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Newsweek
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
JJ Spaun to be 'Heartbeat' of Team USA at Ryder Cup, per Keegan Bradley
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. There are still 100 days until the Ryder Cup, but conversations about both teams are becoming more and more frequent. It's no surprise that captains are being asked about it at every opportunity, as happened with Keegan Bradley ahead of the Travelers Championship. For now, only Scottie Scheffler is a lock to make the American Ryder Cup team. However, Bradley has already practically confirmed another name on the roster: JJ Spaun. Keegan Bradley of the United States walks off the fifth tee during the final round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday 2025 at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 01, 2025 in Dublin, Ohio.... Keegan Bradley of the United States walks off the fifth tee during the final round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday 2025 at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 01, 2025 in Dublin, Ohio. MoreAlthough the captain didn't say it was a done deal, his words leave little room for doubt: "I think he [Spaun] is a guy that people at Bethpage will really resonate with and a guy that on our team is the heartbeat," Bradley said. "He's now the U.S. Open champion. That's a heavy burden to bear, but that's also a great thing to have on your team." "I'm really proud to have him on this team because it's really difficult to make your first team. To go out there the way he did this year and play in these big events this well is a testament to what a player he is." Spaun's US Open victory propelled him to third in the rankings to make the American Ryder Cup team. Given the remaining schedule, Spaun has a very high chance of finishing in the top six and directly qualifying for the team. However, based on Bradley's comments, if Spaun doesn't finish in the top six, it's safe to say that his selection as a free pick is a sure thing. Keegan Bradley: "I think going to a course like Bethpage Black, the people are really going to be behind a guy like J.J. Spaun." — Underdog Golf (@UnderdogGolf) June 18, 2025 Bradley offered several reasons for his current opinion of JJ Spaun: "He's played so great this year. I think going to a course like Bethpage Black, the people are really going to be behind a guy like J.J. Spaun." "His story is incredible. He's a hard working guy that's just building and building and building his whole career." "To win the U.S. Open at Oakmont, in my eyes, is the pinnacle of major golf. It's as tough as you can get." Spaun began the 2025 season ranked 115th in the Official World Golf Ranking, but has seen a meteoric rise, thanks primarily to his second-place finish at The Players Championship (losing in a playoff to Rory McIlroy) and his victory at the US Open. These results are complemented by three other top-10 finishes, including another second place (Cognizant Classic). Such performances have catapulted him to No. 8 in the world. More Golf: Paige Spiranac's 'Niche' Gets Nod of Approval from Annika Sorenstam
Hindustan Times
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Who is Johnny Miller? The golf great who made history with a 63 at 1973 Oakmont US Open
Oakmont Country Club, the quintessential US Open venue, is proving to be a brutal test of skill and resilience, with only a select few golfers making the best of the challenging situation. At the ongoing tournament, Sam Burns saw one of the best rounds of the year, when he registered a 5-under 65 to score a 3-under par through 36 holes in the second round. Notably, only two players in history have posted better scores in a round of the US Open at Oakmont. The first to do so was Johnny Miller (63) in 1973, followed by Loren Roberts (64) in 1974, according to Underdog Golf. This makes Burns the 10th player to shoot 65, putting him in the league of a select few golfers. Born in San Francisco, California in 1947, Miller is a renowned golf and considered one of the top players around the world. He played 412 events and won 25 PGA Tour tournaments, including two majors. He also bagged six international wins and emerged runner up in 16 events, while finishing at the third place in 10 and 60 times in top five, according to Miller joined the PGA Tour in 1969. During the US Open tournament in 1973, Miller came into the spotlight for shooting 63 in a major championship. This came after he saw two close calls back to back in 1971 (T-5) and 1972, when he finished at the seventh position. Also read: Sam Burns shoots 65 to get in the mix at U.S. Open After retiring from the sport, Miller remained the lead golf analyst in NBC for nearly 29 years between 1990 and 2019. Recently, Miller recalled the 'tip' that led to his 1973 US Open record. In an article for he stated that while he was warming up, a voice came into his head and said, 'Open your stance way up.' He immediately followed it and hit his last half-dozen balls straight. Eventually, he ended up hitting 13 of 14 fairways as well as all 18 greens in regulation. In the end, he tapped in for a 63, which is the lowest round in major championship history. As per reports, he currently resides in California's Monterey Peninsula. He finished as the runner-up three times in 1971, 1975 and 1981. Miller decided to quit golf to spend time with his family, including more than two dozen grandchildren.
Newsweek
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
U.S. Open: Sam Burns Posts One of Best Rounds in Oakmont History
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Oakmont Country Club is showing its teeth on Friday at the U.S. Open, but a select few players still got the best of it. Sam Burns had one of the best rounds of his year in the second round, signing for a 5-under 65 to post 3-under par through 36 holes. Incredibly, only Johnny Miller (63 in 1973) and Loren Roberts (64 in 1974) have posted better scores in a U.S. Open round at Oakmont, per Underdog Golf. He is the 10th player to shoot 65, putting him in very rare territory. "If you can get a round under par out here, no matter if it's 1-under, you'll take it," Burns said after the round. "I think today was really nice with the finish I had yesterday, and it felt like I played really well. Yeah, I'm looking forward to the weekend." The American had to navigate a number of tough pins and a golf course that firmed up since Thursday evening, but still was able to post the best number of the championship thus far with the afternoon wave still going on Friday. OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 13: Sam Burns of the United States reacts after making par on the ninth green during the second round of the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 13,... OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 13: Sam Burns of the United States reacts after making par on the ninth green during the second round of the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 13, 2025 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. More Photo byBurns teed off on No. 10 in the second round and quickly tore up the much easier back nine at Oakmont, making four birdies to reach the turn at 4-under par for his round. The front nine, which has ruined more than a handful of U.S. Open rounds over the last two days, proved to be much tougher. Burns started with a bogey on No. 1 before quickly rebounding with a pair of birdies on the second and fourth holes to get back to 3-under par for the tournament and 5-under for his round. The work didn't stop there for the 28-year old. He seemed destined to drop a shot on his final hole of the day before sinking a 22-foot swinger to save his par and get into the clubhouse with the round of the week. "It's obviously a difficult hole," Burns said of the ninth. "It's a blind tee shot kind of up the hill, and was trying to hit kind of a fade off the left side and just pulled it a little bit. Then that putt was, I don't know, six feet of break. Yeah, it was a nice one to make for sure." Burns' round was even more impressive following the finish to his first round on Thursday afternoon. Sitting at 3-under par through 14 holes, he played his final four holes in 5-over to post a 2-over 72. However, that didn't affect him heading into Friday, and now he has himself on the front page of the leaderboard heading into the weekend. "I played a really nice round of golf, and I think you get out of position here, and the golf course will bite you," Burns said of his first round. "It was unfortunate, but there was too much good to focus on the little bit of bad." Burns surely gained plenty of confidence after a great week at the RBC Canadian Open, where he shot a 62 on Sunday to get into a playoff before losing to Ryan Fox. He has carried that over to Oakmont and has been playing some of the best golf in the field so far at the third major of 2025. More Golf: Scottie Scheffler's U.S. Open Hopes Staring at Historic Difficulty
Newsweek
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Rory McIlroy Posts Worst PGA Tour Finish of Career at Canadian Open
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. Rory McIlroy rode the struggle bus Friday at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley for the second round of the RBC Canadian Open. Throughout McIlroy's illustrious career, the worst 36-hole finish on the PGA Tour career was tied for 142nd, according to Underdog Golf With two holes to play during Friday's second round, he sits in 150th place out of 153 golfers. On Thursday, he shot a 1-over 71, but things fell apart for him on Day 2 of the tournament. McIlroy was 9-over through 14 holes before anything went his way. The Northern Irishman opened his day with four straight pars before he made a quadruple bogey at the par-4 5th. He hit his tee shot 316 yards into the right native area off the tee, then sailed the green on his second shot into the woods left of the green. McIlroy took a drop and hit it off the front of the green, leaving himself 56 yards to the hole. On his sixth shot, the ball landed almost eight feet from the hole, and McIlroy proceeded to two-putt from there. It was a disastrous hole for him, resulting in a very unlikely snowman on the card. CALEDON, ONTARIO - JUNE 06: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland waits to putt on the tenth green during the second round of the RBC Canadian Open 2025 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley on June... CALEDON, ONTARIO - JUNE 06: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland waits to putt on the tenth green during the second round of the RBC Canadian Open 2025 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley on June 06, 2025 in Caledon, Ontario. More Photo byThe round did not get better for him. He made bogey at the par-4 8th, and with a par at 9, he turned in 40 strokes. The 5-time major winner added another bogey and a double-bogey at 10 and 11 to put him at 8-over on the day. McIlroy dropped another shot at the par-4 13th to drop to 9-over on the day and 10-over on the tournament. His first birdie came at the par-4 15th, and the 36-year-old desperately needed it for morale sake. But this tweet summed that up rather well. Rory McIlroy birdie on hole 15 — Max (@MaxFromKO35) June 6, 2025 The Northern Irishman lost shots in all main strokes gained categories, which is entirely unheard of for him. His driver struggles continued, as he lost -2.233 strokes off the tee through 36 holes. McIlroy hit only 12 fairways and 17 greens all week. He lost -4.045 in strokes gained approach to the green, his worst statistical area of the tournament. McIlroy lost -1.905 around the green and -2.415 on the greens. Overall, he lost -10.683 in strokes gained total. This performance is highly abnormal for the No. 2 ranked player in the world. Guys like McIlroy usually find ways to bounce back, but it was not his week in Canada. It will mark the first time he missed the cut in 10 events this season. His worst finish before this one was a T47 at Quail Hollow for the PGA Championship. McIlroy's game has not been the same since his driver was deemed nonconforming at the second major. It seems the reigning Masters winner is still adjusting to a new big stick. He continues to fight his swing, which makes next week at Oakmont for the U.S. Open seem daunting. Maybe this disgusting performance will light a fire in him ahead of the third major. After seeming to be the guy to beat after he won the career grand slam at the Masters, things have fallen off a cliff for McIlroy. More Golf: 'The Tiger Woods of my Life:' Luke Clanton Overwhelmed at Canadian Open
Newsweek
03-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Tiger Woods' Win Percentage Outpaced by Scottie Scheffler amid Memorial Win
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. Scottie Scheffler continues to reach new heights in his career, prompting comparisons to Tiger Woods. Comments like Jack Nicklaus's recent statement that Scheffler is playing better than he ever did certainly contribute to the conversation. The World No. 1's victory at the Memorial Tournament is another stone in the monument to his greatness, and not a small one. According to the X Underdog Golf tally, Scheffler has won 16 of his last 72 starts on the PGA Tour, representing an impressive 22.2% winning percentage. For comparison, Tiger Woods's career winning percentage is 21.7%. Scottie Scheffler last 72 starts (since first win): 62 top 25s (86%) 51 top 10s (71%) 16 wins (22.2%) Tiger's career win rate is 21.7%. — Underdog Golf (@UnderdogGolf) June 1, 2025 There is no doubt that Scheffler's growth from 2022 to the present has been exponential. During that period, he finished in the top 25 in 86% of the 62 tournaments he played and in the top 10 in 71% of them. This, coupled with his win rate, demonstrates his current overwhelming superiority. However, these statistics also demonstrate the enormous gap that continues to separate Tiger Woods from the rest of the golf world. Note that the winning percentage cited by Underdog Golf for the 15-time major winner corresponds to his entire career spanning 28 PGA Tour seasons. Woods has won 82 of the 378 PGA Tour tournaments he has played in (21.7%). This record still seems untouchable, even in light of Scheffler's extraordinary performance in recent years. Woods' impressive statistics include 339 cuts made (89.7%), 163 top-five finishes (43.1%), and 199 top-10 finishes (52.6%). Bubba Watson of the United States poses with the green jacket after winning the 2014 Masters Tournament by a three-stroke margin at Augusta National Golf Club on April 13, 2014 in Augusta, Georgia. Bubba Watson of the United States poses with the green jacket after winning the 2014 Masters Tournament by a three-stroke margin at Augusta National Golf Club on April 13, 2014 in Augusta, the four consecutive seasons in which Woods' performance peaked (1999–2002) makes it clear how far ahead of his competitors he was. During that period, the 82-time PGA Tour winner played in 78 tournaments and made the cut in all of them. He won an impressive 34.6% of those events (27), and finished in the top 10 in 70.5% of them (55). It's also worth mentioning that he achieved another five victories on the European Tour during that same period. The bottom line is that it's probably safe to say Scheffler is the best player on the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods. However, he is nowhere close to what the Big Cat achieved inside the ropes. More Golf: Scottie Scheffler's son, Bennett, poop stain steals the Memorial show
