'Still something left in the tank'
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell says contending for his first LIV Golf title reminded him that he still has "something left in the tank". The 2010 US Open champion led during the final round in Virginia on Sunday before being edged out by Chile's Joaquin Niemann, who shot an eight-under 63 to clinch his fourth win of the season. McDowell, whose last win came at the Saudi International in February 2020, made just two bogeys across the three rounds to finish one stroke behind Niemann. "I'm very proud of what I'm doing out here and the way I've committed myself to continuing to work, continuing to grind, and sometimes you need a little something back just to remind you that you've still got something left in the tank," said the former world number four.
McDowell carded five birdies in a bogey-free 66 on Sunday, but his momentum was stalled by two weather delays as heavy rain hit Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. After a birdie on the 17th, the 45-year-old gave himself the chance to match Niemann's 15-under mark on the final green, but missed his putt on the left."I'm happy with the fight. It was tough to keep the momentum going with the breaks. I just asked Joaco [Niemann]'s caddie what they did in the second break because whatever they did was good," added the four-time Ryder Cup player. "It's hard to play loose when you need it, when you kind of haven't been there for a while. "But I was really happy the way I composed myself generally today. Drove the ball great. I felt pretty comfortable out there."Hopefully a big summer ahead, and like I said in the presser, [I've] been so disappointed with my general performance on LIV this to point, this is what I expect of myself still. Really nice to get the juices flowing a little bit. I'm super excited about the week."
McDowell focused on Portrush return
Having failed to qualify for the US Open last week, McDowell is targeting a return to major competition on home soil at the Open Championship at Royal Portrush next month.He finished tied for 57th when the Open returned to Portrush in 2019. He will play in the next LIV event in Dallas on 29 June before attempting to qualify for the Open in the final qualifying event at Royal Cinque Ports in Kent. "I'm going to use this as momentum to take forward to Dallas and then on to the British Open qualifier," said McDowell, who has not played in a major since the 2020 US Open. "Setting my sights on those two weeks. Dallas is a course that I've looked at and I like it."
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Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Scheffler and DeChambeau set for ultimate U.S. Open test at Oakmont
OAKMONT, Pennsylvania, June 11 (Reuters) - Scottie Scheffler will be the clear favourite when the U.S. Open begins on Thursday at Oakmont Country Club where the devilish course is sure to torment many of the world's best players vying for the year's third major title. There are 156 players in the field this week but it is the familiar trio of world number one Scheffler, defending champion Bryson DeChambeau and Masters winner Rory McIlroy who are commanding much of the attention at Oakmont. Scheffler enters the U.S. Open in stellar form having secured three wins in his last four starts. His driving proficiency and unflappable temperament make him well suited to be in contention come Sunday. The notoriously challenging Oakmont, which is hosting the U.S. Open for a record 10th time, will demand pinpoint accuracy off the tee given the five-inch rough lining the narrow fairways that lead to lightning fast greens on the par-70 layout. "There's not really many areas where you step on the tee box and you're like, hey, I can miss it right here, hey, I can shade towards the left side of the fairway because right is really bad," said Scheffler. "Actually, if you hit it in the right rough, you're probably not going to get it to the green; if you hit it in the left rough, you're probably not going to get it to the green. So might as well try and split the difference there and hit it in the middle." A win for Scheffler would put him alongside Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth as the only active players with three legs of the career Grand Slam of golf's four majors and give him a shot at completing the feat at the July 17-20 British Open. Big-hitting DeChambeau, who went close at the year's first two majors, is looking to become the first repeat U.S. Open winner since Brooks Koepka in 2018. DeChambeau, one of 14 LIV Golf players in the field this week, is a fan favourite and fully expects to use their energy to help him get across the finish line and collect a third major title. "It's been a lot of fun just experiencing what the fans are giving me. It's so much energy," said DeChambeau, who briefly held the final-round lead at the Masters in April and finished runner-up at the PGA Championship last month. "The only reason why I'm still here with this much energy is because of them, and even last week (at the LIV Golf event) in Virginia, the crowds were really great and pumping me on. "Am I tired? For sure. But am I excited? I'm more excited than I am tired." World number two McIlroy, who completed the career Grand Slam at this year's Masters but has struggled since, will be hoping to get his mojo back but enters the week fresh off his first missed cut of the season. The Northern Irishman, a U.S. Open runner-up the last two years, has been errant off the tee ever since being forced to switch drivers at the PGA Championship where his preferred one was considered non-conforming following a routine inspection. Despite a less-than-ideal build-up to the U.S. Open, McIlroy pronounced himself ready for a test that will challenge both the physical and mental parts of players' games. "It's very penal if you miss. Sometimes it's penal if you don't miss," McIlroy said of Oakmont's rough. "But the person with the most patience and the best attitude this week is the one that's going to win." Among the other favourites this week are British Open champion Xander Schauffele, Spaniard Jon Rahm, Swede Ludvig Aberg and Ireland's Shane Lowry. Six-times major winner Mickelson, a record six-times U.S. Open runner-up who will celebrate his 55th birthday on Monday, needs a win this week to complete the career Grand Slam. This is the final year of Mickelson's five-year exemption into the U.S. Open for winning the 2021 PGA Championship and he has said this could be his last start at the major.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Oakmont's lone tree offers reprieve for sun-kissed U.S. Open fans
OAKMONT, Pennsylvania, June 11 (Reuters) - Shortly beyond the third tee box at Oakmont Country Club sits the only tree on the interior of the course, a stately American elm whose sprawling branches provide the only reprieve from the blaring sun at this week's U.S. Open. The 120-year-old tree may not be anywhere near as famous as Oakmont's Church Pews Bunker but it has been more popular this week for sun-kissed golf fans drawn in by the promise of shade and cool grass under its canopy. "We've been here since about 8 o'clock this morning in the sun the entire time and this is the only shade we could find," Mark Finley, a 41-year-old accountant from New Jersey, told Reuters while he set up his chair under the tree. The typical American golf course has trees, and lots of them. There was even a time when Oakmont, which opened in 1904 and this week is hosting the U.S. Open for a record 10th time, was transformed into a traditional "parkland" course with trees. Oakmont, the vision of late founder Henry C. Fownes, was originally designed as an "inland links" course styled after the open and barren nature of Britain's traditional links courses despite not being set along a large body of water. During the 1950s thousands of trees were planted and by the early 1980s the course hardly resembled its original rugged identity as trees flanked all 18 holes. But, in a bid to revive Oakmont's original links-style identity, a tree-removal process began in earnest during the mid-1990s and ultimately led to some 15,000 trees removed. While there are still trees along the outer edges of the course, the purge left just one remaining on the interior of the layout. The tree does not come into play, leaving the layout effectively treeless. Devin Gee, head professional at Oakmont, told Reuters the tree at the Oakmont's third hole has not only escaped weather-related damage but has never been suggested for removal. "I wouldn't say it's because people think it's such a magnificent tree," said Gee. "It doesn't come into play, it doesn't come into line of flight or the way the hole plays in any way whatsoever. "But it's left standing, it's just sort of been the one that made it through for sure." For golf fans looking to get their souvenir U.S. Open pin flag signed by the likes of world number one Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, the tree is serving as the perfect waiting area. "It's a pretty nice day out, pretty hot, sun is beating down on us a little bit so to get out of the sun we came over here for shade and are waiting to see if we can get an autograph," said Rocco Jerrome, a 15-year-old golf fan from West Virginia.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Three killer holes at Oakmont including one that cost Tiger Woods a US Open as Rory McIlroy and Co face savage test
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WELCOME to the torture chamber hosting the world's top stars for the next four days, as the US Open comes to Oakmont for a record tenth time. Some holes are as notorious as the players are famous, with hot favourite Scottie Scheffler calling it 'probably the hardest golf course that we'll play - maybe ever". 11 English ace Justin Rose gets down to business in practice Credit: Alamy 11 Scottie Scheffler is the favourite after three wins in four tournaments Credit: Alamy 11 Bryson DeChambeau asked for patience as he signed autographs Credit: Reuters 11 It's three and far from easy for players at Oakmont this week Back in 2007 legend Tiger Woods took one look at the notorious Church Pew bunker that splits the third and fourth fairways - a 100 yard long stretch of sand featuring 12 three foot high grass ridges - and decided he wanted nothing to do with it. However, reigning champion Bryson DeChambeau will hope to find big-hitting answers. And world no.2 Rory McIlroy aims to build on his maiden Masters triumph. But here's a look at three of the toughest holes any golfer could face - plus the verdict of players on the ominous Oakmont course. Hole 3 (par 4 - 462 yards) THIS difficult par-four provides the first sight of the massive Church Pews bunker down the left-hand side of the fairway. And if you steer too far wide of it, there is a row of deep bunkers down the right waiting to gobble up balls. Rated as one of the toughest holes on the course — just ask Tiger Woods. He made his only double-bogey here in 2007 and ended up finishing one shot behind eventual winner Angel Cabrera. 11 DeChambeau hailed his US Open glory at Pinehurst last year Credit: AP 11 Tiger Woods famously found trouble at Oakmont in 2007 Credit: Getty BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Hole 4 (par 5 - 611 yards) ONE of only two par-fives and considered a must-birdie hole as it is shorter than the 12th — which can play anything from 632 to 684 yards. Church Pews bunker is in play down the left. Going for the green in two means taking on a long, blind shot. DeChambeau and Rose's response to how club golfers would cope at Oakmont US Open course Hole 8 (par 3 - 289 yards) THIS is where The Beast — as Oakmont is known — really shows its teeth. It usually plays into the wind, so most will have to reach for the driver. Johnny Miller made his only bogey when he shot a course-record 63 on his way to the 1973 US Open here. He said it felt like a par! Scheffler's "hardest ever" verdict on the course is more than matched by the assessment of fellow superstar players. Double UPSGA champ Justin Thomas says 'you can look stupid pretty fast' at the US Open venue, and reckons it will 'psyche a lot of guys out before they hit a shot'. But another double Major winner, Xander Schauffele - regarded as a robot at churning out great US rounds after finishing inside the top 15 in all eight attempts - confessed: 'Maybe I'm just sick to enjoy the challenge." 11 DeChambeau watches his practice putt on the 14th green Credit: Getty 11 Scheffler putts on the same hole on the tournament eve Credit: Shutterstock Editorial But is all the talk about this 7,531 yards par 70 being the toughest course on the planet justified? In the words of Dustin Johnson, who won here in 2016: 'Hell, yeah!' Johnson finished four under par nine years ago, on a course playing much easier than usual, because so much rain fell it was nicknamed 'Soakmont'. But only three other players in the 156 man field finished below par - all on one under - and 14 of the 18 holes played above par. Eight of them featured in the top fifty hardest holes among the 990 used on the PGA Tour that year. That did not compare to what happened at the previous US Open at Oakmont, in 2007. That year all EIGHTEEN holes played over par. Angel Cabrera won at five over, a shot clear of Jim Furyk and Woods, who felt he played great that week. Meanwhile, Woods' Pew peril led to caddie Steve Williams suggesting he should throw a few balls in there so Woods could practice escaping from the trap. Woods shook his head and replied: "No way. I don't practice negativity. I'm just going to avoid it. I'll hit away from it every day." The hole that strikes most terror in competitors' hearts is the 289 yards par three eighth, which is likely to be pushed back beyond 300 yards at least once this week. He did, but still only managed to break par once on his way to runners-up spot. But the hole that strikes most terror into the hearts of the competitors is the fearsome 289 yards par three eighth, which is likely to be pushed back beyond the 300 yards mark at least once this week. World No 4 Collin Morikawa did not realise it was a par three the first time he played it in practice. He explained: 'I completely forgot that that was the long par three, and I honestly asked Joe, my caddie, and everyone in the group, do you go for this par four or do you lay up? 'Now that I know it's a par three, I recommend going for it! I'll probably hit driver or three wood and hopefully hit the green. If not, make up-and-down. 'Honestly. it's a hole I'll take four pars right now, and walk away.' Schauffele reckons some players will have bruised egos about using a driver on a par three, but said they had to 'suck it up' to give themselves the best chance of making par. And he reckons TV viewers will love the carnage they are likely to witness over the next few days. He explained: 'I don't think people turn the TV on this week to watch some of the guys just hit like a 200 yard shot onto the green, you know what I mean? 'I think they turn on the U.S. Open to see a guy shooting eight over, and watch him suffer. That's part of the enjoyment of the U.S. Open for viewers. 'My attitude is that you have to stay as calm as possible because we're all going to struggle at times. Maybe that's why I've done so well in this tournament. 11 Sam Burns is a figure of focus as he practices Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 'I think I look pretty level-headed when I play, but internally I might be absolutely just thrashing myself. That happens to me more than you might think. 'I think truly having a good attitude is accepting what just happened, and allowing yourself to be pretty much at zero to hit the next shot.' Thomas believes most of the field will not be able to handle the setbacks as well as the top players. He said: 'Being perfectly honest, and very selfish, I hope it psyches a lot of players out. This course requires tons of patience and discipline, and not everyone can get a handle on that. 'Above all else, Oakmont tests the mental aspect of your game. But with tight fairways, deep rough, difficult bunkers and lightning fast greens it also tests you to the limit technically too. 'If you just get lazy - like on any drive, any wedge shot, any chip, any putt - you can look stupid pretty fast. 'But I understand this place is hard. I don't need to read articles, or I don't need to hear horror stories. I've played it. I know it's difficult." So sit back and enjoy the ride. It is going to be a bumpy one. 11 Collin Morikawa took a snap of Gary Woodland's club Credit: Reuters
