The U.S. Open

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Luke Donald, of England, waits to putt on the 12th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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U.S. Open marshals call for quiet during the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Rod Lamkey, Jr./The Washington Times)

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Michael Tobiason, Jr., of Wilmington, Del. tees off on the first hole during the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Rod Lamkey, Jr./The Washington Times)

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Caddie Gerry Thornton talks with Michael Tobiason, Jr., of Wilmington, Del. prior to teeing off on the first hole during the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Rod Lamkey, Jr./The Washington Times)

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Lee Westwood, of England, hits around a tree on the 12th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Martin Kaymer, of Germany, hits out of the rough on the 12th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Luke Donald, of England, sinks a birdie putt on the 11th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Luke Donald, of England, eyes a putt on the 11th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Luke Donald, of England, walks up the 11th fairway during the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Fans watch players tee off on the 10th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Luke Donald, of England, looks at the clouds overhead before he tees on the 10th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Phil Mickelson hits out of the rough yet again during the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Rod Lamkey, Jr./The Washington Times)

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Dae Hyun Kim, of South Korea, tees off on the first hole to open the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Rod Lamkey, Jr./The Washington Times)

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Course workers post the pairings and scoreboard before the first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Rod Lamkey, Jr./The Washington Times)

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Maryland's own Fred Funk tees off on the first hole to open his first round of the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., Thursday, June 16, 2011. (Rod Lamkey, Jr./The Washington Times)

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROD LAMKEY JR./THE WASHINGTON TIMES Michael Tobiason Jr., of Wilmington, Del., carried thoughts of his late father throughout his opening-round 75 in the U.S. Open. Among those offering encouragement at Congressional was his mother, Joan (below).