Has Scheffler reached Tiger's level of dominance?
Golf Channel's Brandel Chamblee joins the Dan Patrick Show ahead of the U.S. Open to compare Oakmont to Augusta National before debating if Scottie Scheffler has reached Tiger Woods' level of dominance.
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Associated Press
25 minutes ago
- Associated Press
J.J. Spaun handles tough Oakmont with the putter for a 66 and early US Open lead
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — J.J. Spaun handled the toughest test with a club that never fails any U.S. Open. His putter carried him to a 4-under 66, only the second bogey-free round in the last three U.S. Opens at Oakmont for an early one-shot lead. Spaun, who started his round by chipping in from ankle-deep rough just right of the 10th green, was walking down the 18th fairway when a spectator looked at the group's scoreboard and said, 'J.J. Spaun. He's 4 under?' The emphasis was on the number, not the name. Only five players from the morning wave managed to break par on an Oakmont course that was still trying to dry out from rain, and still very much holding its own. Thriston Lawrence of South Africa, who contended at Royal Troon last summer, had six birdies in a round of 67. Si Woo Kim was at 68, with Ben Griffin and Thomas Detry at 69. The course allowed plenty of birdies, and doled out plenty of punishment. Masters champion Rory McIlroy also was bogey-free, at least on his opening nine. Then he three-putted for bogey on No. 1 and wound up with a 41 on the front nine for a 74. That included a 30-foot putt to save bogey after taking three hacks to get out of the rough on the par-5 fourth. Shane Lowry became the first player to hole out from the fairway for eagle on No. 3. He also had three double bogeys and shot 79. Spaun was not immune from this. He just made everything, particularly five par putts from 7 feet or longer. 'I think today was one of my best maybe putting days I've had maybe all year,' Spaun said. 'Converting those putts ... that's huge for momentum and keeping a round going, and that's kind of what happens here at U.S. Opens.' Spaun wouldn't know that from experience. This is only his second U.S. Open, and his ninth major since his first one in 2018. He didn't have to qualify, moving to No. 25 in the world on the strength of his playoff loss to McIlroy at The Players Championship. 'I haven't played in too many,' Spaun said 'I knew it was going to be tough. I did my best just to grind through it all.' It was every bit of a grind, from the rough and on the fast greens. Xander Schauffele had to birdie his last two holes to salvage a 72. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau had four bogeys over his last 10 holes for a 73. On this course, at this major, those weren't bad starts. PGA champion Scottie Scheffler, the world's No. 1 player, was among those who played in the afternoon as the breeze got a little stronger, the greens got a little firmer and the rough stayed as thick as ever. The average score already was in the 75 range as the late wave was starting out. Eight players already shot 80 or worse, including Matt Vogt, the Indiana dentist and former caddie at Oakmont. Vogt was selected to hit the opening shot, an appropriate choice for a U.S. Open that prides itself on giving anyone a chance to qualify. He was among 16 players who had to go through two stages, 54 holes, just for a crack at Oakmont. 'Oakmont is relentless,' said John Bodenhamer, the chief championships officer at the USGA who sets up the course. 'There's no let up. It's a grind. That's the U.S. Open.' It was living up to its reputation in the opening round. Spaun managed to avoid any calamity. The chip-in on No. 10 to start his round was a bonus. His best shot was a long iron to 5 feet on the par-3 16th. His longest birdie putt was 12 feet on the short par-4 17th, where he drove to the collar of thick rough around the green. But it was those par putts that saved him — from 8 feet on the par-5 fourth after driving in a grassy 'pew' in the famed Church Pew bunker; from 16 feet after finding a bunker off the tee on the par-3 sixth; and from 8 feet on the par-3 eighth toward the end of his round. McIlroy's biggest putt was 30 feet on the fourth, and that was for bogey. He drove right into rough that came up to his shins. He hammered that shot all of 20 yards into more rough. The next one went 10 yards and stayed in the rough. He finally got out to the fairway, and from there was 30 feet left of the pin. So it could have been worse. There also was the par-3 eighth, with a front pin so that it only played 276 yards. McIlroy went with 3-wood and sent that well right, where it disappeared into the high grass. Two hacks later, he was on his way to another double bogey. ___ AP golf:
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Marshall Parks hosts Father's Day Tee Time with Dad event
MARSHALL, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) — Enjoy a day at the links for Father's Day. Free BBQ features food, warmth, and community spirit in Texarkana Marshall Parks and Recreation presents Tee Time with Dad at the Oak Lawn Golf course. Bring any father figure you want and show your appreciation. Enjoy Father's Day dinner and U.S. Open watch party at Live! Casino The event includes one round of golf, refreshments, arts and crafts, and a commemorative photo. Registration is free, but spots are limited. Registration should be done for each child. Bring your own clubs and proper attire. Golf cart usage is not included. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
High schooler Mason Howell had a 'fun day' playing in his first U.S. Open
High schooler Mason Howell had a 'fun day' playing in his first U.S. Open The beauty of golf's U.S. Open Championship is that anyone can play their way into this major through qualifying, regardless of age. That's how Mason Howell wound up becoming the youngest member of the 2025 field at Oakmont Country Club. Howell won't turn 18 until later this month, but the rising high school senior and University of Georgia commit tested himself alongside the world's best at the 125th U.S. Open beginning with Thursday's first round. His presence on the course this week, which included practice rounds with Georgia alum Harris English, is a bit of a surprise. Howell, who lives in Thomasville, Georgia, is currently ranked No. 470 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, but it is perhaps due to go up after his success in U.S. Open qualifying. Howell shot a 7-under 64 last month to get through local U.S. Open qualifying at Hawkstone Country Club in Gainesville, Georgia. He then shot 18 under over 36 holes in the final U.S. Open qualifying at Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta, outperforming several PGA Tour veterans trying to make the U.S. Open field. His reward was a coveted spot in what many consider the toughest major on the golf calendar. Howell had a Thursday morning tee time starting from Oakmont's 10th hole to begin the first round and played in a group with Joakim Langergren and Chris Gotterup. Howell was 2 over through nine holes and just one shot back of being the low amateur. He was hitting it well off the tee and his iron play has been mostly solid. He then parred three of his first four holes on the front. But it wasn't a pretty finish for Mason Howell as he finished his first round on Oakmont's fearsome front nine. Like many golfers (including Rory McIlroy) Howell struggled with this stretch of the course and had four bogeys over his final five holes. He finished Thursday at 7 over on the leaderboard and will have some work to do during Friday's second round to make the cut. He's slated to tee off at 2:31 p.m. ET. "It was a fun day. Fun playing in front of the crowd," he said after his round. "I wish I played a little bit better. But it's just an experience I need to soak up so I can look forward to playing some more in the future." The 17-year-old was asked about how it felt to make this field. "It's definitely special. There's not obviously many people that have done it before. To be in that small list of names that have been in that category, it's super special, and definitely a moment that I'll remember forever," he said, later stating the obvious. "High school golf and major championships are just a little bit different."
