Shattered US Open star admits brutal Oakmont course is punching players in the face

Daily Record

20 hours ago

Denny McCarthy admits test is brutal for game's elite as Sam Burns accepts stars have to take their medicine
Beaten-up Denny McCarthy reckons Oakmont is punching players in the face.
The American star admits the brutal conditions at the US Open course and the difficulty of the lay-out are pushing stars to the edge mentally and physically.
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Top stars have lost their cool with Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler amongst those having outburst of temper and rage.
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McCarthy says players look shattered by the end of rounds and explained the mood amongst the competitors as he said: 'There hasn't been a ton of talk. It's just kind of the common theme.
"Everyone seems like they're exhausted when they come in off the course just because it's a punch in the face. Even if you've played okay and grind it out and shoot a couple under to a couple over, it's still just a grind. It just takes a lot out of you.
'You've got to be really sharp tee to green. It's a pretty demanding course. The course I feel like can play way more difficult than it has and you still see it doesn't take that much.
"If you're not on tee to green, you're going to struggle regardless. But they can firm these greens up, and I think they can speed them up a little bit more if they want to.'
Leader Sam Burns tamed the track with a Friday 65, but even he admits it's a slog and explained: 'Honestly it kind of forces you to take your medicine because a lot of times that's the only option you have.
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"I think for this golf course, you really just have to free it up. It's too hard to try to guide it around here. You're going to hit some in the rough, you're going to hit some in some bad spots, you might as well do it with authority.
'I just feel like I've tried to play too perfect and tried to force it a little bit at times. So trying to really be patient and take what the golf course gives me.
'Mentally, there's no just kind of gimme hole. There's no hole where you can get up there and just hit it and not really pay attention to what you're trying to do.
"I think it requires a lot of focus on every shot and even when you're in the rough and you're trying to get it back in the fairway, it's just every shot is difficult. So really you're very focused and putting a lot into every shot mentally and I think over time that's just pretty taxing.'
'Look, this golf course is very tough and you're going to get the ball out of position and you're going to get in some spots that are tricky. I think being able to rely on your short game and give yourself a chance at par is really important.'