PGA Tour: US Open - Wide Open: Notes from the Ballwasher

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Not much insight on this week that's not readily available to all, but a few notes following Danny Berger's Memphis win and some other random odds and sods:

1).There was once a famous jockey in Britain, even before my time, called Harry Wragg, and they used to call him "The Head Waiter" as he'd be riding the only horse moving forward at the finish line when every other nag was treading water or had run its race. That came to mind last weekend as Berger was the only Pro* in the field to either equal his previous round or improve his score from Thursday thru Sunday. That's a recipe for finishing well before the final groups, sitting watching TV and swigging a pint of Brickwoods as the pace-setters all fell back.
Daniel duly won his second title and is only one behind the total of ATP titles won by Father Jay - but Jay reached #7 in the world rankings so at #24 Danny Boy still has some way to go.

2).Jay also played two years of Davis Cup and Daniel reached #5 in the US Presidents Cup qualification league table.

3).*The wonderfully named amateur college student, Braden Thornberry, may sound like a judge in My Cousin Vinny, or perhaps a retired Wingco Tory MP from the shires, but Thorney (perhaps the Wingco was stationed there?) also improved, by two shots a day, 71, 69, 67, 65. Who does he think he is? Renato Paratore?? Both play in a hurry so happy about that.

4).Unfortunately, and perhaps unfairly, such a performance by an amateur gets him nothing more than sponsor invitations on the PGA Tour; a similar plight befell Lee McCoy when he finished 4th at the 2016 Valspar and he couldn't even play Q-School because of an injury. "Hang on Sloopy", the Tour said, "You can't prove you're the Real McCoy yet because success as an amateur don't get nuttin as a Pro". Unless you're Scott Verplank or Phil Mickelson.
I believe I'm correct in saying that Thorney's Top Ten doesn't even get him into Hartford, but hopefully The Travelers will take him under their umbrella and get him a sponsor invite tout suite.
So now he's left with the thorny dilemma as to whether to turn pro or return to U Of Mississippi for another year or two.

5).OK, A cage was rattled on last week's thread by saying that Berger can be tough to pull for. Won't revisit that, but Golf Digest has a timely list of the Tour's Top Thirty "Good Guys" - over fifties excluded so Steve Stricker can't win again, a bit like Comeback Player of the Year really. (By the way, who'd vote against Stewart Cink as Comeback Player of 2017?) But I digress . . . . .

6). . . . . Number One Mr.Good Guy, as voted by "players, caddies, media, members (of what?), various golf officials and insiders", Golf Digest put Jordan Spieth at the head of the class. Followed by:
T2 Finau, Adam Scott.
4: Cink
5: Fowler
6: Billy Hurley
7: Ogilvy (of course, he must be the tour's most quoted as well)
8: Snedeker
9: Rose
10: Andrew Johnston (and I have a bit of a beef with that one. Who'd they ask? Arby's??
They list 30 in all and I reckon Jason Day is the only one I'd really quibble with.
Three who I would've thought would make the list but were overlooked are: Nick Watney, Luke Donald, Molinari. Oh well.

7).Our friend "Undercover Tour Pro" is at it again, following up on Phil's assertion that questioned the way "a number of guys on tour" mark their ball. Undercover reckons "maybe 20 guys deliberately fudge their mark within a half-inch", the Lexi Thompson margin in error.
All I'd say is "you ain't seen nothing yet" as the new rule about dropping the ball, instead of from shoulder height to an inch above ground, is sure to be abused. Can't see any reason for that change whatsoever.
As an aside, I'm often pleasantly surprised how gentlemanly the dialogue is between officials and pros. Within the space of two hours at a tournament a year or two ago, we watched Bud Cauley, Chris Stroud and Charlie Wi all accept with full equanimity rulings that could have been debated or contended. Good to see.

8).I know nothing about Erin Hills, the golf course. The golf media has written at length about the design and ownership haggles going back to its inception, but all I really think I know about the course is that it has wide fairways, is as long as they want, and has unforgiving rough (although, following players' reactions, but not necessarily because of them - clear throat - they're now cutting the fescue).
My picks this week will probably be the best drivers combined with US Open temperament and a decent short game. The Tour's driving (combination of distance and accuracy rankings) show this Top Ten of those playing:
Fowler, Garcia, (Stanley is a non-runner), Bubba, Glover, (DeLaet, n/r), Bradley, Lowry, Steele, Henley, Molinari, Matsuyama.
No idea if that's instructive or a red herring with 50 or 60 yard-wide fairways.

9).Some of the field played the US Amateur when Kelly Kraft was the Champion. He's failed to qualify, probably crying in his beer over the perceived inequities of the owgrs. He beat Cantlay in the Final but neither he nor the beaten semi-finalists have made the field.
But of those who played and return this week:
QFinalists: Spieth, Uihlein,
3rd Round: None
2nd Round: Justin Thomas, Harris English, DeChambeau, Russell Henley,
1st Round: Stephan Jaeger,
A few others didn't qualify for Match Play, but one curiosity which shows how careers can diverge: Spieth and Thomas were beaten by the same man: Jack Senior!

10).News coming through that the USGA is cutting the rough.
It seems there are guys and girls on hot seats wherever you look these days:
Terry May and her Tory grandees.
Drumpf and the editorial staff at Breitbart.
Mike Davis and his USGA grandees, and they have put their c0cks firmly on the block this year with the selection, and course set-up, of Erin Hills as this year's venue. Advance press reports haven't exactly been glowing, but only time will tell whether this is another Chambers Bay or a Wisconsin version of Birkdale (give or take an ocean). I'm looking forward to finding out (albeit via the dreaded Fox TV).
Meanwhile, where's Jack Senior when you need him?

Haha

https://twitter.com/golf_com/status/876162958568693761

Reed's caddie must have told him there was a chocolate bar in the bag.

What a 3w from Justin Thomas, "oh gosh Jimmy be good" is right. Screamer.

667yds to 5 feet in 2 shots. This will be some way to make your 1st US Open eagle.

Amazing how many 63's - and no 62's. Ever.

Not all 63s are equal at the National Open. 63 on a par 72 is a round for the ages.

Casey letting this get away from him -- finding a way to go over par on a day there's a whole lot of red out there.

Yeah amazing, im enjoying this low scoring though. Some people on twitter complaining it's not very US Open, but im liking it. Some really good golf being played.

Shotrock wrote:Not all 63s are equal at the National Open. 63 on a par 72 is a round for the ages.

Casey letting this get away from him -- finding a way to go over par on a day there's a whole lot of red out there.

It might very well be the first 9-under par in a Major by an American. Some non-American hacks beat him to it:
Player
Nick Price
Broadhurst
Norman (Not Moe)
Olly
McIlroy
Iwata

I like what Fleetwood's doing - still no -one in the Top 16 have won a Major.

No major tries to make scoring as difficult as the blue coats at our National Open. Not working well today.

Europe's hope for this tournament may well be fleeting. (Meant with Fleetwood).

The USGA are obsessed with a score of level par, but from an entertainment perspective this for me is better. Shinnecock and Chambers Bay were farcical. Here we are seeing good golf rewarded. Its still not easy as Casey will attest to.

BTB - Fully agree. I find this much more enjoyable to view.

super_realist wrote:Reed's caddie must have told him there was a chocolate bar in the bag.

Double decker apparently.

Interesting that Patrick Reed is working with Bob Rotella, seeing results straight away by the looks of it. Thats the fee doubled for next week i'd say. He's most likely trying to bring the quality of his golf from the RC to majors.

Fox TV is covering the action over here and they seem to have put a sock over the on-course guys' mic's - a headcover over Ken Brown's.
They also seem miffed that the "wrong" F is at the head of affairs.

Golf tomorrow morning, cookout in the afternoon with the family and then find a comfy chair and a cold drink and watch a first time major winner hoist the trophy. That's my Father's Day plan.

Great stuff Rickie, very professional round. Really enjoying this leaderboard.

Tommy Fleetwood?!?! "He's a nice young man".

Neither F at "head of affairs" after this round. My money would be on Thomas or Koepka tomorrow.

Sr enjoy!

Bogey on 18 for Tommy, not the end of the world. He must have had a glance at a leaderboard somewhere.

A bit of a horlicks by Tommy F on #18, but he and Koepka must have played together before, and they will tomorrow:

http://www.usopen.com/tee-times.html#!round-4

I can't help but notice that commentators these days seem to go on about relating the effects of a bad hole at the end of a round and the taste / quality of food that they will subsequently receive during the evening. I must be different because my dinner still tastes ok even when I invariably bogey (or worse) the last!!

The Chef(s) must sometimes be scratching their heads - "I notice you had a bad last hole sir; so I've deliberately under-cooked your Chateaubriand tonight"

My money's on Fleetwood and let's hope he doesn't get food poisoning.

Justin Thomas had a great round today, may be a long time before that is bested, but following a great round with a good round may be hard to do. Same with Reed, you would think he would have to follow that up with just as good to put some pressure on the leaders.

The fact that the course is softer than expected is allowing the players a little more freedom but that said, I think this has been a great test of the players. You have wide fairways but if you miss them it's going to be tough. The blind shots test them in trusting their swing and distance control. The greens are fast and will test their short game and putting. Let's hope the final round lives up to the earlier rounds.

Bested? Tut tut.

It just seems a bit normal, a bit run of the mill, a bit like a tour event. Of course the weather hasn't helped,making it soft and the greens receptive. But I guess the field has all of the best players in the world so no matter the course its who you beat that makes it a major. No idea who will win though, would like tommy to win.

Amd bested is a word, its a verb of best, and in the dictionary. Cant quibble on anyobe using it.

Be_the_ball wrote:667yds to 5 feet in 2 shots. This will be some way to make your 1st US Open eagle.

There's going to be blokes all over the world today jamming up par 5 tee boxes, waiting for greens to clear that they have no chance hitting in 2.

Should be a bit breezier today, and presumably a bit drier.

Wasn't it Westwood who said on Thursday that length doesn't bother anyone, it's firm and fast conditions that give them the willies? Throw a bit of wind in there and it could turn into a proper Major. (Pity Lee was unable to take advantage of course.)

I'm sure it's my Alzheimer's but can't recall a recent Major when ROTW has been so comprehensively shut out; just Tommy F, Si Woo Kim, Hideki and Weisberger in the top 16, no Aussies or Saffers until Louis & Leishman at T17.

Hopefully this wind that is forecast presents more of a challenge to the guys!

I personally prefer the US Opens where par is the winning score, what do you guys think?

sirbenson wrote:Hopefully this wind that is forecast presents more of a challenge to the guys!

I personally prefer the US Opens where par is the winning score, what do you guys think?

I do too, but only when the course hasn't been tricked up.
Having said which, the final two pairings are pretty representative of long hitters vs medium lengthers, though Brian Harman seems to have found some extra horsepower from somewhere.

But wind is a great equaliser so looking forward to seeing you it all plays out.

There'll be a couple of consolation prizes at the close of play:
~Top 4 get invitations to the Billy Payne pimento cheese sarnie extravaganza.
~Top 10 get a free pass to Long Island's Shinnecock Hills next year.

Plenty of danger still out there, it's a good test without being silly. Good shots being rewarded is what I like to see, if it was a "typical" USGA Open then there's no way Thomas would have been able to take on the approach to 18 yesterday. I don't enjoy watching people 4 putting from 5 foot, or putting off greens etc. Im enjoying this.

Early starters making a ton of bogeys, though that could just be guys wanting to take an early flight to Rhode Island for the Andrade/Faxon CVS fun tomorrow.

Every day is a big day for Shane and Beef, but they could both do themselves plenty of good today.

Looking very windy out there. Last man standing?

Fowler has played well in similar conditions previously.

Johnny Miller seems like a bit of a muppet tbh

kwinigolfer wrote:

sirbenson wrote:Hopefully this wind that is forecast presents more of a challenge to the guys!

I personally prefer the US Opens where par is the winning score, what do you guys think?

I do too, but only when the course hasn't been tricked up.
Having said which, the final two pairings are pretty representative of long hitters vs medium lengthers, though Brian Harman seems to have found some extra horsepower from somewhere.

But wind is a great equaliser so looking forward to seeing you it all plays out.

Well it seems like they haven't really tricked it up this week tbf!

Interesting to see Shinnecock next year

Shinnecock's a great course, but they let the greens die for Round 4 in 2004.

Good to see Lowry taking it seriously this afternoon, and an interesting round from Stewart Cink - 3-over par after 3 holes, four-under-par since then. Opportunities still out there.

Looks like Elk's blocked Alliss on twitter...

Take a look at @TweeterAlliss's Tweet: https://twitter.com/TweeterAlliss/status/876162233906208768?s=09

Is Butch drunk?

Contrast in styles going on here with Koepka & Harman.

Fox having trouble with their audio, everyone muffled except the odious Joe Buck who seems amplified.

Can Hideki post a number?

Fine performance by Eddie Pepperell . . . . . . can go a long way to keeping his ET card if he keeps his nose clean coming in.

Impressed with Harmon I have to say, he's hanging in there comfortably. When Keopka went into the solo lead I wondered how he'd handled it. Gave it straight back. Fowler needs to get the finger out.

Well done Eddie, great experience for the lad.

Great round of golf there from Matsuyama, hats off to him that was quality. 12 under club house lead just gives Keopka & Harman something to think about.

Harman's a goner. Tommy Fleet may not win, but he's certainly been hugely impressive.

It's Koepka's to win. Or lose.

Yeah Harman goosed, Fowler now too. Hard to see past Keopka.

Koepka!

2 1/2 years ago Koepka won the Turkish Airlines Open, by one stroke from Ian Poulter.
Paths have gone separate ways since then; hopefully IJP will take inspiration from this.

Be_the_ball wrote:Impressed with Harmon I have to say, he's hanging in there comfortably.

Yeah, Butch can certaintly down quite a few pints without showing..

Very impressive showing from Brooks. Well done.

But tbh this US Open never really caught me. Course looked ok but a bit dull maybe. Fairways seemed too easy to hit and most greens looked very receptive. Also, spectators were too far away from the action depriving the tourney of its nerve.  The finale was not helped by the fact that the closing three holes were amongst the easiest on the course. Plus of course no big/interesting names in contention really, apart from Fowler/Hideki, making it all somewhat boring.
As a TV viewer I liked Chambers Bay more. Maybe the USGA were a bit too afraid of the players.

so thats first time winners in a row, does that show that the strength of the tour is deeper, or that the courses have been made more accessible for all players?

Winning a major used to elevate players to a higher level then the rank and file, but Koepka has 2 main tour wins and a major. He has a worse record then Ben Curtis who is often touted as one of the worse major winners.