2004 U.S. Champion, Retief Goosen & His Wife, Tracy

Retief Goosen not only survived the Shinnecock Hills golf course, he won the 104th U.S. Open. Today, we celebrate Goosen's championship along with his wife, Tracy, his son, Leo, in Southampton New York and his parents, Theo & Annetjie, at their home in South Africa. This afternoon, with eleven one-putts and a score of 71, Goosen beat American favorite, Phil Mickelson by two shots.

Two months ago, the world of golfers and golf fans celebrated as Phil Mickelson won the Masters for his first major at Augusta National Golf Club and slipped on that green jacket. We were all living vicariously through him that day.

2004 Champion Goosen with U.S. Open Trophy

Today, it was a quiet thirty-five year-old gentleman from South Africa, one of 65 of the best golfers in the world, who traveled to Long Island and who will now find a place for the 2004 United States Open trophy in one of his three homes: England, Florida, or South Africa.

It was a day where 28 players shot scores in the 80s. The average score was 78.72, more than 8 strokes over par and the second highest average score in U.S. Open history. (Highest was 78.8 at Pebble Beach in 1972.) Goosen shot a 71 as did Mickelson and Jay Haas. No one broke par in the final round. However, the lowest score of the day was shot by Robert Allenby. Ashby survived the course with an even-par of 70.

2004 U.S. Open Champ, Retief Goosen

On The Lighter Side

Quoting Amazing but True Golf Facts by Allan Zullo and Chris Rodell here's a story about Retief you may not have heard before:

Talk about trickle-down economics. After Retief Goosen won the 2001 U.S. Open and pocketed a cool $1 million, you'd expect to see his wife, family, and friends enjoying some of the spoils. But his sports psychologist?

Goosen's Belgian mind doctor, Jos Vanstiphout, was seen flashing around town in a brand-new Ferrari—a gift from Goosen.

Here's to Goosen's shrink -- thanks to Retief's wife, Tracy, who inspired him to hire a "mind" coach.

With $1,125,000 more prize money in his pocket, perhaps Goosen will present Tracy with a "major" gift of her own.

Another winner today are those suffering from Lupus. With Goosen's second U.S. Open win, the work of LUPUS UK -- through The Retief Goosen Lupus Challenge -- is also sure to benefit from Goosen's victory.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful male role models!

Inspire & Be Inspired.

~Jennifer King