2021 U.S. Amateur Semifinalist Vick Off to Good Start

Amateur Travis Vick, a player who has a couple of famous mentors, is off to a solid start in Thursday’s opening round. Vick, who clinched the NCAA team title for the University of Texas two weeks ago, is playing in his first U.S. Open, but is no stranger to USGA championships. He was a semifinalist in the 2021 U.S. Amateur and the stroke-play medalist in the 2016 U.S. Junior Amateur. This week, he is being followed on the course by Andy Pettitte, who knows a little bit about performing under pressure as the all-time leader in postseason pitching victories, primarily with the New York Yankees. Pettitte was Vick’s assistant baseball coach a few years ago at Second Baptist School in Houston. Vick has also received golf mentoring from family friend Hal Sutton, the 1980 U.S. Amateur champion. The focus of Sutton’s tutelage has been on the mental aspect of the game, which will surely come in handy as the week goes on at The Country Club.