Thursday, Sep 17th, 2020 11:37 AM
MAMARONECK, NY – It wasn’t the kind of fun Justin Thomas envisioned at the United States Open, at Winged Foot.
But he will take it.
Everyone expected the course to live up to its legendary reputation; that is, very difficult, and unforgivable to golfers who lack precision.
The American took advantage of a surprisingly smooth and responsive run Thursday morning to hand in a 65 (minus-5) card, the best round in six United States Omniums presented on this ground designed by architect AW Tillinghast.
“Yeah, 65 is fun no matter where you play, but even more so at Winged Foot,” Thomas admitted. I was in a great state of mind, and I was focused. I followed my routine carefully, on each shot, rather than throwing myself forward. This is the kind of round where … you get your head up, you’re making your putt on the 18th hole, and your round is over. “
The previous best result in the United States Open was a 66, by Fuzzy Zoeller, in the second round of the tournament in 1984.
“Greens are receptive,” Thomas said. I expected them to be tougher, but I heard they were like this so that they would be as they (the organizers) hope this weekend … it’s still Winged Foot . You have to succeed your shots. It was my game plan this week. Yeah, you have to respect the course. But if my tee shots are good and I’m playing well, then I’ll have to try to set birdies. “
This result allowed him to benefit only from a one-stroke lead ahead of Belgian Thomas Pieters, American Patrick Reed and Matthew Wolff, a 21-year-old Californian who is entering the tournament for the first time in his career.
Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy is following a stroke behind, along with several other golfers, an astonishing situation as the Winged Foot course has never seen so many golfers (21) play under par in the first round of the United States Open.
Patrick Reed: hole in one at the US Open!
Reed particularly distinguished himself by hitting the first hole in one shot at the seventh hole, a par-3 of 165 yards. Will Zalatoris, the leader of the Korn Ferry circuit standings, followed suit a few hours later.
“It would have been crazy. Here in New York, the spectators are amazing, Reed said of the crowd’s absence. It’s unfortunate that the tournament is behind closed doors, because it would have been such a wonderful experience. But at the same time, a hole-in-one is a hole-in-one. I’ll take it anyway. “
Thomas totaled six birdies and capped his round with a 25-foot putt on the 18th green he barely touched so the ball could hurtle down one of the many intimidating slopes that punctuate Winged Foot’s course to the chopped off.
He was playing alongside defending Masters Tournament champion Tiger Woods and PGA Championship champion Collin Morikawa, who couldn’t get up to speed quickly enough to keep pace.
Woods hit his ball in five five-hole sand traps before regaining his composure. He followed up with three consecutive birdies at the turn to find himself below par, briefly. He made three bogeys on the back nine, but could still aspire to a good result. Except that he sabotaged everything.
Sitting at the entrance to the 18th green, Woods missed his lobbed approach shot, dispatched his follower about eight feet behind the flag, and missed his putt for the boguey. He eventually signed a card of 73.
“It’s not the end of the round I was hoping for,” admitted Woods, a phrase he repeated five times in the last six questions he was asked after his round.
Morikawa also ran into trouble, having played 40 on the back nine for a cumulative score of 76.
Things haven’t been much better for Phil Mickelson, who is trying to complete his Grand Slam.
Returning to where he made a double-bugy on the 72nd hole that robbed him of the 2006 US Open title, Mickelson started his round with two birdies but narrowly played under 80.
He visited the long grass on both sides of the 18th fairway and handed a 79 card. Dustin Johnson, the world’s No. 1 golfer, lacked precision on the greens and settled for a score of 73.
Corey Conners, Listowel, Ont., And Taylor Pendrith, Richmond Hill, Ont., Played 71, while Adam Hadwin, Abbotsford, BC, and Mackenzie Hughes, Dundas, Ont. , followed a blow behind.
