Living The Dream Files: Fran Quinn And Son

Sean Martin tells us more about Fran Quinn, the 49-year-old who opened with a 68 after making the U.S. Open through both Local and Sectional Qualifiers to get to Pinehurst. No other major produces stories like this, and Quinn is off to a strong start in round 2.

15-year-old son Owen is on the bag for his journeyman dad.

Fran’s son, Owen, realized the magnitude of the moment after his father knocked a 7-iron to 2 feet on his final hole Thursday. After tapping in that last birdie putt, Fran looked at Owen and said, “That’s what I’m talking about.” The round will undoubtedly be the topic of family conversations for years to come.

“It was unbelievable. I’m at the U.S. Open and my dad played a great first round. It’s awesome to see him out there,” said Owen, 15. He was the only caddie to make an appearance on the interview podium Thursday, testament to the appeal of the Quinns’ underdog tale.

Fran has won four times on the Web.com Tour and earned more than $1 million on that circuit, while collecting just $197,218 in 70 career PGA TOUR starts. His lone PGA TOUR top-10 was a T9 at the 1994 New England Classic. He’s made more than 10 PGA TOUR starts in just one season (1992). This is his fourth U.S. Open appearance and first since 1996.