SAN FRANCISCO — Cameron Wilson doesn’t appear to be in a rush.
He’s all of 19 years old, just finished his sophomore year at Stanford and is playing in his first major championship. Yet Wilson carried himself yesterday on the Olympic Club putting green — littered with some of the world’s best golfers — with the nonchalance of a PGA Tour veteran ho-humming his way through just another U.S. Open.
Though he’s an amateur, there doesn’t appear to be anything amateurish about Wilson, who’s from the Rowayton section of Norwalk, Conn., and qualified for the Open as the medalist in the Canoe Brook Country Club sectional last week in New Jersey.
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PROUD TEACHER: Norwalk’s Cameron Wilson, who will tee off today in the U.S. Open, has worked with Debbie Doninger, the director of instruction at GlenArbor in Bedford, since he was 9 years old.
Wilson, who beginning today will play the first two rounds with former Stanford player Casey Martin and fellow qualifier Dennis Miller, is so close-to-the-vest cautious about his life plan — he wouldn’t say whether he wants to turn pro eventually — he’s reluctant to talk about it.
U.S. OPEN: HOLE BY HOLE
He, in fact, declined to reveal details of the pointers Tiger Woods doled out to him when they played a practice round together on Tuesday. “He told me some things, but nothing I want to reveal to The New York Post,’’ Wilson said.
“He’s very methodical,’’ Debbie Doniger, his coach since he was 9 years old, said yesterday. “He doesn’t like to rush things. He doesn’t jump the gun. That suits his personality.’’
It might also suit his game at the U.S. Open, which requires that sort of mentality.
Doniger, a former college and pro player who’s worked with renowned instructor Jim McLean in Florida and is the director of instruction at GlenArbor in Bedford, called Wilson’s time with Woods “invaluable.’’
“He was able to ask Tiger questions about how he plays majors and the kind of shots he hits,’’ she said. “It’s always nice to pick a brain like that.’’
Wilson called playing the practice round with his Stanford brethren “awesome.’’
“I had met Tiger once before with the [Stanford] team,’’ he said. “That was really cool, but playing with him was way better. I’ve been to a bunch of U.S. Opens in the [metropolitan area], but it’s awesome to be inside the ropes this time. I’m trying not to make a big a deal out of it, treat it like every other tournament I’ve played in and prepare the same way.’’
If Wilson has the kind of success this week he had while tearing up Canoe Brook with his second-round 65 earlier this month, he might think about accelerating his plans to turn pro.
“Obviously, I’d love to play pro golf, but that’s so far away right now it’s not something I think about,’’ he said.
“He’s focused and he has a plan,’’ Cameron’s father, Dave, said yesterday. “I don’t know how it will play out, but he’ll probably try to play professionally. But his plan is to go through Stanford and not leave early.
“I would say this [U.S. Open qualification] came a little early. It’s a nice reward. He’s worked hard for it, but I’m not sure he anticipated getting in this year. He’s on a good track.’’
Cameron Wilson, Tiger Woods, Stanford, Stanford, Wilson, Canoe Brook Country Club, Stanford player Casey Martin, Debbie Doniger, Debbie Doninger
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