Takoma Park Native Fred Funk to Play in U.S. Open

Bethesda might be making news this week with the U.S. Open being held at Congressional Country Club, but Takoma Park and College Park has a stake in the event as well.

Fred Funk, a 54-year-old Takoma Park native who grew up in College Park, and captured eight PGA Tour wins between 1989 and 2005, went through the rigors of sectional qualifying to make the tournament. Funk, who currently plays on the Champions Tour, formerly known as the Senior PGA Tour, has played in 19 U.S. Opens in his career with his best finish coming in 2004 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club where he finished sixth.

Funk lives in Florida now, but playing a U.S. Open just a few exits west of where he grew up is still emotional. 

"My son said that my wife said that I made it, and I went, great and everything, and then the first question I get is what does this mean to you, and I broke down," Funk said about qualifying for the Open. "I didn't really expect that because I didn't know I had that kind of feelings or emotions in me for that at the moment."

Funk said this could be his last chance to play the Open so close to his hometown.

"I knew if I made it that it was going to be my probably last chance to play a major in my hometown because if we stay in a 14‑year rotation, I'll be 68 or 69 years old next time it comes around," he said. "I don't plan on qualifying.  I might go 36 holes when I'm that old."

Funk has some history at Congressional. The first tournament he ever qualified for was the Kemper Open at Congressional in 1982.

"I remember my first Tour event ever was here on this venue, and I remember making the cut, and I got paired with Payne Stewart before Payne Stewart had knickers or wore knickers, and that was pretty neat," he said.

Funk was born in Takoma Park, but raised in College Park and remember Congressional as being a world away even though it was only in the next county over.

"I grew up in College Park, but playing Congressional was something that was taboo for a P.G. County guy," Funk said. "You didn't go across the Montgomery County line without a visa.  So we didn't get over to this part of the world very often."

And Father's Day will not be lost on Funk. His 15-year-old son Taylor will be caddying for him. If Funk posts a good enough score to make the cut Friday, he'll be walking the fairways with his son on Father's Day.

"Taylor on the bag on Sunday walking on Father's Day, that would be really cool," Funk said. "I think that would be the whipped cream on the whole week if we could do that."