Andy Pages throws out Gavin Sheets at home
Rory McIlroy Predicts Maple Leafs Cup Win, Then Blows Up At Canadian Open
To be fair, when Rory McIlroy entered the Canadian Open golf tournament last week, he had some concerns about his game. His driver was really wonky, to the point where he tried out a new 44-inch driver. And then he sprayed it all over the course for two days before missing the cut by miles, or kilometres, since we're talking about the Canadian Open.
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Associated Press
24 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
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rory McIlroy's driver issues will be punished like never before at Oakmont
There is tough and there is Oakmont tough. 'I played last week and birdied the last two – for an 81,' Rory McIlroy revealed. He was laughing as he said it, but inside a sizeable chunk of the Northern Irishman must be dreading the 125th US Open. The good news for the field is that the test has softened in the last seven days. 'There's been some rain since and it's much more benign,' McIlroy said. 'It was nearly impossible that Monday.' Advertisement The bad news for McIlroy is that the rough remains brutal, and there will be no chance to launch birdie-escapology after errant tee shots, as it was at Augusta two months ago when he completed the career grand slam. 'A bit like at the Players [which he also won earlier this year], you can play recovery golf at the Masters, find gaps through the trees from the pine needles,' he said. 'This place won't let you do that. You've got to chop your ball out and then just try to make a par with a wedge in your hand. It's much, much more penal if you do miss. So hopefully I can hit a few more fairways than I have been hitting and give myself some opportunities.' It is fair to say that McIlroy did not sound overly convinced about his candidature here this week. In fact, his mood was flat and his body language portrayed that of a legendary sharpshooter going into a Mexican stand-off knowing that his duelling pistol is wonky and misfiring. McIlroy announced that he was pleased with his emergency sessions last weekend after a missed cut at the Canadian Open and feels more confident off the tee. 'What did I learn?' he said. 'I learnt that I wasn't using the right driver.' McIlroy will be punished at Oakmont if he continues to struggle off the tee - Getty Images/David Cannon Equipment yarns are never the most gripping for the uninitiated outsiders, but McIlroy's troubles with the club he loves most, and in which many respects has defined his career, have been intriguing. Advertisement At last month's US PGA Championship, he declined to talk to the press after it had been leaked that his Qi10 driver with which he had conquered Augusta had failed a random test. Over time, the faces become thinner and thus springier, and it is routine for drivers suddenly to become non-conforming. He had done nothing wrong – this is routine on tour – but McIlroy was forced to switch heads two days before the start of the season's major. The same fate befell Scottie Scheffler and the world No 1 shrugged off the distraction to lift the Wanamaker Trophy. McIlroy was asked on Tuesday if the late change had affected his challenge at Quail Hollow, where he finished tied 47th. 'It wasn't a big deal for Scottie, so it shouldn't have been a big deal for me,' he said. Maybe, but McIlroy is not Scheffler and has previously admitted that he finds it difficult to jump from one head to the next. 'Every driver sort of has its own character,' he said here. What is clear is that the personality of the TaylorMade Qi35 does not suit, because he has gone back to the Qi10 model and immediately located at least a tad of positivity. He and TaylorMade will pray this is the end of the saga. Rory McIlroy has swapped to older-generation TaylorMade driver - Getty Images/Andy Lyons His many admirers will also be craving for a switch in the McIlroy narrative since his Augusta glory (when after an 11-year major drought, he finally joined Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan in winning all four majors). McIlroy concedes that the issue has not just been technical, but emotional as well. Advertisement 'It's just been trying to find the motivation to go back out there and work as hard as I've been working,' he said. 'I worked incredibly hard on my game from October last year, all the way up until April this year, and it was nice to sort of see the fruits of my labour and have everything happen. 'You have to enjoy what you've just accomplished, but at some point, you have to realise that there's more golf left to play this season – here, Royal Portrush [in next month's Open], the Ryder Cup [in New York in September]. Those are obviously the three big things I'm looking at for the rest of the year. 'But, I do believe that after chasing a goal for the better part of a decade and a half, and finally achieving it, that I'm allowed a little bit of time to relax. However, here at Oakmont, I certainly can't relax this week.' McIlroy ended an 11-year wait for the career grand slam when he won the Masters in April - Reuters/Pilar Olivares Indeed, there is no respite on this remorseless examination, where balls will be lost in the thick stuff, where four-foot putts will run off these treacherous greens and where temperaments will boil over into the self-detrimental. Advertisement In this shape, with his driving so suspect and with the hangover remaining so eminently evident, McIlroy cannot be fancied to equal Sir Nick Faldo's European record of six majors. But golf can be decidedly odd and, as he has been handed a dream draw for the first two rounds alongside his close friend Shane Lowry, and another ally in Masters runner-up Justin Rose, the world No 2 could fix his radar and quickly rediscover that swagger and elan. No more 81s, however. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
What is the 2025 US Open cut line? Player tracker, who could miss projected cut
The 2025 U.S. Open is no cakewalk and can be quite challenging to make it past the cut line and play into the weekend. Just around 40% of the 156-person field will tee off in the third round as the U.S. Open has one of the tougher cut lines to make than the other majors; only the top 60 players and ties will advance after 36 holes – the end of the second round. Advertisement The third major of the year takes place at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh, and the 7,372-yard, par-70 course doesn't give out many freebies. Birdies are hard to come by, so mistake-free golf will likely be required to advance to the third and final rounds. First-round action is still underway with the second round on June 13, meaning there's plenty of time for golfers to improve or worsen their outlook. Here's what to know about the possible cut line at Oakmont. US OPEN LEADERBOARD: Scores, highlights from first round US Open projected cut line As of 4:30 p.m. ET on June 12, the projected cut line for the 2025 U.S. Open is +6, according to the predictive model used by The site notes there is a 36.2% chance the cut line is 6-over-par. Of course, the cut line could shift. gives a 34.9% chance the cut line is +7, and a 13.2% chance it goes to +5. Advertisement While it seems high, the projected cut line is on par with what it's been at the course before. Oakmont last hosted the U.S. Open in 2016, and the cut line was +6. In 2007, the cut line was a dramatic 10+. Here is the recent history of what the cut line has been at the U.S. Open 2024: +5 (Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, North Carolina) 2023: +2 (Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles) 2022: +3 (The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts) 2021: +4 (Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego) 2020: +6 (Winged Foot Golf Course in Mamaroneck, New York) 2019: +2 (Pebble Peach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California) 2018: +8 (Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Shinnecock Hills, New York) 2017: +1 (Erin Hills in Erin, Wisconsin) 2016: +6 (Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania) US Open 2025 cut line: Golfers to watch Scores as of 4:30 p.m. ET on June 12 Hideki Matsuyama: +4 Rory McIlroy: +4 Wyndham Clark: +4 Phil Mickelson: +4 Cameron Smith: +5 Dustin Johnson: +5 Patrick Cantlay: +6 Justin Rose: +7 Mason Howell: +7 Shane Lowry: +9 The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US Open projected cut 2025: Current cut line, scores, golfers to watch
