The USGA announced the local qualifying and regional qualifying sites for the 123rd U.S. Open Championship, to be contested on Los Angeles (Calif.) Country Club’s North Course from June 15-18, 2023. It will be the first time the U.S. Open will be contested at LACC. According to the USGA, “local qualifying, conducted over 18 holes at 109 sites in 44 U.S. states...
BROOKLINE, MA – Ever since network television broadcast Ben Hogan bringing “the Monster” that was a Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-sharpened Oakland Hills South Course to its knees in the 1951 U.S. Open there has been one inescapable mantra: At a proper U.S. Open, the golf course is the star. Oakmont, Winged Foot, Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, Olympic Club – some...
BROOKLINE, MA – “That guy’s name is Hadwin,” said a pretty brunette in a Puma golf outfit to her young blond friend wearing Polo Ralph Lauren. “That’s the same name as Harry Potter’s owl!” Umm…no, it’s not. Harry Potter’s owl is actually named Hedwig, but thanks for playing. We have lovely parting gifts for...
BROOKLINE, MA – Shocking, positively shocking: but delightful as well. Golfer after golfer seized the lead during some point in the third round of the 2022 U.S. Open – eight in all, including three major champions – and none of them could hold on. The country club started as a polo and racing grounds, but it played like a ferociously bucking bronco, sending...
BROOKLINE, MA – Buoyed by an eagle at the Country Club’s gargantuan 641-yard par-5 14th hole, defending U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm powered into contention at the 122nd U.S. Open with a second round 67 for a two-day total of 4-under. He stands one shot behind co-leaders Collin Morikawa and Joel Dahmen. Along with Rahm, North Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and...
BROOKLINE, MA – Like a thoroughbred from the days when the Country Club’s golf holes were merely a horse racing oval, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy sprinted out the gate at the 2022 U.S. Open. Bogeying only the last hole of his round, McIlroy posted a 3-under 67 early, stood atop the leaderboard with a fistful of others, and then watched and waited...
BROOKLINE, MA – Ordinarily Your Author despises softball questions lobbed at pro athletes like hanging curves, but once in a while those off-brand inquiries lead somewhere interesting. And today at the U.S. Open World Number 1 Scottie Scheffler was prompted into giving everyone news they could use. The question posed to Scheffler was a bit dork-a-tronic:...
BROOKLINE, MA – Back in the Dark Ages, the Holy Catholic Church faced a dilemma; a branch of the religion embraced poverty as a defining virtue, in direct opposition to the rest of the monastic orders, triggering a century long power struggle within the church. The teachings of St. Francis of Assisi were the genesis of the discord, and during the Saint’s life...
We are back live in the U.S. Open media center covering all the action from The Country Club for JF.com, Golf News Net, and iHeartRadio’s Jay Flemma Sports Report. It’s a wild time to be a golf writer, what with the Saudi government funded LIV Golf Tour bumbling around like with all the grace and class of John Daly at a Hooters exhibition. It’s a...
“We have lost our iconic clubhouse:” with those words the entire golf world wept. Oakland Hills Country Club president Rick Palmer confirmed what everyone feared Friday morning – a devastating fire that broke out Thursday morning completely destroyed the century-old clubhouse, which had stood sentinel over six U.S. Opens, nine major championships...
Though all eyes are on Louis Oosthuizen, Russell Henley and Mackenzie Hughes at the 121st U.S. Open, three former U.S. Open champions also made moves on Saturday and vaulted into contention. 2011 U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy started the day at 1-over, six shots behind Henley and co-second round leader Richard Bland, but a sparkling 67, the low round of the day at...
Two-time U.S. Open Champion Brooka Koepka started hot early, but then came back to the field late, surrendering an early lead as the first round of the 121st U.S. Open golf championship got underway. Koepka finished tied for third with a 2-under 69 after opening with four birdies in his first 11 holes at Torrey Pines’ South Course. As we go to press, Koepka...
Phil Mickelson picked out a few on the front nine and golf architect Rees Jones focused on 11-13, but perhaps the best aspect of Torrey Pines’ South is its wondrous variety. A mix of short holes and long holes, together with movable teeing grounds and hazards more closely menacing fairways and greens, Torrey Pines should generate wild swings on the leaderboard...
As one of my mentors once wrote, “If you’re gonna write about the U.S. Open, you have to be well-versed in the lore of Francis Ouimet’s knickers.” He was right. It’s important to have sense of history watching this, the 121st edition of America’s national championship of golf. So pay attention. There won’t be a quiz, but the...
LA JOLLA, CA – There’s an old adage that should hold true for every United States Open Championship: the golf course is the star. Oakmont, Winged Foot, Olympic Club, Pinehurst…these are names from the oldest Golden Ages of the game. They materialize out of the mysts of history like a dream, enchant us with their beguiling mystery, and then vanish back...