US Open Diary – Round 2

by Gary Williams | Jun 15, 2024 | Blog

It was a great tone setter for the day to meet up with Michael Campbell, the 2005 champion at Pinehurst.  It was the first time back at Pinehurst since winning 19 years ago and he was dumbstruck by how different the golf course looked and the overall infrastructure of the championship.  Campbell shared with me the details of his qualifying, which was the first year the USGA offered an international site.  Michael lived 45 minutes from Walton Heath and even the convenience of being that close was almost not enough to get him there that day.  The final hole of the 36-hole qualifier came down to a 10 foot birdie putt and his fellow competitor was just outside of his mark and Michael had to move his coin.  Getting the read before he moved his coin back was the difference according to Michael and the closing birdie got him into the 2005 U.S. Open.  Michael currently lives in Spain, loves his life and is loving being back at Pinehurst.

Following Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler first thing in the morning there were two things that were clear from their first hole, the par 5 10^th.  The greens were a foot faster, and Scottie Scheffler was playing from the fairway.  Scheffler’s problem was the putter Friday where Thursday was about his inability to play from the fairway.

The experiment of putting the top 3 players in the world rankings together for the first two days has been met with mixed results of the players in the group.  I’m a fan of the concept because this is an entertainment product and while you take the chance that they may not perform well together that’s a chance that applies to every group.  Every grandstand starting on the 11^th hole at 8 AM and all the way through their opening 9 was packed and the holes were lined three to five deep.  Schauffele squandered a great scrambling round with the double bogey on the par 5 fifth hole.  His demeanor is tremendous for major championship golf.  Stay level and fight on every shot.

Rory McIlroy only made one birdie in his second round and gave back two shots to par but his 3 under that he posted by lunchtime gives him one of the final times on Saturday.  The ball striking wasn’t as sharp as Thursday and he didn’t have the number of chances he had on day 1 but he accomplished what he needed to, a late tee time in round 3.

Bryson DeChambeau is flipping the script on his personal narrative.  One, people are warming up to him, not everyone, but some people are changing their tune.  Secondly, he scrambled his way to his second round 69.  Not something many thought he could do at Pinehurst No. 2.  It’s simple, he makes the big events more interesting.  Bryson late on a Saturday at a baked-out U.S. Open site, sign me up.

Phil Mickelson got off to a horrendous start and labored his way to two dreadful rounds.  The expectations of a man ready to celebrate his 54^th birthday should be and are very modest but his place in the game right now is weird and him walking around Pinehurst 25 years after he contended for the first time in the U.S. Open wasn’t supposed to look and feel like this week did.

Thomas Detry is a really fine player, and this is not a surprise to me, and I mentioned him as guy who could contend on our U.S. Open preview show.  He’s found his footing on the PGA Tour and Valhalla was a big step for him.

Ludvig Aberg would have been more of a favorite had he not been dealing with the lingering effects of a knee injury.  His ability to adapt to new stages and big environments is only part of it.  The severity and exacting nature of Augusta National and Pinehurst No. 2 only amplifies how good Ludvig is through the bag.

The evil pins on Friday were 1, 5, 10, and 15 and by the end of the day anything getting past 9 was going 30 yards down the hill beyond the green.  

The golf course is in the total control of the USGA and they can soften it to what ever degree they want.  My expectation is that they will provide a golf course with some modest opportunity tomorrow.  I’m not a fan of them potentially moving the tee up on 13 and making it potentially drivable.  I would like to see the two par 5’s be accessible with two great full shots and although there are not any real funneling pin locations on No. 2 they can be somewhat lenient.  The ball is really flying in the hot temperatures and the ground is making this championship far more intriguing.  

This is set up for a fascinating weekend.

US Open Diary – Round 1

by Gary Williams | Jun 14, 2024 | Blog

The grandiosity of the U.S. Open was on display on Thursday.  Big crowds ringing many of the holes at Pinehurst, in particular the 1^st when the top three players in the world teed off, made it look and feel significant.  I’ve not heard of any shuttle nightmares or logistical issues yet, but the presentation of the championship and the physical footprint is very impressive.

Tiger Woods was off early, and his day began quite well with an opening birdie on the par 5, 10^th hole.  He also added a few nice par saves before a rash of bogeys on five of seven holes in the middle of his round.  His 74 will put him likely on the cut line as he begins his round tomorrow afternoon.  

Brooks Koepka got off to a very nice start and was at -3 through 10 holes and tied for the lead.  He gave those three shots back on the inward 9 but his opening round of 70 puts him in the mix with an afternoon time tomorrow.  I want a good round on Friday just to see if he’ll talk to the media.

Patrick Cantlay’s opening round of 65 is not surprising at all.  What is surprising is his major record being so modest in contending.  He simply hasn’t and he’s too good.  He and Rory McIlroy are on the opposite sides of the draw but a Saturday pairing with those two is delicious.  Friction is sports is a great ingredient and those two have friction.

Rory’s 65 was very impressive.  He didn’t make a truckload of putts which speaks to the quality of the ball striking.  He displayed a wonderful array of shots from different heights and shapes.  He executed his plan exceptionally well and Friday morning gives him an opportunity to lay down a weekend marker for a very late Saturday tee time.

Bryson DeChambeau was not a favorite because of the chipping requirements and the penal nature of the native areas.  He put on a very stout ball striking round and the likelihood of him contending in back-to-back majors just got ramped up.  He’s off early Friday as well and can set himself up with a another good one in round two.

Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele labored all day, but they managed 71 and 70 respectively.  Great players salvage things and don’t waste things.  We live on the spectacular but winning relies on the mundane and the minimizing of mistakes.  They did it day 1 but they need better on day 2.

Sergio Garcia and Tyrell Hatton getting in the mix would be spicy and so appetizing with the possibility of petulance.  Keep it up boys.

Justin Thomas was just out of sorts and his inability to save pars from reasonable distances likely ended his week before lunchtime on Thursday.

The U.S. Open radio team can be heard on the course with the earpieces.  They should be available at the big events.  You stay connected and the broadcast is tremendous.

Pins I liked on Thursday.  Holes 4-7-11-13-18.  Pins I didn’t love for a Thursday 2-6-15-16.  It’s not about them being poor pins, although 6 was dicey, it’s that I would like to see a few of them later in the week.

For a golf course that has so many beefy par fours the truth is that the closing hole is actually very gettable.  Keep that in mind as we head to the weekend.  

1-2-3 in the world are going to set the tone for a cut down Friday.  Onward.