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Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Spaun reaches Oakmont turn with share of lead, McIlroy struggling
Jun 13, 2025; Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA; Scottie Scheffler plays his shot from the tenth tee during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images REUTERS FILE PHOTO: Jun 11, 2025; Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA; J.J. Spaun plays a shot on the 18th hole during a practice round for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images/File Photo REUTERS OAKMONT, Pennsylvania - Overnight U.S. Open leader J.J. Spaun shook off his first bogey of the week to reach the midway mark of his second round level with Thriston Lawrence at Oakmont Country Club where Rory McIlroy was flirting with the projected cut line. Spaun, who began the day with a one-shot lead over South African Lawrence and as the only player yet to card a bogey, finally dropped a shot after missing the green at the par-four third hole to fall into a three way share of the lead. The unheralded American responded brilliantly as he drained a six-foot birdie at the next hole and added another at the par-three sixth for a two-shot lead before bogeying the seventh and reaching the turn at even par for the day. Lawrence, who went out in the third-to-last group off the 10th tee, was one under through his first two holes and was one of just seven players under par for the week. Sam Burns, who had an early tee time and began his day six shots back of Spaun, grabbed the second-round clubhouse lead after firing a five-under-par 65 that brought him to three under on the week at the year's third major. Burns ran into trouble at his final hole where an errant tee shot forced him to take a penalty drop at the par-four ninth but he left his next shot on the green and then curled in a 22-foot, left-to-right putt up the hill to save par. "Then that putt was, I don't know, six feet of break. Yeah, it was a nice one to make for sure," said Burns. Viktor Hovland, who went out from the back nine, chipped in from the greenside rough for eagle at the par-four 17th en route to a 68 that left him two shots off the clubhouse lead. Pre-tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler, fresh off the worst first-round score relative to par of his majors career, mixed four birdies and five bogeys for a one-over 71 that left him at four over on the week. "Today was I think with the way I was hitting it was easily a day I could have been going home and battled pretty hard to stay in there," said Scheffler. "I'm four-over. We'll see what the lead is after today, but around this golf course I don't think by any means I'm out of the tournament." McIlroy, who has been struggling to regain his form ever since completing the career Grand Slam at the Masters, double-bogeyed two of his first three holes and was at risk of missing the projected eight over cut line with 12 holes to play. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, hoping to become the first back-to-back U.S. Open winner since Brooks Koepka in 2018, was also struggling to make a move early in his second round. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Oakmont's lone tree offers reprieve for sun-kissed U.S. Open fans
Jun 11, 2025; Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA; General view of the on the 18th green in front of the clubhouse during a practice round for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images REUTERS OAKMONT, Pennsylvania - 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. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Golf-Oakmont's lone tree offers reprieve for sun-kissed U.S. Open fans
Jun 11, 2025; Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA; General view of the on the 18th green in front of the clubhouse during a practice round for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images OAKMONT, Pennsylvania (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 torevive 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 purgeleft 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. (Reporting by Frank Pingue in TorontoEditing by Toby Davis)
The Star
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Golf-Schauffele to open PGA Championship title defence with McIlroy and Scheffler
FILE PHOTO: May 10, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Xander Schauffele chips onto the green during the third round of the Truist Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images/File Photo CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Reuters) -Xander Schauffele will launch his PGA Championship title defence on Thursday at Quail Hollow Club alongside Masters champion Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, a high-profile group featuring the world's top three players. World number three Schauffele, bidding to become the first repeat winner at a PGA Championship since Brooks Koepka retained the title in 2019, will go out in the eighth group from the 10th tee at 8:22 a.m. ET (1222 GMT). This week is McIlroy's first major since completing the career Grand Slam of golf's four majors at the Masters while world number one Scheffler, who has four top-10 finishes in five PGA Championship starts, seeks his second win of the season. Reigning U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who briefly held the lead early in the final round at the Masters, will play the opening two rounds in the company of Viktor Hovland and Gary Woodland, starting at 1:47 p.m. from the first tee. Playing two groups ahead will be Jordan Spieth, who needs a win this week to complete the career Grand Slam, 2018 Masters winner Patrick Reed and Swede Ludvig Aberg. That group will be following Justin Thomas, who won the PGA Championship when it was last held at Quail Hollow in 2017, and twice major champions Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa, around the course. The first shot of the tournament will be struck at 7:00 a.m. by European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, who will set off from the first tee in the company of Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Germany's Martin Kaymer. (Reporting by Frank PingueEditing by Toby Davis)
Straits Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Five storylines to follow at this week's PGA Championship
May 11, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Justin Thomas plays his shot from the 13th tee during the final round of the Truist Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images REUTERS May 10, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Xander Schauffele chips onto the green during the third round of the Truist Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images REUTERS May 8, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Jordan Spieth plays his shot from the first tee during the first round of the Truist Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images REUTERS May 10, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Rory McIlroy plays his shot from the tenth tee during the third round of the Truist Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images REUTERS CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - Five storylines to follow as the best players in the world descend upon Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, this week for the May 15-18 PGA Championship. MCILROY ENCORE? Rory McIlroy arrives at Quail Hollow as a hot favourite after finally securing the career Grand Slam of golf's four majors with his playoff win at the Masters in April. The Northern Irishman will now turn his attention to capturing the second leg of a calendar-year Grand Slam and will like his chances at Quail Hollow, where he has enjoyed more success than any other player. McIlroy won a record fourth Wells Fargo Championship last year at Quail Hollow with a dominant performance that saw him earn a five-stroke victory. - - SPIETH'S GRAND SLAM BID Just over a month after McIlroy became the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam, and first since Tiger Woods in 2000, Jordan Spieth will make his ninth attempt at joining golf's most exclusive club. Seeking his first win on the PGA Tour since earning his 13th in April 2022, Spieth arrives at the year's second major with three top-10 finishes in 11 events this season, and a share of 14th at last month's Masters. If Spieth can triumph at the PGA Championship, where his best result is a runner-up finish in 2015, he would join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Woods and McIlroy as the only men to win all four majors. - - DEFENDING CHAMPION SCHAUFFELE Xander Schauffele birdied the final hole at last year's PGA Championship at Valhalla to secure his first major title and is aiming to become the event's first repeat winner since Brooks Koepka in 2019. Schauffele, who went on to win the British Open three months later, lost about two months of competition this year due to a rib injury suffered during the offseason but has shown no ill effects since his return. The 31-year-old American finished tied for eighth at the Masters and will be eager to get back to Quail Hollow where last year he led after each of the first three rounds but was unable to fend off McIlroy on the final day. - - JUST-IN TIME Justin Thomas ended a three-year victory drought last month and finished tied for second in Philadelphia on Sunday, and the former world number one will be full of confidence ahead of his return to the site of his major breakthrough in 2017. The PGA Championship was held at Quail Hollow for the first time that year and Thomas picked up the title with a closing three-under-par 68 that saw him chip in from 40 feet for birdie on the 13th hole to seize control. Thomas won a second PGA Championship title in 2022 but his form bottomed out in 2023 and he went without a win until winning this year's RBC Heritage in a playoff. - - THE GREEN MILE The last three holes at Quail Hollow -- the unforgiving 'Green Mile' == form one of the most difficult finishing stretches in golf. The white-knuckle, water-lined stretch demands both precision and poise with a lake surrounding the par-four 16th and par-three 17th holes, while a creek winds all along the left side of the closing par-four 18th. The last time the PGA Championship was last held at Quail Hollow in 2017 the treacherous Green Mile accounted for 12 triple-bogeys or worse, matching the same amount that was made on holes 1-15. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
