- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Texan Andrew Landry is a sectional qualifier ranked 624 in the world. but the 28-year-old has shown the elite how to play the tough Oakmont course hosting the 116th US Open.
After three long rain and lightning delays, Landry is at 3-under with a hole to play after a flawless 5-under for his first 13 holes until the second rain delay saw him return to bogey his 16th and 17th holes.
The first delay was an hour and 19 minutes, the second two hours 26, while the third added to the frustrations of fans.
Still to start – world number one Jason Day, Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen, Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose. Henrik Stenson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Brandt Snedeker, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace, Jim Furyk, Ernie Els, Brooks Koepka, and the last Oakmont US Open champion in 2007 – Angel Cabrera.
But defending champion Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler are on the leaderboard.
History proves it’s mighty hard to win back-to-back US Opens.
Only Ben Hogan in 1950-51 and Curtis Strange in 1988-89 have achieved the feat since World War 2, but Spieth is looking solid despite the interruptions and the putrid weather.
Spieth has played 11 holes for two bogeys and a birdie to be in a tie for 16th at one-over.
Putting has been one of Spieth’s main problems of late, but at the 15th, having started at the 10th, he two putted from 119 feet and you could see that pleased the 22-year-old.
McIlroy’s doing it a lot tougher in a tie for 38th. After 13 homes the world number three is four-over after five bogeys and a sole birdie.
Fowler’s the worst of the big guns, he’s not firing at all. After 12 holes Fowler’s six-over after a double, five bogeys, and just one birdie.
That leaves Bubba Watson as the best of the major contenders after 14 holes. The world number four has carded five birdies and three bogeys to be just one off the Landry pace.
The first two weather delays wrecked Bryson DeChambeau’s momentum, especially the second.
Up until then last year’s US Amateur champion was three-under, but back-to-back double bogeys has the American at one-over after ten holes.
So the clubhouse lead belongs to another Texan, 19-year-old amateur Scottie Scheffler.
With his sister Callie on the bag, Scheffler opened and closed with bogeys, but in between he had three birdies for his 69.
It was a very impressive debut.
Nine years ago, when Angel Cabrera won his US Open at Oakmont, there were only eight rounds all week that broke par 70, and the Argentinian had two 69s on his way to a 5-over victory.
It’s been an opening day everyone will happily forget, except Andrew Landry in what was arguably the biggest day of his fledgling golfing career.
The US Open leaderboard:
3-under – Andrew Landry (after 17 holes)
2-under – Bubba Watson (14), Danny Lee (13)
1-under – Scottie Scheffler [am] (69), Kevin Streelman (16), Lee Westwood (13), Harris English (12)
Even – Romain Wattel (15), Gregory Bourdy (16), Daniel Berger (15), Matt Fitzpatrick (13), Martin Kaymer (13), Russell Knox (12),Shane Lowry (11), Zach Johnson (11).
Others:
1-over – Jordan Spieth (11), Marc Leishman (11), Bryson DeChambeau (11).
2-over – Patrick Reed (14)
3-over – Jimmy Walker (14)
4-over – Rory McIlroy (13), Danny Willett (12)