A blimp crashes at the U.S. Open, injuring the pilot and stunning the audience and golfers who witnessed the scene.
ERIN, Wis. — A small blimp crashed near the U.S. Open on Thursday, seriously injuring the pilot and grabbing the attention of fans and golfers alike as they watched the fiery, smoking craft fall from the sky into an open field.
Sheriff’s officials said the pilot was the only one on board. He had some burns, but was in stable condition, according to Pamela S. Sullivan , a senior air safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board.
“I was teeing off and I looked up and saw it on fire, and I felt sick to my stomach,” Jamie Lovemark said after his opening round in one of golf’s four majors. “I had the shakes. I felt terrible for the people inside. I didn’t know what was going on. It was a horrible sight.”
Golfer Brandt Snedeker said he spotted something while on the course at Erin Hills, about 35 miles northwest of Milwaukee.
“My caddie made a comment on the ninth hole. He said the blimp is not looking good,” Snedeker said. “I guess it was nose down. I saw a puff of black smoke. I didn’t know it was the blimp. It’s not good. Glad everybody is OK.”
Sullivan said the pilot had been interviewed by detectives from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, but the NTSB had not talked to him yet.
He had just taken off on his second flight of the day in a hybrid of a typical blimp and a balloon envelope when he decided it was too windy and planned to return to a private airstrip.
He encountered an updraft on his way down and vented some of the air from the envelope so he could drop back down.
“When he was doing that he heard a sound similar to some of the panels ripping on the balloon,” Sullivan said. “A couple seconds later he said he heard another rip sound. The airship pitched nose down.
“He turned off the manifold, the fuel to the burners. However, the envelope started collapsing and the burners were still burning the residual fuel. The envelope caught fire.”
Sullivan said it’s her understanding the pilot was able to crawl away from the burning wreckage. He was wearing a protective suit and gloves.
Loves were feeling the love
The Loves felt the love from the U.S. Open gallery.
Davis Love IV made his professional debut at Erin Hills, shooting a 1-under 71 in his first round in a major tournament. His father, PGA Tour star Davis Love III, served as caddie.
The younger Love, who goes by “Dru,” called it an “awesome” experience.
“We got a lot of ‘Go 3 and 4s’ and ‘Go Davis,’ ” Dru Love said. “I think everybody’s rooting for us and wanting us to do well.”
The elder Love has 21 PGA Tour wins, including the PGA Championship at Winged Foot in 1997. Dru Love has said it was a “nobrainer” to have his father on the bag.
The experience helped especially on the 526-yard, par-4 17th. Dru Love hit a shot wide left that landed in matted-down rough.
“And I had 190 yards to the hole and it was a little downwind, and he told me to hit pitching wedge. I remember saying, ‘What?’ ” Dru Love recounted.
He hit 200 yards to the back of the green.
“If he hadn’t been there to tell me to hit pitching wedge, I would have soared it into the grandstands,” he said. “So he definitely saved me a few shots today.”
Diaz answers an unexpected call
After Phil Mickelson withdrew early Thursday to attend his daughter’s high school graduation, alternate Roberto Diaz got the call to take his spot.
He finished at even-par 72 — not bad for someone who only learned he was going to play at 7 a.m. Diaz was in a threesome with Stewart Cink and Steve Stricker, a Wisconsin native who is a fan favorite at Erin Hills.
“I thought it was a very good round, although I was pretty nervous at the beginning,” said Diaz, who was already up when he got the call he was in the field and went back to sleep for about two hours before arriving at the course at midday.