ARDMORE, PA-Pandemonium broke out when Phil Mickelson hit his approach shot on 18 to Merion. The Green and white strings-which could have stone walls during the week were distributed once Phil approached the final green with a last chance to force a playoff with Justin Rose. The fans who had followed the final group, Mickelson/Hunter Mahan soon realized there was a good way to get back from the 15th green to 18 to see if Phil could pull off any heroics.
They were repulsed in each angle of attack to try to get a sight of Phil. Until the masses understand it, who were the masses. Literally amid shouts of "they can't stop 25,000 of us, fans rushed to Mickelson. It was a modern-day battle of Jericho, sans the trumpets. How to meet the fans must have felt to trample their striped green and white shirt kidnappers?
USGA staff members out-manned attempted to quell the onslaught of people who had been literally on the outside trying last week. It wasn't happening. The group pressed forward until the police arrived. Using force to keep the crowd at Bay, the fans eventually created a gallery full circle shaped around Mickelson to watch him hit his pitch shot.
The trees were immediately filled to the brim with viewers. One tried to shove his way through the crowd saying he was the father of Phil Mickelson despite reminding everyone that it was father's day. That does not fly.
About 40 yards away, on the back of the Green, Tere McBreen, Steve Varisano and Angelo Varisano stood in the front row of an elevated grandstand watching circus developing in front of them.
Waiting at the same point from 7:30 to 19:30 had paid.
Tere, 50 and Steve, 31, were unknown when they arrived for the Green Forum 18 at 7:30 Sunday morning. Twelve hours later, they adopted each other as members of the family. Their only link in which they live; Tere lives in nearby Malvern and Steve moved to Westchester after growing up in the neighboring Bryn Mawr. That and both were rooting for Phil to be to lift the trophy in front of them.
Varisano was here with the Royal family as well. Steve brought his father, Angelo, the course for the tour on Sunday as part of his dad. And what a gift turned out to be. Right off the back of the final green, Steve and Angel were in the front row in the place closest to the pin, which eventually decided the winner of the tournament.
"He's in love," says Steve of his father. "He is having a blast."
"Is a great place to be the father of Day," said Angel, who was going to start to see the pin placements. "I've got my son here with me, and I couldn't ask for a better place".
The place was in high demand throughout the day. The leaders had not even started their final round, but there was a long queue waiting for a chance to enter the stands where you can also see tee shots on 1 and 14 holes, players high-five after their shifts and snag a game used glove and ball. Chet Marshall, the aptly named Marshal in charge of this forum, said it had been filled to the brim by 11 Sunday morning-well before any golfer was set to play that hole.
"We all would take turns leaving," Gerald said. "That's how we got to know each other. These guys even bought my lunch. "
"We have formed an Alliance," said Steve, who saw a memorable final in his first live tournament.
When asked if he played golf or is it just a fan, Tere replied for him-as if they have known each other for years.
"He is fantastic," he said. "Tell him!"
Steve was not imminent, with his score from a round on Friday afternoon, but after urging from Tere, he says that he finished with a 78.
"Steve is not fantastic?" said Tere, who admitted to not being able to break 100 itself.
Here, all called each other by their first name. Here, all offered to bring any concessions were necessary when they made a snack run. Here, all have helped the marshals advice when bands were coming up the fairway.
"Tere, we should sing ' Happy Birthday ' to Phil when he walks," said Steve.
"Oh, we totally should!" Tere replied. "We can get all our group to do so".
Just like a family.
Maybe Philadelphia is really the city of brotherly love?