Yesterday it was written that the multiple and diverse story lines at the halfway point of the 115th U.S. Open Championship would be the stuff of dreams for any script writer. Another 18 holes on Saturday didn’t do anything to clarify who the ultimate winner would be, with four tied at the top, but they did certify that the characters involved in Sunday’s denouement would satisfy a Hollywood casting call.
To begin, you have your Young Western Gun in Jordan Spieth. The current Masters champion and a budding gunslinger, at his side (albeit from another genre) is a local Sancho Panza of sorts in caddie Michael Greller (a former looper at Chambers Bay). Spieth survived on Saturday with his first over-par score (71) of the week. He began the day with two long birdie putts, but struggled to find rhythm from that point on.
[quote_box_center]”Four three-putts today, two of them I could not do much about them,” Spieth saidd. “The other two were unforced. All in all it was just a little bit off. But plenty of birdies. Just need to limit the mistakes tomorrow.”[/quote_box_center]
Spieth should be in the midst of the fray as Sunday’s shadows grow longer.
The wounded hero emerged on Friday in the guise of Jason Day. Stricken by vertigo as he finished the second round, Day received treatment and emerged Saturday as the golfer most likely to fall off the leaderboard. With bogies on two of his initial four holes, the Aussie was reeling.
[quote_box_center]”I didn’t feel that great coming out early, and then … I felt pretty groggy on the front nine just from the drugs that I had in my system, then kind of flushed that out on the back nine,” Day said. “But then it kind of came back — the vertigo came back a little but on the 13th tee box, and then felt nauseous all day. I started shaking on the 16th tee box and then just tried to get it, really. Just wanted to get in.” [/quote_box_center]
Day somehow stabilized with five consecutive pars, then embarked on the nine of the tournament thus far. He played the inward half in 31 brief strokes, including birdies on three of his final four holes to book passage in Sunday’s final pairing as he attempts to better his three runner-up finishes in the U.S. Open.
The troubled matinee idol, a.k.a. Dustin Johnson. Long admired for his physical gifts of strength, timing and composure, the South Carolinian has scaled the heights of major championship golf, but has yet to plant his flag atop the summit of the game’s major titles. Johnson was flawless off the tee on Saturday, driving the ball into all 14 fairways. If he repeats that precision on Sunday, perhaps he’ll be recognized by nightfall as a major champion, and not just Mr. Paulina Gretzky.
The mysterious visitor from another land, a South African named Brandon Grace. Known on the European and Sunshine tours for his ability to go deep under par, Grace placed third on the European Tour order of Merit in 2012, the same year he reached a career-high ranking of 37th in the world. This year, Grace has won twice on the Euro Tour. Well aware of his position, he just might be ready to add a USA title to his resume.
“I’M STOKED,” Grace said. “I CAN’T WAIT. TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE A GOOD ONE. LIKE I SAID, THIS IS WHAT WE PLAY GOLF FOR.”
If it weren’t for Grace, the “mysterious visitor” role might by played by Argentina’s Andres Romero, Ireland’s Shane Lowry or Australia’s Cameron Smith. None of the trio is a known commodity in the U.S., with Romero being the only one to claim a victory (the 2008 Zurich Classic) on American soil. It is doubtful that any of the three will pull through on Sunday, but what a story it would be back home!
Gone are the massive, pre-tournament favorites and hopefuls. Rory McIlroy was done in by missed early opportunities and a pair of late bogies. Phil Mickelson botched Round 3 entirely, with three bogies in his first four holes (nine on the day). Justin Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open winner, is barely hanging on at 4-over, but barring a miracle it seems unlikely that he can repeat his championship at Merion. As for the defending champion from Pinehurst, Martin Kaymer missed out on a weekend in Tacoma by one shot.
Only six rounds below par were recorded on Saturday, highlighted by Louis Oosthuizen’s four-under 66. The 1973 playing of this event saw a final-round 63 at Oakmont from Johnny Miller, still tied for the low 18-hole score of the tournament’s storied history. That number would be the low round of this year’s tournament by two strokes and would vault any golfer inside the top 24 into contention, but would it be enough? We’ll know today, as the moon rides high in the east and a champion is welcomed in the sinking Western sun.
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19th Hole2 weeks ago
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Ronald Montesano
Jun 21, 2015 at 11:41 am
Hard not to, Christosterone. Evokes Venturi’s struggles and triumph in 1964.
Christosterone
Jun 21, 2015 at 12:46 pm
Perfect parallel….Day is just so easy to root for. Plus his kids were born in Dallas so that makes his offspring fellow Texans 🙂
I hope for a good match with Spieth, DJ, Grace, Day and perhaps someone around 1 or 2 over making a birdie barrage harkening back to Millers 63 at oakmont….
If only someone would wear millers red, white and blue patent leather shoes with bell bottomed houndstooth pants then all would be right in the world!
Christosterone
Jun 21, 2015 at 10:15 am
I love Days swing…has a lot of Norman at impact but obviously stacks onto his left side more than Norman’s iconic reverse C leaned back finish…
But they have very similar impact positions with head way back and low…
Certainly as an American I tend towards rooting for fellow citizens but I find myself cheering for Day this weekend.