Whitnell defies odds, cards two aces in one round
Dale Whitnell defies 67 million-to-one odds after carding a pair of aces in one round coming on the DP World Tour in South Africa.
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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Double bogey confidence boost helps Lawrence shine at Open
South African Thriston Lawrence fired a three-under par 67 to put himself among contenders after the first round of the US Open at Oakmont (Andrew Redington) Not many golfers take confidence from a double bogey but that's exactly what Thriston Lawrence did to bolster himself in Thursday's first round of the US Open at Oakmont. The 28-year-old South African made a double bogey at the par-four ninth hole, dropping him to level par and wiping out his front-nine work. Advertisement "What gave me confidence is looking at the leaderboard afterward on nine," Lawrence said. "When I made double, I saw I'm still top 10. That sort of made me just realize that you don't lose much when you make bogeys around this golf course." Lawrence followed with a 24-foot birdie putt at the 10th, a five-footer to birdie the par-five 12th and a four-footer for birdie at 17 to shoot a three-under 67 and sit in second place. "I'm playing well," Lawrence said. "I feel like I'm a great driver of the golf ball. I like to work it around." Lawrence played in two DP World Tour events rather than PGA Tour starts recently because he couldn't sort out logistical issues. Advertisement "Got into Canada, but I couldn't get a Visa. South Africans have to apply 400 days in advance. So I had to apply before I got my card. Bit odd, that," Lawrence said. "I don't like missing events when I get opportunities, but that's the unfortunate thing of having a South African passport." Lawrence said he will always have space in his globetrotting schedule for the European circuit. "Just going back there, I need to play golf, I need to do what I do and work," he said. "In Belgium I finished fourth on a golf course that I know. I've played there two years before that. So that obviously gives you confidence. Here on the PGA Tour every single golf course is new. Advertisement "If I manage to keep my card this year on the PGA Tour, next year I will feel like all golf courses are familiar. "I feel like I've adapted because I travel all around the world but it just doesn't always work as planned." Lawrence takes travel troubles in stride after 11 years as a pro golfer. "I'm quite of an introvert when it comes to traveling stuff," he said. "As a junior in South Africa you play 35 events, so even as an 8-, 9-year-old I was away every single weekend for golf tournaments. "Homesick, I mean, it's not nice. I would love to be home, but my girlfriend traveling with me, me and my caddie are good mates, my physio as well. So I've got a nice team and enough people to keep me entertained." Advertisement For now he's making trips rather than basing out of one spot. "It's easy with AirBNB to just book somewhere and just go wherever you want and not get attached," he said. "It would be nice to get something, but I'm not yet sure where that is for now." js/rcw
USA Today
5 days ago
- USA Today
What would an 18 handicap shoot at Oakmont? Pros weigh in, and their answers are hilarious
What would an 18 handicap shoot at Oakmont? Pros weigh in, and their answers are hilarious Show Caption Hide Caption Bryson plans to be fearless but strategic at Oakmont's tough setup Bryson DeChambeau says he'll stay aggressive when possible but knows Oakmont demands smart decisions. USGA It's a questions that comes up almost every week during the professional golf calendar but is emphasized during the biggest events of the year: what could an amateur shoot at the hardest tests in golf? Whether it's Augusta National or this week's 2025 U.S. Open site, Oakmont Country Club outside of Pittsburgh, it's a fun talking point when the majors come around. What's the best score an amateur could shoot? Could they break 100? Oakmont is an especially stern tests, with greens running in the 14s on the stimpmeter and rough chopped at a hefty 5 inches. Forget the course is a par 70 that stretches to nearly 7,500 yards. The DP World Tour posted to its social media accounts a video going around asking players what an 18 handicap would shoot at Oakmont. Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, Min Woo Lee and a host of others were asked, and in the nearly 3-minute video, players give their feedback on what would happen. In short, carnage. Michael Kim responded to the tweet, saying a scratch golfer may not break 90. If that doesn't tell you how difficult the course is going to play, not sure what will. Lucky for you, if you have an official GHIN handicap, the USGA has a course calculator that shows what you *should* shoot at a course with your specific handicap. Then again, not every course is in U.S. Open conditions. And if the pros this week are going to struggle unlike we're used to seeing, just imagine what would happen to us average joes in a foursome. Thomas chimed in on social media Tuesday afternoon, saying find a way to let a group of ams play the course the Monday after the U.S. Open. From the tips, full Rules of Golf and see what happens. The consensus is an 18-handicapper would shoot well into the 100s. Even one par for an 18 handicapper would be an impressive accomplishment. During his pre-tournament news conference Tuesday, Rory McIlroy said he birdied his final two holes during a practice round last Monday, June 2, and shot 81. The Masters winner and Grand Slam champion shooting in the 80s. There would probably be a lot of volunteers who would play the course the Monday after a champion is crowned, myself included. But how many would actually finish or have enough golf balls to sign a card? Not many of us.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Newsweek
US Open Makes Major Last-Minute Change to Help Golfers
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The third major of the season is already here, and it's time for the toughest test in golf at the U.S. Open. Oakmont Country Club is the host for the 2025 edition of the pride and joy of the USGA, and much has been made of the difficulty of the course leading in. Even dating back months, the rough at Oakmont has been going viral for being extremely deep and difficult. As U.S. Open week kicked off on Monday, videos surfaced of the rough completely engulfing golf balls at the Pennsylvania course. However, the USGA decided to give the players some relief in the afternoon. We'll see if this army of lawn mowers makes a difference 😅 — Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) June 9, 2025 Jhonattan Vegas, the 36-hole leader at last month's PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, sarcastically chimed in after mowers trimmed the rough just a hair. "Good news guys, they are cutting the rough but, it's still unplayable. Have fun," Vegas warned on X. Unfortunately for the players, it doesn't appear as if the lawnmowers made that much of a difference. Players were struggling to chip the ball to the green from the greenside rough all afternoon. OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 09: Tyrrell Hatton of the United States plays a shot on the first hole during a practice round prior to the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 09,... OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 09: Tyrrell Hatton of the United States plays a shot on the first hole during a practice round prior to the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 09, 2025 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. More Photo byIt's still early in the week, and plenty can change between now and Thursday when the tournament gets going. However, if the Monday conditions are any indication, it's going to be carnage for even the best of the best all weekend long. It feels like a distinct possibility that the winning score on Sunday evening could be over par, especially if the rough remains this thick for the entirety of the tournament. Practice from the rough this week is essential 😳#USOpen — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 9, 2025 It does not help that the greens are expected to be lightning quick. Oakmont last hosted the U.S. Open back in 2016, when Dustin Johnson won the title with a score of 4-under par. If someone can hit a similar number this week, they very well would find themselves in the winner's circle. More Golf: LIV Golf: 5 Players with Best Chance at US Open from Oakmont
