By Tom Edrington

June 17, 2011 - Bethesda, MD (AHN)

Robert Rock is gathering fans at Congressional Country Club as more people read and become aware of the difficult and expensive journey he took to the 111th U.S. Open championship.

Rock may be the first player in the history of the event to take a marathon cab ride. After his international flight arrived in Newark, he ended up in a cab, driving all the way to the D.C. area.

He shot 70 his first go-round ever at Congressional then added a 71 Friday to put him in better shape than most of the top players in the world.

The crowds cheered him on, some with the chant: "Rocky, Rocky, Rocky" reminiscent of the popular Sylvester Stallone movie of the same name.

Rock, winner of the BMW Italian Open last week, had two bogeys and two birdies for his round Friday and found himself tied for eighth after completing his round in the morning. His 141 total put him exactly 10 shots behind leader Rory McIlroy.

Friday was only his second time around the difficult golf course and he's giving credence to the theory that practice rounds may be overrated.

 

Copyright © - All Rights Reserved

 

 

Robert Rock shoots one-under at U.S. Open