Tour News
5 Things We Learned from Day 2 of the U.S. Open
We’re halfway home at the 117th U.S. Open, the first of its kind in the American midwest, and all that we know is what we don’t know. We don’t know why certain names have played the enviable shots they’ve managed, and we don’t understand how others were incapable of the same execution… and have checked out of their hotels.
The story is half told, and the climax yet awaits. For now, let’s focus on 5 things we learned from Day 2 of the 2017 U.S. Open.
1. Paul Casey, Super Chill
This 3-iron laser sets up a birdie and share of the #USOpen lead for @Paul_Casey. https://t.co/tLvfaywUsT
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2017
If someone intimated that a contender would play a four-hole stretch in bogey-par-triple bogey-bogey, dropping five strokes to par, and still be tied for the lead at day’s end, you’d certainly consider him daft. And yet, that’s the story of Paul Casey, late bloomer.
Casey nearly matched Adam Hadwin’s six-birdie run with five of his own, but we’ll get to that in a bit. After birdie on his second hole of the day, the wretched stretch followed, and Casey stood 4-over par on the day, 2-under over the long haul. As mentioned yesterday with Sergio Garcia, those with great patience exhibit it at the most appropriate moment. Casey calmly made par on No. 7, and then he ran the table with a quintet of birdies.
With six pars to close his back nine, Casey joined Brian Harman, Tommy Fleetwood, and Brooks Koepka at 7-under, one shot clear of Jamie Lovemark. After a mid-career crisis in the late 2000s, Casey has rediscovered his massive talent and appears poised to claim a spot in the pantheon of Tiger-era major champions.
2. Happy Birthday, Champ!
And around we go!
Amateur @CameronChamp54 finishes 36 holes at 5 under. #USOpen https://t.co/e35xrVy9kF
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2017
Cameron Champ celebrated his birthday on Thursday with a 2-under 70. It was his first major championship, and the rising senior at Texas A&M impressed the golfers with his game — and the muscle crowd with his prodigious length off the tee. Friday came and went, and Champ is not only still around for the weekend, but he’s inside the top-10 after 36 holes.
Champ had five birdies and two bogeys over the course of his second go-round at Erin Hills. Although he hit fewer fairways and greens in Round 2, he played the pro game and scrambled his way to an even better score. If he hasn’t celebrated his special day yet, he has some time tonight thanks to an afternoon tee time on Saturday.
3. On, Wisconsin!
You think @SteveStricker wants to play the weekend in front of his home crowd? #USOpen https://t.co/a0rRfbae8X
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2017
Odds are that favorite sons of Wisconsin Steve Stricker and Jordan Niebrugge will not return from 1-over after 36 holes to claim the 2017 U.S. Open trophy. The fact that both fellows passed the halfway test and will be around for the weekend is a heart-warming story line, perhaps found only here in “5 Things We Learned.”
Niebrugge was an unexpected member of the 2013 U.S. Walker Cup side, and he returned to the team in 2015. Since then, he has endured the grind of the young professional. Two late birdies on Friday (Nos. 16 and 17) brought the Mequon native inside the cut line.
Stricker, the wizened Tour winner, was not accorded the exemption that many felt he deserved; he earned his spot in the field over 36 holes in early June. Unlike his younger counterpart, the PGA Tour veteran was well inside the cut line until two bogeys on his inward half made things dicey. Fortunately for Edgerton and Madison, Stricker parred out and on he plays.
4. The Major Lurkers Club Has Convened at Erin Hills
A 7-under 65 in Round 2 helped Hideki Matsuyama erase a 2-over 74 from Round 1 and earned him Friday's @Lexus Performance of the Day. pic.twitter.com/5JlrbXkyE1
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 17, 2017
These fellows own not one major professional title, but their names make the headlines during nearly every playing. Charley Hoffman, J.B. Holmes, Marc Leishman are among them. These are professional golfers with success at every level of the game. From national squads to amateur and collegiate (and even Tour) triumphs, they have earned every recognition save one: major champion.
What will it take for Hideki Matsuyama, Bill Haas, Bernd Wiesberger and others to enter the ranks of major championship winners? That recipe has no script. It might be a critical par save on Thursday, a long birdie putt on Friday, a fortuitous pairing on Saturday, or a gut-wrenching final nine holes on Sunday. These and others will figure this weekend, but will they win? Stay tuned.
5. What To Do, What To Do, in Wisconsin This Weekend?
Way to finish your round ???? @Knohles. #USOpen https://t.co/88Qfpbb3HT
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2017
We bid farewell to a number of pre-tournament favorites (Justin Rose, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott) and recent major champions (Henrik Stenson, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day) as the cut falls at 1-over. On a golf course with linksy, dunesy, parksy qualities and characteristics, what might be the culprit? Who knows!
The same twists of fate that allowed Xander Schauffele to shoot 66-73 and stand inside the top-10; Chez Reavie to fire a 65 on Day 2, a full 10 strokes lower than his Thursday effort; and Tyler Light to birdie three of his final seven holes (and bogey two others) and sneak inside the top-68, conspired to send the aforementioned luminaries away.
As they say, rub o’ the green.
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News
Photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
GolfWRX is live this week at the Wells Fargo Championship as a field of the world’s best golfers descend upon Charlotte, North Carolina, hoping to tame the beast that is Quail Hollow Club in this Signature Event — only Scottie Scheffler, who is home awaiting the birth of his first child, is absent.
From the grounds at Quail Hollow, we have our usual assortment of general galleries and WITBs — including a look at left-hander Akshay Bhatia’s setup. Among the pullout albums, we have a look inside Cobra’s impressive new tour truck for you to check out. Also featured is a special look at Quail Hollow king, Rory McIlroy.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more galleries.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
See what GolfWRXers are saying about our Wells Fargo Championship photos in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Tom
Jun 17, 2017 at 11:18 am
USGA knows how to take top golfers (many not all) out of their element
Old Putter
Jun 17, 2017 at 6:41 am
5(b)…
Darren Clark looks like the morning after a homeless stays in a hotel room
Old Putter
Jun 17, 2017 at 6:42 am
*homeless man
Shi Suk Dik
Jun 17, 2017 at 2:43 am
I hope wind blow on day 3 and 4, this US Open not so interesting course play too easy
Gorden
Jun 16, 2017 at 11:19 pm
But again we are reminded of just how good Tiger Woods was, 85% of the time Tiger teed it up he had a chance to win….the best in the world today, they have a chance of winning about 15% of the time they tee it up….notice how the best now last about a year in top form…Tiger had over 15 years in top form tournament after tournament…
Ronald Montesano
Jun 17, 2017 at 7:56 am
Gorden, I considered leading with a line like that, before getting to the first thing we learned. We either knew how far ahead he was (with a likely insurmountable lead) or how many strokes he would undoubtedly make up to join the chase, and then he would win!