By Greg Midland

(updated June 12, 2009)

Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, who was exempt into the 109th U.S. Open by virtue of his fourth-place finish last year at Torrey Pines, was forced to withdraw from the U.S. Open on Friday morning due to an eye injury. Karlsson’s misfortune opens the door for 29-year-old Andrew Svoboda of Larchmont, N.Y., who is now officially in the field for next week’s U.S. Open Championship at Bethpage Black. The 2003 Met Open and 2004 Met Amateur champion, who plays professionally on the Nationwide and Hooters Tour, was the first alternate at Sectional Qualifying in Purchase, N.Y., on June 8.

Svoboda had been the No. 1-alternate on the national list for the Open, and it looked like he would have to wait until the conclusion of this week’s  St. Jude Classic in Memphis to see if one of six players—Michael Bradley, Brian Gay, Richard S. Johnson, Jerry Kelly, Parker McLachlin or Long Island native Marc Turnesa—won the event and therefore earned a spot in the U.S. Open field. Instead, Svoboda has three extra days to prepare and practice for the U.S. Open.

“This is one I really wanted to make,” Svoboda said. “I think it’s going to be an unbelievable Open, and there’s going to be so much energy out there with the fans.”

About Bethpage, Svoboda remarked, “You have to drive the ball perfectly. Then you have a chance. On Monday, I’ll head out to Bethpage and probably play nine holes.”

Svoboda has plenty of experience and success at Bethpage to draw from. He won the 2007 New York State Open on the Black Course and finished 8th in last year’s State Open. “Craig Currier said last year that the course was set up pretty much the same way it will be for the U.S. Open,” says Svoboda. Of course, playing it under U.S. Open pressure is one thing, but again, Svoboda is no stranger to that. Last year at Torrey Pines, he began the week as the sixth alternate and found out on Thursday morning that a player had withdrawn and he was in. Despite not being able to play a practice round, Svoboda shot 77-71 to make the cut, and finished tied for 71st.

This year, on a course he has played “at least 40 times,” Svoboda hopes to do even better. He now knows that he’ll get his chance.