<p>After 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.<br /><br /></p>.<p>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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.” <br /><br />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.</p>
<p>After 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.<br /><br /></p>.<p>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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.” <br /><br />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.</p>
