JOIN USAfter waiting for so long for the US Open to come around, I played all my golf at the year’s second Major in a ‘single’ day. All 36 holes on a long and tough day and that was it – I missed the cut and went home early. That was the case for many others, too. Tough indeed, but that’s the reality.
While I introspect and prepare for the other events, including two more Majors and the Olympic Games, one does keep an eye on what is happening at Oakmont.
There are quite a few guys, who have never won a Major and are now in contention. Be it Andrew Landry, making his Major debut; Shane Lowry, winner of a WGC and who was Top-10 last year, too. Then there is Lee Westwood, one of the finest from Europe and many times contender; Dustin Johnson, who has a bunch of Top-10s in Majors including a few seconds and the crowd favourite, Sergio Garcia, who has come close countless times.
Jason Day is lurking around and Jordan Spieth is some distance off, but the final day of a Major is something else and they could well make a charge on Sunday, where many will be expected to play more than 18 holes, as they have some left over holes from the third round.
Lot of people had felt that the winning score could actually be over-par, but with Lowry at five-under and a few others, too, in red territory, it could be different. But then you never know with US Open and Oakmont; they could bite back in last round or a round and a half.
A few days before the US Open actually began, I was asked ‘What makes the ‘US Open’ US Open?’ And I smiled and said something like, “It’s like walking into a Play Station and switching Conditions – Toughest; Greens – fastest and Rough – Tallest.”
The cut claimed a lot of other victims, some who have more than a few Majors to their credit. That list included the likes of Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen among others.