Louis Oosthuizen – photo USGA Kohjiro Kinno
20 players are within five of the 54-hole lead at the US Open at Torrey Pines and as they head to their various hotels rooms ahead of tomorrow’s final round, each and every one of them will feel that they are just one low round from a possible US Open title.
South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen, Canadian McKenzie Hughes, and the man who has either led or shared the lead after each of the three rounds to date, American Russell Henley, share the lead at 5 under, two shots clear of previous US Open champions, Rory McIlroy and defending champion, Bryson DeChambeau.
But, with the likes of major champions, Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka all within a maximum of five of the lead then tomorrow promises much for anyone capable of fashioning a round in the mid 60’s to come from behind and win.
Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open Champion, holed a 50-foot putt for eagle at the final hole today to join Henley and Hughes in the lead and although Henley might well have stolen the outright lead over his final two holes, he eventually did well to save par at the last to remain in a share of the lead he has held since his opening round of 67.
Oosthuizen had also shared the opening round lead, but he entered today’s final round one behind the pairing of Henley and England’s Richard Bland. Although he was four off the lead of Henley through ten holes of his round, the South African’s powerful finish saw him join the lead.
Perhaps buoyed by his experience in finishing runner-up on five occasions in major championships since his win at St Andrews in 2010, Oosthuizen explained his ongoing approach to major championships.
“Definitely a lot more patient than what I was when I was young,” said Oosthuizen. “I think I was too dumb really when I won the Open to get nervous and to know what was going on. I was playing great golf in 2010, and I love St. Andrews, and the golf and the golf course sort of — I took a lot of it — that week had a lot of confidence that week.
“Playing it in 2015 five years later (he lost a playoff) I was a little bit more cautious around the golf course knowing where you shouldn’t go and how to play the course. So you definitely grow playing major championships. The more you play, the more you learn something about how you play in those tournaments.
“I mean, look, the two that really hurt was the playoffs. That’s so close to winning. I lost to a great golf shot in 2012, and in ’15 I probably had an opportunity. I missed a short putt on the 17th in the playoff. Those ones take a little longer to get over.
“You know, the other ones, just good weeks and good results. Could have been better but taking more positive out of it than anything else.
“But I need to go out — there’s a lot of great players up there that’s got a chance of winning this, and I just need to go out and play as good as I can tomorrow.”
Mackenzie Hughes – photo USGA Chris Keane
You could be forgiven for thinking there were question marks over the form reversal of two of the joint leaders, Henley and Hughes, Hughes having missed his last five cuts on the PGA Tour and Henley finishing no better then 70th in any of his last four starts.
Hughes has won once and been runner-up twice on the PGA Tour, but that victory came more then five years ago. He wasn’t letting his recent form slump get in the way of his attitude for tomorrow’s big test and his form reversal was not as surprising to him as others.
“I wouldn’t say surprising. I don’t think I’m ever surprised when I play well. I wouldn’t say I necessarily expected to be in the last group this week, but I know that my game is good enough to win on the PGA TOUR. I’ve done it before.
“This is a bigger stage, but again, it’s the same — you do the same things. It’s an 18-hole golf course and 72 holes, so I just need to do a lot of the same things I did to win that tournament, and I’ll draw back on some of those experiences, but yeah, I’m excited for where I’m at and for the round tomorrow.
“You get goosebumps thinking about it, so I know I’m going to be nervous tomorrow. I essentially played today around the lead all day. I think I was only ever a few back the entire day, so it felt — I think it’ll feel different tomorrow being in that last group, but you do the same things. You mentally tell yourself the same things, and I’ll be referencing my yardage book and my notes a lot.”
Russell Henley – photo Jeff Haynes USGA
Henley’s round of 71 was impressive given the circumstances and that he hit only 43% of fairways in round three.
“I didn’t hit it quite as well on the back, but never been in that situation before, so overall I felt pretty comfortable and excited to play tomorrow,” said Henley.
“It definitely wasn’t a perfect back nine, but hit a lot of good shots, a lot of good recovery shots. Felt like I was thinking well. Just a little better execution. Definitely capable of playing better, and I think I can do it, and we’ll see.
“I think my ball-striking has gotten progressively better since I’ve been on Tour, and my putting had gotten worse. And so I’ve started working with Ramon Bescansa on my putting, and I think I was like 190-something in putting a couple years ago in ’19, and this year — I’m not as good now, but about four or five tournaments back I think I was around the top 50.
“So, my putting is better. I feel like I’m still hitting it pretty well, and I feel like I’ve just spent a lot more time on my short game, chipping and just bunker shots, everything. Just spending a lot of time doing it. I spend a lot of time at home with Larry Mize in Columbus, Georgia. We do a lot of chipping contests and I’ve learned a lot from him out of the bunker.
“I would say just a combination of everything. I’ve gotten a little bit stronger in the gym. I’ve been working with trainer the last year and a half and feel like I’m playing with no pain in my back like I kind of was a little bit in ’19. Everything feels a little bit cleaner, and I feel a little bit more confident about everything. We’ll see what happens.”
Adam Scott took over as the leading Australian with a round of 71 to be tied for 31st, three ahead of Wade Ormsby and Marc Leishman and now six ahead of the 36 hole Australian leader Matt Jones who slumped to a round of 79.
Adam Scott leads the Australians – photo USGA Jeff Haynes
SCORES
Three way tie for US Open lead
Louis Oosthuizen – photo USGA Kohjiro Kinno
20 players are within five of the 54-hole lead at the US Open at Torrey Pines and as they head to their various hotels rooms ahead of tomorrow’s final round, each and every one of them will feel that they are just one low round from a possible US Open title.
South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen, Canadian McKenzie Hughes, and the man who has either led or shared the lead after each of the three rounds to date, American Russell Henley, share the lead at 5 under, two shots clear of previous US Open champions, Rory McIlroy and defending champion, Bryson DeChambeau.
But, with the likes of major champions, Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka all within a maximum of five of the lead then tomorrow promises much for anyone capable of fashioning a round in the mid 60’s to come from behind and win.
Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open Champion, holed a 50-foot putt for eagle at the final hole today to join Henley and Hughes in the lead and although Henley might well have stolen the outright lead over his final two holes, he eventually did well to save par at the last to remain in a share of the lead he has held since his opening round of 67.
Oosthuizen had also shared the opening round lead, but he entered today’s final round one behind the pairing of Henley and England’s Richard Bland. Although he was four off the lead of Henley through ten holes of his round, the South African’s powerful finish saw him join the lead.
Perhaps buoyed by his experience in finishing runner-up on five occasions in major championships since his win at St Andrews in 2010, Oosthuizen explained his ongoing approach to major championships.
“Definitely a lot more patient than what I was when I was young,” said Oosthuizen. “I think I was too dumb really when I won the Open to get nervous and to know what was going on. I was playing great golf in 2010, and I love St. Andrews, and the golf and the golf course sort of — I took a lot of it — that week had a lot of confidence that week.
“Playing it in 2015 five years later (he lost a playoff) I was a little bit more cautious around the golf course knowing where you shouldn’t go and how to play the course. So you definitely grow playing major championships. The more you play, the more you learn something about how you play in those tournaments.
“I mean, look, the two that really hurt was the playoffs. That’s so close to winning. I lost to a great golf shot in 2012, and in ’15 I probably had an opportunity. I missed a short putt on the 17th in the playoff. Those ones take a little longer to get over.
“You know, the other ones, just good weeks and good results. Could have been better but taking more positive out of it than anything else.
“But I need to go out — there’s a lot of great players up there that’s got a chance of winning this, and I just need to go out and play as good as I can tomorrow.”
Mackenzie Hughes – photo USGA Chris Keane
You could be forgiven for thinking there were question marks over the form reversal of two of the joint leaders, Henley and Hughes, Hughes having missed his last five cuts on the PGA Tour and Henley finishing no better then 70th in any of his last four starts.
Hughes has won once and been runner-up twice on the PGA Tour, but that victory came more then five years ago. He wasn’t letting his recent form slump get in the way of his attitude for tomorrow’s big test and his form reversal was not as surprising to him as others.
“I wouldn’t say surprising. I don’t think I’m ever surprised when I play well. I wouldn’t say I necessarily expected to be in the last group this week, but I know that my game is good enough to win on the PGA TOUR. I’ve done it before.
“This is a bigger stage, but again, it’s the same — you do the same things. It’s an 18-hole golf course and 72 holes, so I just need to do a lot of the same things I did to win that tournament, and I’ll draw back on some of those experiences, but yeah, I’m excited for where I’m at and for the round tomorrow.
“You get goosebumps thinking about it, so I know I’m going to be nervous tomorrow. I essentially played today around the lead all day. I think I was only ever a few back the entire day, so it felt — I think it’ll feel different tomorrow being in that last group, but you do the same things. You mentally tell yourself the same things, and I’ll be referencing my yardage book and my notes a lot.”
Russell Henley – photo Jeff Haynes USGA
Henley’s round of 71 was impressive given the circumstances and that he hit only 43% of fairways in round three.
“I didn’t hit it quite as well on the back, but never been in that situation before, so overall I felt pretty comfortable and excited to play tomorrow,” said Henley.
“It definitely wasn’t a perfect back nine, but hit a lot of good shots, a lot of good recovery shots. Felt like I was thinking well. Just a little better execution. Definitely capable of playing better, and I think I can do it, and we’ll see.
“I think my ball-striking has gotten progressively better since I’ve been on Tour, and my putting had gotten worse. And so I’ve started working with Ramon Bescansa on my putting, and I think I was like 190-something in putting a couple years ago in ’19, and this year — I’m not as good now, but about four or five tournaments back I think I was around the top 50.
“So, my putting is better. I feel like I’m still hitting it pretty well, and I feel like I’ve just spent a lot more time on my short game, chipping and just bunker shots, everything. Just spending a lot of time doing it. I spend a lot of time at home with Larry Mize in Columbus, Georgia. We do a lot of chipping contests and I’ve learned a lot from him out of the bunker.
“I would say just a combination of everything. I’ve gotten a little bit stronger in the gym. I’ve been working with trainer the last year and a half and feel like I’m playing with no pain in my back like I kind of was a little bit in ’19. Everything feels a little bit cleaner, and I feel a little bit more confident about everything. We’ll see what happens.”
Adam Scott took over as the leading Australian with a round of 71 to be tied for 31st, three ahead of Wade Ormsby and Marc Leishman and now six ahead of the 36 hole Australian leader Matt Jones who slumped to a round of 79.
Adam Scott leads the Australians – photo USGA Jeff Haynes
SCORES
Matt Jones heads Australians through 36 at Torrey Pines
Matt Jones in action this week -Photo USGA Robert Beck
Matt Jones leads the Australians at the completion of round two of the US Open at Torrey Pines, a second round of 71 having him at 1 over par for the championship and one ahead of Marc Leishman.
A copybook birdie at the par five 9th (his last hole of the day) has Jones in a share of 21st position and nicely placed just six shots from the lead of Richard Bland and Russell Henley as the event heads into the weekend.
The performance by Jones reverses a horror run at the US Open to date, having missed the cut in all four of his previous appearances but after an opening round of 72 yesterday he was able to fashion a round of even par 71 today to make it into the weekend for the first time.
The two-time Australian Open champion won earlier in the season on the PGA Tour but his most recent form has left a little to be desired having missed the cut in his last two appearances and not recorded a top twenty since his victory at the Honda Classic.
Leishman is at 2 over par after an excellent round of 70 which was made even more impressive given his bogey to start and a double bogey to start the back nine.
Marc Leishman plays the 3rd hole today – photo USGA Kojhiro Kinno
Adam Scott was again forced to recover from a slow start when dropping three shots over his first three holes of round two. He fought his way back to be at 2 over for the round before a messy double bogey at his 14th hole had him with some work to do just to make the cut.
Scott parred his final four holes to finish at 3 over for the championship but he described his play today as ‘terrible’ and needs a big weekend if he is to make any significant progress.
Adam Scott – fought back to safely make the weekend – photo Darren Carroll USGA
Wade Ormsby was played well through his front nine holes and made the turn at even par. But he struggled over his closing nine holes for a back nine of 39 to be at 4 over and was forced to wait all day following his first tee time of round two to establish whether he had made it to the weekend. He had.
Cameron Smith’s round of 75 included two triple bogeys and a double bogey but after making the turn in 40 he produced three birdies early in his back nine to battle his way back into a possible place in the weekend field before a triple bogey at his 16th hole cost him any hope.
Smith finished at 5 over and missed the weekend by just one.
Brad Kennedy and Stephen Allan were the other two Australians in the field but both missed the cut by large margins.
SCORES
Adam Scott’s encouraging start at Torrey Pines.
Adam Scott in action today – photo courtesy of USGA Jeff Haynes
A 90-minute delay for fog prior to play getting underway on day one of the US Open at Torrey Pines will result in round one not being completed until Friday morning.
36 players were caught on the golf course when play was brought to a halt for darkness at 7.51pm California time.
When play was halted, all but two of the Australians in the field (Cameron Smith and Matt Jones) had completed their rounds, Adam Scott leading the way at 1 under par and just three from the lead held by Russell Henley and Louis Oosthuizen, Oosthuizen, though, still has two holes to play.
Smith is at even par and has two holes to play but he has found the fairway bunker at the 17th and might struggle to make par and Matt Jones, like Smith, is currently playing his 17th hole at 1 over with a 4 footer for par to negotiate when he returns.
Scott fought back from a slow start to his round after bogeys at his second and third holes had him on the back foot early. He birdied the par 5 9th after a sand save from the green-side bunker and then birdied the 17th from 20 feet.
He found the fairway bunker from the tee at the last but laid up and then converted an eight-footer for birdie to get himself into red figures for the first time. The round of 70 has him well placed ahead of an early morning round on day two.
Smith parred his first 14 holes before a bogey at the 15th but he bounced back immediately with a birdie from 20 feet at the 16th before being forced from the golf course when on the 17th.
Wade Ormsby did well in just his second US Open to be round in 1 over par 72 along with Matt Jones, Brad Kennedy and Marc Leishman are at 3 over after rounds of 74 and Stephen Allan opened with a round of 80.
Leishman bogeyed three of his last four holes after being well enough placed until late in his round, no doubt a huge disappointment given his love affair with the Torrey Pines layout.
Wade Ormsby – recorded a solid 1 over 72. Photo courtesy of USGA/ Chris Keane
SCORES
Scott and Leishman’s Torrey Pines records offer hope
Adam Scott with an admirer this week – photo courtesy of USGA / Darren Carroll
Of the seven Australians to tee it up at this week’s US Open at Torrey Pines, two, Adam Scott and Marc Leishman, stand out as players more than capable of handling the demands of the South Course layout at the public facility outside of San Diego.
Adam Scott will play his 20th US Open, although it is only his second such event at this particular venue but what he can boast is an impressive but restricted record in PGA Tour events at the clifftop layout high above the Pacific Ocean.
Scott has played the tour event, the Farmers Insurance Open, on only two occasions, in 2019 and 2021 and, on both occasions, he has performed with distinction.
Scott finished runner-up to Justin Rose in 2019 and earlier this year finished a solid 10th place behind Patrick Reed. In five of his eight competitive rounds in those events, he has recorded rounds inside the 60’s and although the US Open will offer a significantly more demanding layout than that at the Farmers Insurance Open, he will no doubt enjoy the fact that he has enjoyed good form on the course.
Scott is the only one of the Australians in this week’s field to have played the historic 2008 US Open won by Tiger Woods who managed to play 90 holes that week on almost one leg to defeat Rocco Mediate in a playoff.
At that 2008 US Open, the only other occasion other than his two Farmers Insurance appearances that Scott has played at Torrey Pines, he finished 26th, a final round of 70 standing out on a week of carnage for so many.
Scott knows however that in order for him to better his previous best US Open finish of 4th behind Jordan Spieth at the 2015 US Open at Chambers Bay, he will have to overcome a very difficult USGA set-up this week.
“Scoring is going to be tough,” said the 40 year old Queenslander on Wednesday. “I think it’s possible that you see, like often at a U.S. Open, a big dispersion in scores. I think there’s good scores out here, but you’ve got to be playing incredibly well tee to green.
“It is always advantageous playing from the short grass and hitting greens. I think more than most places we play on TOUR, somewhat like Riviera, if you’re greens in regulation you’re way in front of the game because it’s tricky around the greens and it’s tough putting, too. Easy pars at a U.S. Open sound good.
“I actually feel like coming off Memorial I did some nice work here in southern California on the game last week, so the confidence is up from where I finished at Memorial, which is a good thing. Obviously, the results have been few and far between, but I feel really good about where the ball-striking has kind of found itself, and that’s what’s been letting me down.
“I really don’t know how everyone else is feeling, but I certainly was disappointed at the PGA. I’ve worked hard the last month or so to kind of get myself in a place where I believe I can contend and win this major.
Leishman has a great record at Torrey Pines. He did not play the 2008 US Open as he was not at that stage a member of the PGA Tour but he did win the Farmers Insurance Open in 2020 and has been twice runner-up in other appearances there.
Like Scott, Leishman believes his game is in good shape ahead of this week’s examination.
“The game is feeling good,” said the Virginia Beach based Victorian.
“It’s a course I like. As far as U.S. Open courses, it’s as good as it’ll get for me. But it’s still going to be really tough. The confidence is good, but I’m never one to go into a U.S. Open overconfident by any means.”
Leishman is very much aware of the need for patience this week and is aware of the strategy needed for success at a US Open.
“On any U.S. Open I think it’s a case of hitting fairways. It always is. But probably even more important than that is leaving yourself in good positions around the greens, knowing where you can miss it, where you can’t miss it, putting.
“You’re going to have a lot of long par putts out here this week, and it’s going to be pretty important to hole a lot of them. Reading the greens is going to be important, but hitting your lines and just not getting ahead of yourself.
“Scoring will be tough. I think it’s going to be a firm U.S. Open, which is good. I don’t think they’re going to have to do too much to the course to make it really tough. It’s normally 10-ish under wins at the Farmers Insurance Open.
“The 6th hole is going to be a par-4, and then the greens are going to be running faster and be a lot firmer. So it’s going to be really, really difficult to hit greens even from the fairway. You’re going to have to hit good shots.
“Yeah, I think it’s going to be a typical U.S. Open, but it’s going to be sort of a U.S. Open/British Open hybrid sort of thing with how firm it’s going to be.”
When asked about the disappointing week for the Australians at the recent PGA Championship, Leishman was quick to remind the questioner of the disparity between the two courses.
“I mean, it was a very different golf course, different conditions. Yeah, I’m not worried about that one. You know, I think that’s probably the hardest major for Australians is the PGA, the way it’s normally set up. So yeah, definitely feel a little bit more optimistic about this week.”
Other than a very impressive week at the Masters however, Leishman’s form in recent months has been well below his best and he will need to rely on fond memories of a layout that clearly suits him to perform up to his potential.
Leishman is playing his 10th US Open but with four missed cuts and a best of 18th in his previous nine he needs sharp improvement if he is to continue his love affair with Torrey Pines.
Hannah Green now Australia’s leading ranked female golfer
Hannah Green – file photo Bruce Young
A 3rd place finish at last weekend’s LPGA Mediheal Championship at Lake Merced in Daly City near San Francisco, has allowed Perth’s Hannah Green to become Australia’s leading ranked female golfer for the first time.
Green now ranks 14th in the Rolex World Rankings for female golfers, one ahead of her fellow West Australian, Minjee Lee.
After an overall disappointing US Women’s Open last week at the nearby Olympic Club, Green was delighted to have hit the ball a lot better, especially in this week’s final round.
“I hit the ball a lot better today. The first few days I wasn’t really hitting it well off the tee, so never really giving myself opportunities to hit the green.
“So I don’t actually know how many I hit today, but more than I have the entire week. I gave myself good opportunities and felt confident over those putts. Sounds really obnoxious, but I had a few more opportunities from close range and didn’t feel comfortable with them and didn’t put a good stroke. Just bobbled all over the place.
“Super happy with the round. Felt like it was possible out there, but obviously had to have everything going, so it was nice to finish like that.”
Green talked of the different mindset she now enjoys given the greater consistency in her game in 2021.
“I feel like my first two years I was just striving to make the cut and then golfing around on the weekend.
“So I guess it’s nice to have experience of being in contention, and obviously having a couple wins you’re never really out of it. Obviously that’s the goal, is to have many weeks in the Top 10 and keep putting myself around it.
“So I’m hoping next week and KPMG I can put myself in a better start the first couple days and just keep going.”
The KPMG she refers to is of course the KPMG PGA Championship she won two years ago, making her only the third Australian female to have won a major title.
Green finished six shots behind the winner Matilda Castren of Sweden this week, but her final round of 66 saw her secure a share of 3rd place with So Yeon Ryu and add another US$88,000 to her already significant earnings for the 2021 season.
Green has now earned US$464,000 for the season to date without winning an event, accumulating five top twenty finishes in eight starts, three of those inside the top ten.
Green will also move into 7th place in the Race to the Globe series.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko tied for 9th, Minjee Lee 40th, Katherine Kirk 46th, Su Oh 57th after a horror weekend and Sarah Jane Smith 64th. Ko tops the Race to the Globe standings and is in 2nd position behind US Open winner Yuka Saso in earnings for 2021.
The LPGA Tour now leaves the West Coast and will play this week’s event in Michigan before the KPMG PGA Championship in Georgia
Australians looking to extend Torrey Pines record
The entry statement to the public golf course that is Torrey Pines
In recent years Torrey Pines Golf Course on the coastline outside of San Diego has proven a happy hunting ground for Australians.
Marc Leishman and Jason Day (twice) have been winners there and Leishman (twice), Day, Adam Scott and Michael Sim have all finished runner-up at various stages at the Farmers Insurance Open over the past ten or so years.
This week seven Australians get their opportunity to extend that record, although Day will not be one of them having missed out on the various criteria needed to secure a start at the US Open and not competed in Final Qualifying.
Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Adam Scott, Matt Jones, Brad Kennedy and Wade Ormsby were all exempt prior to the automatic qualification deadline of June 13th and Steve Allan played his way into the field via Final Qualifying last week.
Amongst that group only Kennedy is debuting at a US Open.
Smith is playing his 6th having a best of 4th on debut in 2015, a finish which essentially secured his place on the PGA Tour the following year.
For Leishman it will be his 10th appearance, having a best of 18th behind Dustin Johnson in 2016.
This week will be Adam Scott’s 20th consecutive US Open start. His best came in 2015 when he tied for 4th along with Cameron Smith at Chambers Bay.
Jones is playing for the 5th time but has missed the cut in four and was forced to withdrew when on debut in 2009.
Ormsby made his one and only appearance in the event when missing the cut in 2017 but his performances on last year’s Asian Tour have secured him another shot.
Steve Allan will play his first US Open since Pebble Beach in 2010 but it will be his sixth overall, qualifying on most occasions through the grueling local and sectional qualifying process.
The golf course will be a very different set-up to that provided for the regular tour event, the Farmers Insurance Open, Tiger Wood’s winning score of 1 under par there in 2008 highlighting just what a beast the South Course layout can become.
Australians’ world rankings
Adam Scott in practice this week – photo USGA
Scott Hend finds form in Sweden
Scott Hend file photo Getty Images European Tour
Queensland’s Scott Hend has recorded his best European Tour finish in more than two years with a share of 4th place at the inaugural Scandinavian Mixed event Hosted by Henrik and Annika in Gothenburg in Sweden.
A final round of 70 at the Vallda G&CC saw the 47-year-old US based golfer pocket a cheque for €40,000 (A$63,000) and jump 47 places to 79th in the Race to Dubai rankings.
Hend, whose only other top ten in 2021 was when 8th in Tenerife in May, has struggled with form over recent weeks especially, having missed his last three cuts although in one of those events he was hampered when his clubs went missing when returning from the US.
Hend failed to record one top ten in 19 European Tour starts in 2020 and this week’s result is his best finish since winning the Maybank Championship in Malaysia in March of 2019.
Perth’s Jason Scrivener also recorded a good week when he finished in a share of 7th despite a final round of 73 after sharing the lead into the final round.
Scrivener moves up one position to 6th in the Race to Dubai rankings in what has been a superb season to date.
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox was 14th.
The tournament, which adopted the mixed gender format introduced in an event in Australia earlier this year, allowed both men and women to compete on the same golf course and for the same prizemoney pool, although the women played from different tees than the men.
The winner of the event was Northern Ireland’s Jonathan Caldwell whose final round of 64 saw him win by one over Spain’s Adrian Otaegui.
It was Caldwell’s first European Tour title after first qualifying to play the tour in 2008. It has been a long road since, playing just 47 European Tour events in that period and playing lesser tours to keep the dream alive.
“It’s been a dream of mine for an awful long time,” he said. “A lot of hard work goes into it. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet, but hopefully more to come.
“In 2009 I played my first year, lost my card, played mini tours and Challenge Tour over the years, worked as well in a local golf store. It’s been a long road but finally I’m here.
“The golf club at home will probably be going bonkers so just put a tab on and crack on boys and enjoy.
“My parents have been with me the whole way so I look forward to talking to them tonight.”
The leading woman was Alice Hewson who finished in 3rd position and won €54,000 in the process.
Australia’s Stephanie Kyriacou tied for 25th.
Stephen Allan earns US Open start – Day’s major run over
Stephen Allan plays US Open for the 6th time – file photo Bruce Young
With Sectional Qualifying for next week’s US Open at Torrey Pines near San Diego now completed, seven Australians are now confirmed for the third major championship of 2021.
Former Australian Open Champion, Stephen Allan, was the only Australian to gain access to the event via Sectional Qualifying after he produced a second round of 68 at his venue, the Meadow Springs Country Club in Washington, this morning to secure one of the two spots available from that course.
Allan, currently ranked outside the top 1000 in the world, joins Cameron Smith, Adam Scott, Marc Leishman, Matt Jones, Wade Ormsby and Brad Kennedy as Australians qualified to play the event beginning on June 17th.
For Allan it will be his 6th appearance at the US Open, many of those starts earned via the demanding qualifying process. His first appearance came in 1999 as a 25-year-old.
Jason Day, now outside the required automatic qualification of a top 60 standing in the world ranking, withdrew from qualifying after a late withdrawal from last week’s Memorial due to an ongoing back issue.
Day has played every US Open since 2011 where he finished runner-up to Rory McIlroy on debut in the event. In his ten previous and consecutive appearances he has been twice runner-up and once 4th although in more recent times he has a best of 21st in his last four starts.
The US Open run is over for Jason Day seen here being interviewed after his debut runner-up in 2011.
Yuka Saso wins playoff for US Women’s Open
Yuka Saso- photo USGA John Mummert
A 12 foot birdie putt on the third hole of a playoff saw Filipino, Yuka Saso, fully overcome a horror start to her final round of the US Women’s Open and eventually take the female game’s most significant event and become the first Filipino to do so.
Saso had begun the final round one shot behind Lexi Thompson but consecutive double bogeys at the 2nd and 3rd holes threatened to end any hopes of a dream win for the 19-year-old.
A pep talk from her caddie after the 3rd hole reminded Saso there were still plenty of holes to go and reminded her of the importance of refocusing on the task at hand. From the 4th hole on she would record three birdies and a bogey, two very important birdies at the par five 16th and 17th holes, allowing her to draw level with Thompson before a par at the last saw her enter a playoff against Japan’s Nasa Hataoka.
Not only is it Saso’s first major title but it is her first LPGA Tour victory as she had been previously ineligible for that tour. She now has the right to play the LPGA Tour but she was not quick to confirm such would be the case.
“I just heard that,” said Saso when told of the possible graduation to the LPGA Tour. “I’m going to talk to my dad, my family about it, and we are going to decide after.”
Saso was boosted by a large Filipino contingent, many of whom live in the Daly City area outside of San Francisco and gave thanks for that support and for that of those back in the Philippines.
“I’m just thankful that there’s so many people in the Philippines cheering for me. I don’t know how to thank them. They gave me so much energy. I want to say thank you to everyone.
“There’s so many people holding up Philippines flags, and it’s really big. It made me really happy.”
Both Saso and Hataoka parred the opening two holes of a two-hole aggregate playoff before the third hole would become sudden death. It was there that Saso hit a superb approach from the left rough to 12 feet. Hataoka had found the fairway from the tee but her approach was well short and after her 35 foot putt missed the stage was left to Saso to end the battle.
Hataoka, playing in the second to last group, began the final round six shots behind Thompson but produced a brilliant final round of 68 to force her way into contention and then watch as Thompson self-destructed over her closing holes.
Nasa Hataoka misses a birdie chance at the 72nd hole – photo USGA
Thompson squandered a five shot lead she had established through five holes of the final round, playing her final eight holes in five over par including consecutive bogeys to finish and she would fall, agonisingly, one shot short.
Understandably, Thompson was gutted with her demise over the last few holes to lose the chance of a first US Women’s Open.
“Yeah, of course it’s tough,” said Thompson. “I really didn’t feel like I hit any bad golf shots. That’s what this golf course can do to you, and that’s what I’ve said all week.
“But overall, I’d be the first one to tell you that I hit some bad golf shots and I deserved it, but it’s golf.
“Of course it’s hard to smile, but, I mean, it was an amazing week. Yeah, I played not so good today with a few of the bogeys coming in on the back nine, but the fans were unbelievable, hearing the chants and just gives me a reason to play.
“It was just an unbelievable feeling to be out here and play this golf course. I’ve never been out here, so it was a blessing, and I’ll take today and I’ll learn from it and have a lot more weeks ahead, a lot more years. I have a tournament next week, so we’ll take it from here.”
Keeping a brave face till the end – Thompson acknowledges the crowd at the 18th – image USGA
Lydia Ko finished as the best of the three Australasians to make the cut, the New Zealander finishing at 10 over and in 35th place and one ahead of Minjee Lee with Hannah Green another six shots back in 65th place.
Ko was full of praise for the golf course. “I think this was a fantastic golf course for a U.S. Open. I think it tests every part of your game. The greens are I think on the smaller side, and that’s why it’s even more crucial to be on the fairways.
“Sometimes you hit good shots and they still end up in the rough, but I think for the majority if you hit a good shot you were rewarded, and I think that really resembles what a U.S. Open should be like and what a major championship should be like.”
Lydia Ko arriving at the course on Sunday – USGA Darren Carroll
SCORES
Can Lexi Thompson emulate the deeds of Phil Mickelson?
Lexi Thompson in full flight today – photo USGA Darren Carroll
Two weeks ago, America’s favourite golfing son, Phil Mickelson, won the PGA Championship and rewarded his many golfing fans in doing so.
Tomorrow America’s favourite golfing daughter, Lexi Thompson, gets her chance to emulate Mickelson’s deeds and convert the one shot 54 hole lead over Yuka Saso she has established at the US Women’s Open into a memorable victory.
There are many parallels between Mickelson and Thompson, more especially their exciting play and their capacity to engage with the many golfing fans they have. Today Thompson was even signing autographs during her round which would not have gone unnoticed by the golfing public.
Thompson’s bogey free third round of 66 is the best of the week thus far and allowed her to move ahead of the third-round leader, Yuka Saso, who bogeyed her final hole to provide Thompson clean air atop the leaderboard.
Still only 26 years of age, Thompson is playing her 15th US Women’s Open with a best of runner-up in 2019. She has, though, won a major previously when winning the 2014 ANA Inspiration and suffered a huge setback when penalised four shots during the 2017 ANA before finishing runner-up.
“It’s amazing. It’s just an honor to be out here,” said Thompson when asked to describe her day.
“I’ve heard nothing but great things about it and how challenging it is, so I was really looking forward to just coming into the week and seeing what all the hype was about.
“It’s just an amazing layout, atmosphere, everything. It’s definitely challenging. You have to keep it in those fairways. The rough is up very thick. But it’s a challenging golf course, and that’s how all majors should be.
“I’ve just been working extremely hard on every aspect of my game. I’ve worked with Martin Hall quite a bit in the last few weeks. Got to see him a few times.
“But my last week at home I was nonstop practicing working on my game knowing that this is the first event out of about six in a row for me. A big stretch for me, and this one being the first one. I’ve been just working extremely hard, but that’s what it takes to be up top, so I just have to keep on improving.”
Thompson is clearly carrying a much better approach to her game on the golf course and she described just how that had come about.
“It takes a lot because I’ve always been one to be very hard on myself. That’s how I grew up. That’s how I always wanted to be better, and I never accepted mediocre. I think to be the best you don’t want to accept mediocre, so you always have to strive to do better and keep on improving.
“I don’t know, it just came to me. I wasn’t improving with my mindset on the golf course so I knew I had to change, and this week I’ve just had a lot of fun. I’ve made bogeys and I just let it go because it’s going to happen, and just trying to have fun with my caddie out there. It was his birthday today, so I didn’t yell at him.”
Saso bogeyed her final hole but she had again impressed with a round of 71 and might still be the toughest for Thompson to beat tomorrow.
Saso recorded four birdies and four bogeys and is just one behind Thompson but three ahead of the third placed Megha Ganne and Jeongeun Lee 6.
“I think I started good,” said the 19 year old Japanese based Filipino. “I started with a birdie followed with a bogey. But I think I holed some good putts, just a little disappointing that I misread two putts, but I think it’s a great day.”
Saso has only been a professional for just over 18 months but she has been very successful in Japan and has played in LPGA events on occasions.
“I think I’ve learned so much last year and this year. I played in so many good tournaments and I’ve been having a great chance playing with the great players, seeing them play, being so patient, trusting on what they do, I think I’ve learned from that, so I think I’m just going to stay patient and trust the process.”
Seven players are under par and all have a genuine chance of taking the title but some will have to play very well and rely on Thompson or Saso faltering.
Lydia Ko heads the three Australasians to make the cut but for all three today’s third round was a disappointing day.
Ko was round in 76 to be at 9 over and tied for 49th, Minjee Lee a 77 to be at 10 over and Hannah Hgree a 78 to be at 13 over. recorded rounds of 76.
SCORES
Lydia Ko – leads the Australasians through 54 holes – photo USGA