BEACHWOOD, Ohio — Since dueling in the final match at the 1979 U.S.
Amateur, Mark O’Meara and John Cook have seen their kids grow up, what hair they still have turn gray and traveled the world to make a living. And now they’re circling back to the place it all started. O’Meara and Cook are among the 156 players who’ll tee it up Thursday in the opening round of the 70th Senior PGA Championship at Canterbury Golf Club in suburban Cleveland. For O’Meara, who won the Masters and British Open in 1998, that championship match three decades ago was a tipping point. “Look at what’s happened to a guy that grew up at Mission Viejo Country Club washing cars and picking up the range,” said the 52-year-old on Wednesday. “I’ve been very blessed, let’s put it that way. I had my ups and downs but the game has been tremendous to me.” On that damp and drizzly day at Canterbury, Cook was seeking his second consecutive Amateur title. He was forced to eight extra holes in the quarterfinals before beating Lennie Clements, then subdued Gary Hallberg to make a return trip to the 36-hole championship match.
Heavily favored to win his second title in a row, the day spiraled out of control.