Cole Hammer’s U.S. Open week continues outside the ropes

Just a day ago, Cole Hammer was walking the fairways of Chambers Bay with some of the best golfers in the world. After finishing up his second round, missing the cut, Hammer is soaking in the atmosphere of the U.S. Open, and experiencing it just like the thousands of other fans watching Saturday’s third round. Hammer, entourage of about a half dozen teenage friends in tow, is following Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed around for Saturday’s third round, and doing it outside the ropes like everyone else.

There was a very Texas feel on the first hole as Jordan Spieth’s parents angled to get a view of their son coming down the first fairway. A few feet away, tucked behind the green in the shadow of the grandstand, Hammer and crew were doing the same. Spieth grew up in Dallas and spent a year at the University of Texas before turning pro; Hammer has committed to Texas and joked that he was looking forward to Austin … in three more years.

As Spieth and Reed finished up on the green in front of them, Team Hammer -- dressed nearly alike -- scampered off into the crowd, darting between slow-moving foot traffic. They could’ve passed for any other group of high school kids speeding around the course to get a look at their favorite players.

The only difference is that less than 24 hours earlier, Hammer was one of those players. Now he’s just soaking in the atmosphere and enjoying the weekend while cheering on Spieth. One of the more fun storylines of the week is back to being a teenager.