USGA Wins One For The Gipper

NOTRE DAME, INDIANA | The USGA and the U.S. Senior Open are stepping outside the box a bit this week with the event being played at the Warren Course at the University of Notre Dame.

Yes, that Notre Dame. Rockne, Touchdown Jesus and the gold football helmets.

And in a clever move, the USGA and tournament officials are making the most of where they are.

Player check-in was in the Notre Dame football locker room, taking the golfers into the heart of the old stadium, putting each player’s name on a locker. They even got to slap the famous "Play Like A Champion Today" sign over the doorway leading to the field.

Miguel Ángel Jiménez tries on a helmet in the Notre Dame football locker room after registering for the 2019 U.S. Senior Open at Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame. Photo: John Mummert, Copyright USGA

“How cool was that?” Steve Stricker said.

Well, pretty cool.

It’s not every day Miguel Ángel Jiménez puts on a gold football helmet with his stogie still stuck in his mouth.

Scott McCarron and Jerry Kelly threw p...