to play a practice round with Mickelson and Rahm, an experience described as great,
“Phil was just unbelievable, and Jon’s ball-striking was just phenomenal, and you always learn something from those guys,” Yu said.
As far as the program goes, this will be the fourth continuous year ASU golf alumni have won more money on the PGA tour than any other college program. Thurmond spoke to the team’s recruits and players and said that “we are kind of at the top for both.”
Yu and the rest of the former Sun Devil’s are connected by the maroon and gold, but for this tournament Yu is focused on himself.
“I’m excited and ready to play,” Yu said.
