Young fans give tips regarding the hunt for U.S. Open autographs

To get an autograph at the U.S. Open, you must be assertive, pushy and, for the most part, you have to be a kid.

On Tuesday, Oakmont Country Club was flooded with people and families coming from all over the country. Among the crowd, tiny hands gripped flags, posters, hats and Sharpies patiently waiting for the next player to appear.

“It’s awesome because my son has a real passion for golf, a real passion for autographs,” said John Nemet of Grove City, who came with his son, Jaxton, 12, and a friend, Maddos Dawson. “We’ll be going to Chicago for the National Sports Collectors Convention. He loves it.”

U.S. Open competitor Brian Campbell, who won this year’s Mexico Open, remembers being in these kids’ positions.

“Signing autographs for the kids will never get old,” said Campbell, an Orange County, Calif., native. “We were once those kids.”

And for these kids, getting as many signatures as possible takes strategy.

Young golfers Charley Baranek, 9, and Aanya Dayalal, 10, traveled with their families from Ohio to Oakmont Country Club to study techniques and get autographs from their favorite players.

“I squeeze through people and try to get in the front and then, once the players come, everyone starts pushing. Then you put it (the poster) out in front of their faces,” Charley said.

“You just look at the boards they have, then you see — Oh, this player is going right here — and then you can try to run around,” Aanya added. “People will start pushing, so you have to squeeze around.”

As of Tuesday, Aanya and Charley had a total of 37 signatures.

Spectator Evan Callaway, 15, had a different strategy in trying — and failing — to get the signature of Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, who attended Tuesday’s practice round.

“I’m just gonna follow him till he feels bad,” Callaway joked.

The U.S. Open competitors have a tight schedule, and being bombarded by a swarm of shoving fans can create autograph hesitancy.

And so, for both the players and dedicated golf fans, getting signatures shouldn’t be the main goal of attending the event.

Says Aanya: “It’s more watching the players. I mean, its fun getting autographs, but it’s more about watching the players and learning new techniques to help you play the game.”

“I was never asking for autographs too much; I just loved being there, I loved watching the shots,” Campbell recalled. “I went to the U.S. Open — I saw Tiger vs. Rocco Mediate.”

In a classic U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in California, Greensburg native Mediate and Tiger Woods finished regular play in a tie. Woods won in sudden death on the 19th playoff hole to win his third U.S. Open and 14th major.

Campbell says the satisfaction of seeing happy fans, especially young golfers, makes trying to please the throngs of autograph seekers worth it.

“Part of the reason we hardly turn down autographs, especially for kids,” Campbell said, “you know on a practice round day, they will remember that for the rest of their lives.”