U.S. Open: Rick Pitino watches golf from backyard at Winged Foot

Rick Pitino, men’s basketball coach at Iona College, was seen watching the U.S. Open from his backyard behind the third green.

With fans allowed on the premises at this year’s U.S. Open, some of the fans living on Winged Foot’s West Course have gotten creative, erecting their own backyard viewing areas.

One of them, apparently, is Rick Pitino. The new Iona College men’s basketball coach was photographed watching the tournament from a perch behind the third green with assistant coaches Tom Abatemarco and Ricky Johns.

The Hall-of-Fame coach, who surprised the college basketball world when he was hired by Iona in March, is a Winged Foot member. Pitino tweeted a photo of himself teeing off on the same hole earlier this month.

It is unclear when Pitino moved near Winged Foot.

It was reported in April that he sold his mansion outside of Miami for $17 million.

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