Walker Cup Match-up: Cool Fisher Dusts Williams

By Ken Klavon, USGA

	Oliver Fisher had to survive a 19-for17 playoff Wednesday morning before defeating Lee Williams, 5 and 3, in the first round of match play. (John Mummert/USGA)

Ardmore, Pa. – One of the vagaries of match play would fall into the School of Forrest Gump: You never know who you’re going to get.

Oliver Fisher and Lee Williams found that out Wednesday. The two Walker Cup players were on opposing sides at Chicago Golf Club a little more than a week ago, Williams for the victorious USA squad and Fisher a representative of Great Britain and Ireland.

Here they were again squaring off. Even though they never faced one another in singles or foursomes (alternate shot), still, it had to get the heart pumping, especially since Fisher needed to survive a 19-for-17 playoff in the morning just for the honor of taking on Williams at 12:30 p.m. By this time, Williams’ 3-1 Walker Cup record and Fisher’s rather blasé 1-2-1 mark weren’t even on the radar.

New day, new championship.

The mild-mannered Fisher displayed moxie not seen in many 16-year-olds. Fisher, who turns 17 on Sept. 13, upended the 2003 Amateur semifinalist, 5 and 3 to move onto the second round. Don’t be fooled. The match was much closer than that. Until draining a 40-foot flagstick-high bomb at the par-3 13th to go 3 up, Fisher bounced between 1- and 2-up leads.

But the putt on 13 "was a good turning point in the match and went on from there really," said Fisher, the youngest to ever participate for either side in a Walker Cup.

The writing had to be on the wall for Williams when, on the next hole, Fisher flew the green but somehow made a miraculous up-and-down par. Williams carded a double-bogey 6, two-putting from 15 feet.

Williams, who announced immediately afterward that he was turning professional, saw the greens as his albatross.

"I played at Philly (Country Club) yesterday and the greens were so much slower," said the 23-year-old Williams, a two-time Walker Cupper and a participant on the winning USA team at the 2004 World Amateur Team Championship. "And I never got adjusted."

Williams didn’t have feeling one way or the other when he saw Fisher’s name pop in as his opponent.

"You’re going to play good players, whether you play them in the first round or whenever," he said.

Fisher realized who he had to go through.

"I thought, well, ‘You've got Lee Williams, obviously a great player,’" said Fisher.

With fellow Walker Cup teammate Lloyd Saltman on his bag (Saltman didn’t qualify for match play), the two leisurely strolled Merion making subtle jokes whenever the quiet Fisher spoke. Fisher asked Saltman Tuesday night if he’d lug his bag around the rugged terrain that is Merion. Saltman didn’t hesitate to say yes, beginning his Wednesday with Fisher in the playoff.

Saltman’s presence and familiarity with Fisher’s game eased any nerves. Besides, Fisher is so low key that he comes across as though he was born without a central nervous system. Taking it a step further, Fisher comes across as so laid back that his disposition, and swing, mirror that of Ernie Els. Just call Fisher ‘The Little Easy.’ Fisher found the comparisons to Els flattering, saying that a recent golf show also compared him to Els as well.

So maybe there’s some truth to it?

"We don’t look at him at 16 and say, ‘Oh, he’s so young,’" said Saltman. "We look at him as one of the good golfers."

At No. 11, Fisher made a poor swing and the ball bounded far left on his approach toward the green.

"He said, ‘That was quite bad Lloyd,’" said Saltman, mocking Fisher’s monotone voice. "He’s very laid back to be out here."

His accomplishments wouldn’t suggest as much. Earlier this year Fisher made a run at the British Amateur where he lost to eventual champion Brian McElhinney of Ireland in the semifinals.

After the Walker Cup, he flew in to Philadelphia Aug. 15 and prepared by seeing Merion early and, oh by the way, getting a round in at nearby Pine Valley (N.J.) Golf Club. Merion, though, caught his eye. Each hole requires a tough shot, making match play that much more intense.

"I can't really compare it to anything I've ever played before, but it's fantastic," said Fisher. "It's really, really nice going around there."

Nice? Playing Merion? These Brits really are friendly chaps. To others, playing Merion competitively is like bashing a rock against your head. It can be exhilarating, frustrating, exhausting and maddening all at the same time. But Fisher is unlike others.

After shaking Williams hand on the 15th green, Fisher looked toward nothing in particular on the horizon before taking off to be on his own. He grabbed his cell phone and called his parents.

"They said, ‘Well done, well played,’" he said.

He’ll face 52-year-old George Zahringer in Thursday’s second round.

One down. Five more to go.

Ken Klavon is the USGA’s web editor. E-mail him with questions or comments at kklavon@usga.org.