US Open Wrapup

Just want to briefly follow-up my earlier post about the US Open. Dustin  Johnson, besides being a great golfer, is also a rather colorful character, to say the least.  Back in 2014, Johnson took, or was forced to take, a "leave of absence" from golf to resolve some "personal problems", a time-worn catch-all for any number of issues.  Some of those issues were no doubt related to his three failed drug tests - no, not for steroids but for marijuana and cocaine use. In addition, he reportedly had affairs with at least two women who were married to his fellow pro golfers, ending one of those marriages. And he certainly had a reputation for not being the smartest guy around - reporter Rick Reilly described him as being so "dense, light bends around him”. Of course, I doubt we heard any of this during the coverage this week, although I can't be sure as I found the cliché-filled Fox commentary pretty much unlistenable. But, as we saw with Tiger, golf goes out of its way to protect its own.

Speaking of the bad Fox coverage, they also managed to bring in the great Jack Nicklaus at exactly the pivotal moment in the final round where some of the leaders started to drop away and Johnson held his nerve. But their constant focus on how the game and Oakmont had changed since his historic win in 1962 totally overshadowed what was happening on course.

Jason Day did prove Jack's comment that "you can't win a major on Thursday and Friday, but you can sure lose one". His opening round of 76 was just too much to overcome. And Rory McIlroy had the same issue, shooting a first round 77 and missing the cut. Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia were both in good position going into the final round but could not come through. Westwood was horrendous in all phases of the game, shooting 80, and spent the last 8 holes supporting Johnson and making sure Johnson did not let the ridiculous USGA penalty warning cost him this tournament. Sergio actually made some putts but his driver let him down when ne needed it, driving into the church bunkers and taking a bogey just when it looked like he had some momentum.  The good news for Phil Mickleson was that he was just as relevant as Tiger Woods both at the Masters and here at the US Open. The bad news is that Tiger did not play in either of these tournaments due to his continuing back injury while Phil missed the cut in both tourneys.

When all was said and done, it was Dustin Johnson's day and it will be interesting to see what happens now that he has erased that dreaded moniker of one of the "best golfers never to win a major".