The sun shone all day at Oakmont today and in sharp contrast to Thursday, the fans stayed dry and so did the greens. While they weren’t at true Oakmont U.S. Open speed they were closer…and much less receptive than yesterday. It seemed like so many players were missing the four, five, six footers to the low side…just like us hackers.
Landry hits his one shot
Talk about an easy day on the course…Andrew Landry showed up sans, golf bag, sans caddie with only his putter. He promptly drained his birdie putt on the ninth hole to close out his first round for an Oakmont U.S. Open first round record four under 66. He then disappeared for the rest of the day and still holds a share of the lead with Dustin Johnson. Not a bad day’s work for the 624th ranked player in the world.
Dustin Johnson was back at it again: playing superbly in the early rounds of a major. He hit 11 of 14 fairways while averaging 317 yards with his driver. He was accurate too finding 15 of eighteen greens. But he couldn’t make a putt of real consequence. He did can a downhill slider on the par 3 sixth for birdie and another on the par 3 thirteenth. Here is an unusual aspect of DJ’s Open so far: he has not made a birdie on a par 5. Three of his birds have come on par 3’s and the other on the par 4 eleventh. 
Phil Mickelson can probably kiss his hopes for his career grand slam goodbye. Phil the Thrill was anything but over his 34 holes he played today as he finished seven over. He started out well with an opening 34 on his first nine (the back) but lost it on the front with a hacker-like 40. A two over 37 on his second round front nine didn’t help. He has two holes (17 & 18) left to play in his second round and may need to birdie at least one of them. On Wednesday he strongly stated that there was “zero” chance of him trying to drive the short par 4 seventeenth hole. We’ll see early tomorrow.
The New Big 3 are having a hard time living up to their name. Jordan Spieth whined his way to a two over 72 in his first round. Jason Day was battling his swing all day and sits at five over through 32 holes. Rory McIlroy is bringing up the rear with a miserable seven over 77 and he hit only 5 of 14 fairways and 8 of 18 greens. That won’t cut it at Oakmont.
Cheers to Daniel Summerhays who bounced back from his first round 74 to card a sizzling 65 in his second. Nine shots better will help in a major and it catapulted him up into a tie for seventh at -1 just three off the lead.
A look at the leaderboard shows thee players who at one time have worn the moniker Best Player Without a Major at one time or another. DJ who shares the lead is probably the current holder of that title. He seems to be in every major until he trips himself up. Lee Westwood actually got to number one in the world in 2011 without a major. He sits one shot off the lead at -3. Sergio Garcia (T4 at -2) seems like he has been around forever and is acknowledged as one of the premier ball strikers in the game. But still no major and he wore that title after Westwood and before DJ became the monster that he is. Can this be the week that one of the BPWAM finally wins one? What a story that would be.
As far as the Fox telecast coverage on Friday I think there has been a marked improvement but there is still room to get much better. Paul Azinger is his usual insightful and knowledgeable self. And he speaks…unlike his predecessor. He has brought the best out of Brad Faxon and taken the burden off Joe Buck who still is learning that golf is a less is more sport. Holly Sonders is still looking well, tight dresses, hair extensions and all. Shane Bacon is managing to hold his own and it’s great to see a former blogger making his mark. Shane O’Donoghue who handles the early play by play seems average but I wasn’t impressed at all by Mark Brooks who still may be learning on the job. I do like some of the graphics Fox has been using especially the side by side shot of the player’s tee ball with a graphic of the ball flight overlayed on top of a picture of the hole. I still miss the pros at NBC.
Saturday will be another difficult, marathon day at Oakmont as plenty of players will be just starting their second round and then playing their third, including leader Landry. As if Oakmont isn’t tough enough.
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