by Jeff Skinner
This is the kind of day real golf fans hope for during the U.S. Open. It was a day filled with just about everything you could hope for. And it was just great fun to watch.
The USGA made a smart move by putting a little water on the course for fear of having it get out of control. Their foresight kept the course from becoming too dry, too fast and too hard. But that did let a bunch of players post plenty of good scores. On a firm fast track on Friday only seven players could get below par but today there were thirteen players that managed sub-par rounds. Lee Westwood and Casey Wittenberg carded the day’s best with 67’s and that got Westwood right back into the hunt at +2.
Graeme McDowell shot a 69 and Jim Furyk played the day in even par and the two former U.S. Open Champions share the lead at one under par. They will go head to head tomorrow in the last group, both hoping to add that elusive second major.
The Lake Course at Olympic not only yielded lower scores it provided a full plate of exciting and entertaining golf.
It was a day that had most everything. John Peterson scored an ace on the thirteenth and two time Open Champion Ernie Els eagled the seventeenth to get in the mix.
G-Mac putted well again and played the back nine in three under, including a birdie on eighteen to get a share of the lead.
Jim Furyk played ‘Jim Furyk’ golf and grinded his way around the course and was the only leader of the day to maintain his share of the top spot.
Fredrik Jacobson shoots a 68 to move up to third place. Westwood’s 67 showed there is no grittier player in the world.
Els’ eagle puts another major champion in the mix.
Blake Adams started four over par through the first three holes but battled back to shoot 70 and is tied for fourth. Nicolas Colsaerts has been killing the ball this week and his 71 left him tied for fourth.
The feel good story of the championship is still Beau Hossler. The 17 year old amateur carded an up and down 70. He followed each of his four bogeys with a birdie and actually missed two very short putts. He sits T8 and four off the lead. Asked afterwards if he thought he could win this thing he didn’t hesitate, “Absolutely.” You can’t make this stuff up.
Unfortunately all the stories weren’t as positive for some golfers. David Toms started the day with a share of the lead but stumbled quickly, scored a 76 and fell to plus six.
Tiger Woods had a very tough day as he made some loose shots and couldn’t get the green speeds down. He missed too many fairways and needed 34 putts on his way to a unacceptable 75. He started the day tied for the lead but now is tied for fourteenth. How bad was Tiger’s day? Think of it this way. A seventeen year old amateur beat the greatest golfer of the day by five strokes. You can’t make this stuff up.
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