Turnesa continues family line in Open

BETHESDA, Md. -- Playing in the U.S. Open for the first time, which Marc Turnesa of Rockville Centre will do this week, is something you just have to experience for yourself. You can't get the feeling by hearing someone else describe it, even if you are paying close attention, which Turnesa wasn't.

He might have picked up something had he listened to the family stories about how his great uncles Jim and Joe played 30 Opens between them. Joe nearly won the thing in 1926, leading by three into the final round before falling by a shot to Bobby Jones. It is the sort of thing his elders would impart to a 6-year-old who already was competitive at golf, right?

"I wish I could say they did," Turnesa, now 33 and in his fourth year on the PGA Tour. He does recall stories about the PGA Championship -- his grandfather Mike lost to Ben Hogan in the 1948 final, great uncle Jim won in 1952. But the third-generation Turnesa pro has no recollection of U.S. Open tales. "I was too young. If I had been older, I probably would have been smart enough to pick their brains. But they were pretty modest guys. They didn't say a lot."

For the record, Jim Turnesa was third in the 1948 U.S. Open and Joe was second in 1926 at Ohio's Scotio Country Club, losing a three-stroke lead to Jones in the final round. Jones hit what was said to be an unheard-of 310-yard drive on the way to a deciding birdie on the 72nd hole. (Jones' gallery reportedly included Charlie Nicklaus, who would later bring his son, Jack, for lessons at the club.)

Marc always has been proud of the family heritage and the name handed down to him by his dad, Mike Jr., the longtime pro at Rockville Links. But the truth is, what matters to the latest Turnesa is finally having made it through sectional qualifying and into the Open.

"I have tried to qualify for this tournament for more than 10 years, so it's nice to be here," he said on the practice green Monday at Congressional Country Club. "I've dreamed about winning this tournament since I was about 8 years old and you can't win it unless you're in it. I've come close a few times, missed by a shot, missed by a few shots."

Being in the Open, which begins Thursday, is another chance to continue the Turnesa brand and make a name for himself. He had been on his way when he won the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open in 2008, but he never regained that form. Then early last year, he tore a disc in his back.

Making it through 36 holes of pressure at the sectional qualifier in Columbus, Ohio, last Monday was one of his best signs in a long time. "I feel good about my health and I actually feel good about my golf game, for a change," he said.

So a Turnesa will be back in the Open, starting in the first group on No. 10 early Thursday, along with Harrison Frazar, winner of the St. Jude Classic on Sunday, and Chad Campbell. There will be a Turnesa in the gallery, too, with Mike Jr. driving down for the day before heading back for a Rockville Links tournament Friday.

Family means a lot to Marc, and not just the family members who play golf. His mother, Sandee, lives in Rye and never picks up a club. "She thought about coming down, but she can't walk the course," Turnesa said. "She follows me every week on the computer, every single hole. She is without a doubt my biggest fan."