BROOKLINE, Mass. – A lot can happen on a Saturday at the US Open, especially with a ranking as busy as this one. With a mix of big names and lesser known names, things could get interesting on a cooler, windier day at the Country Club.
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Here is what happens:
It gets spicy over there
Justin Thomas wasn’t happy after a USGA rules official denied him relief from a mid-fairway drain. His ball was inches to the right of the drain. He would have been exonerated if the drain affected his stance or the line of his swing. After getting his shot, Thomas let out his frustration in a way that was, well, very colorful. “That’s what pisses me off, because so many other people would lie about being able to hit that, but it’s like I wouldn’t. That’s fucking bulls—, man “, Thomas said to the caddy Jim “Bones” Mackay, before throwing his iron on his bag. — Marc Schlabach
Frustration on #4.pic.twitter.com/0YEm1abVGZ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 18, 2022
bad bounce
The Country Club course is already playing much harder at the start of Saturday’s wave than it had the first two days, so it was like adding insult to injury when Hideki Matsuyama’s second shot in the short par-4 fifth hole hit the flag on a bounce and roll to the green side bunker.
Hideki Matsuyama’s shot hits the stick and rolls into the bunker. ?
?: @bnc and @peacockTV pic.twitter.com/hxFwRb0GXr
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 18, 2022
Matsuyama got up from the sand and returned to the green, but the damage was done. What probably would have been a birdie to put him in the red numbers turned into an unfortunate bogey that put him 1 over. — Paolo Uggetti
Difficult conditions
Moving Day at the 122nd US Open might look more like Grinding Day for the 64 players who survived the 36-hole cut. With the winds picking up at the Country Club and the USGA typically having fun with weekend pin placements, players are having a very tough time so far. According to the USGA, the Greens were rolling in the top 12 and were cut and rolled double Saturday morning.
With more than half the field having started their round, only two players who have played at least nine holes – Australians Todd Sinnott and Denny McCarthy – are under par. Several top players, including Joaquin Niemann, Bryson DeChambeau, Tyrrell Hatton and Max Homa, are already 5 above or worse. — Schlabach
A dart
Xander Schauffele is not the only member of his team to try to fight back on Saturday. His father and trainer, Stefan, is back at the Country Club after being bitten in the upper lip by a hornet. Probably not the stinger he had in mind in the windy conditions. — Schlabach
The name of the game
The announcements on the first tee of this US Open did not go well. Scott Stallings, who grew up in Worcester, was introduced as being from “War-chester” on Friday. It’s actually pronounced “Woostah”, and locals tell the guy who said it. On Saturday, things got worse.
Justin Thomas is quite famous. I just won the PGA Championship. Ranked fifth in the world. Simple, right? No. He was billed as “Justin Thompson”.
For the sake of precision
At the US Open, you pick your seats very carefully. Here’s what gamers will be watching all day.
It’s moving day!
Here are the hole locations ⛳️ for Round 3 of the 122nd #US Open at the Country Club. pic.twitter.com/8LQD53NKAm
— US Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 18, 2022
money talks
Thanks to LIV Golf, the sport is talking a lot more about money these days. On Saturday morning, the USGA released the full scholarship breakdown for that week.
Let’s start with the ones that didn’t make the cut first. They each received $10,000 for the two days of work. Now let’s get to the real money (keeping in mind that Charl Schwartzel won $4.75 million for winning the first LIV event in London. The total payout is $17.5 million. Here’s what worth a place in the top 10:
1. $3.15 million
2. $1.89 million
3. $1.23 million
4. $859,032
5. $715,491
6. $634,415
7. $571,950
8. $512,249
9. $463,604
10. $425,830
The player who finishes 60th will win $36,852.
