Rick Smith: David vs. Goliath made 2008 U.S. Open among best ever

by Philip Zaroo | MLive.com

Friday June 20, 2008, 10:44 AM

Photo courtesty of Fidelity Sports GroupRenowned golf instructor Rick Smith, of the Rick Smith Golf Academy at Treetops Resort in Gaylord, says Michigan "has the best collection of golf, period, of any state in the United States."

One of the most special things about the playoff battle between eventual-winner Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate in the 2008 U.S. Open is that it had a David vs. Goliath feel to it, according to Rick Smith, world-famous golf instructor at the Rick Smith Golf Academy at Treetops Resort in Gaylord.

"I've talked to a lot of people who've been around golf for a long time, and they all said it's the best Open they've ever watched in their whole life," Smith told Mike Stone on WDFN's The Stoney and Wojo Show. "And that was pretty cool because it wasn't like a Phil (Mickelson) and a Tiger, or an Ernie (Els) and a Tiger. It was about a guy that people can relate to."

Listen to the entire interview to hear Smith talk about what makes Michigan the best state in the country for golf:

Rick Smith was the swing coach for 2008 U.S. Open runner-up Rocco Mediate, is consistently rated one of the top five instructors in the U.S., and has instructed many of the biggest names in golf, including Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh.