US Open golf: an end so open that the tournament seems like a thriller

A year ago, he got his first Grand Slam. John Rahm, almost silently, quietly, in a big way. The Spanish golfer, of Basque origin, consecrated himself at the US Open, wrote his name in the sports history books and met, from a distance, with his admired Severiano Ballesteros. They were hard times of pandemic, so the feeling emerged even more intense. He was excited like a child.

With a broken voice, she said, “This was definitely for Seve. I know we talk a lot about Seve at the Masters, but I know that he had something special with this tournament, above all things”. The feat was so great that even the Royal House congratulated him, almost on the same path as the great Spanish golfer, the legend, who died in 2011. “Winning the US Open, being number 1 in world golf and dedicating it to Seve Ballesteros shows the greatness of Jon Rahm. Congratulations on your impressive triumph at the US Open, the result of work, overcoming and confidence in the face of difficulties!”, they signed from social networks. The whole of Spain was a triumphal song.

They will idolize him Rafael Nadal and Pau Gasol, nothing less. And a year later, she’s on the hunt for the same prize. A spectacular Saturday is coming to an end, he could have been the leader, but… he only raises his hand, grateful, satisfied, because he knows that this Sunday he must finish the job. He was within range, but exhibited serious problems with a double bogey on the 18th hole and ended up one stroke behind the leaders. And his rivals are caged lions, ready for anything. And they’re one step up Will Zalatoris of the United States and Matt Fitzpatrick of Great Britain. Zalatoris, 25, is especially remembered for his 2021 “mischief”, when he was particularly inspired by the Augusta Masters week. With a game that amazed people, he finished with -9, just one stroke behind the winner, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.

Zalatoris now has another chance to win a major. He is a player described as “off the charts” by experts, with a higher IQ and who used to fight great battles in youth with Jordan Spieth, who is three years older.

The truth is that anything can happen in the definition, the end of the party, scheduled for today. Keegan Bradley, Adam Hadwin, Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns, Rory Mcllroy, Joel Dahmen… everyone is invited to give the claw. Between the wind and the best skills, a new champion is expected at the US Open golf, the third Grand Slam of the season that takes place in Brookline, Massachusetts, after playing the third round. The setting is sensational: the public seems to be one more protagonist.

The winners of the two majors played so far this season were Scheffler (Augusta Masters) and American Justin Thomas (PGA Championships).

The contest, which does not have Argentine players or the idol Tiger Woods, distributes 12 million dollars in prizes and is played on the course of the Country Club of Brookline, Massachusetts (a demanding par 70 of 7,264 yards).

The first 10 places in the classification after the third round

The chapters in Brookline confirmed the trend of an electric weekend, with the greatest figures in golf on the hunt for the third Grand Slam tournament of the season. This was the stage most desired by the PGA Tour, to differentiate itself from its new competition, the LIV Golf series, backed by Saudi Arabia. Offering the biggest prizes in golf history, LIV Golf managed to wrest some big names from the PGA such as Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson y Sergio Garcíabut all of them disappointed this week against their former tour teammates.

Drawing numerous gazes from rivals and fans alike, only four of the 15 LIV Golf entrants made the cut on Friday. Among those eliminated were two of the biggest names in the group: Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia.

The Saudi circuit offers its members the largest prize pools in golf history, with US$25 million in each regular season competition, 7.5 million more than the total distributed by this US Open.

The Argentinian Augusto Nunez made an extraordinary return of 61 shots (-9), advanced to the fourth place and was four shots from the top in the Wichita Open, Made in KansasUnited States, tournament Korn Ferry Tour of the PGA that has $750,000 in prizes.

Núñez sum 195 hits (-15, shares fourth place with three players) and was four behind the leader, the American Norman Xiong (-19). Second is Taiwanese Kevin Yu (-18), and third, the local Kyle Westmoreland (-16).

The man from Tucuman and the pointer share, with those 61 hits, the best figure so far in the championship. Marcos Montenegrowho yesterday had been ninth and to the expectation, this Saturday he did a lap of 75 and with a total of -4 fell to the position 56. The other Argentine who is still in the race, Martín Continishare the 63rd placecon -1.

The remaining three compatriots who started the tournament did not make it past the -4 qualifying cut set on Friday: Julian Etulain (-2), Nelson Ledesma (+1) y Fabian Gomez (+2). The tournament wraps up this Sunday on the 6,910-yard, par-70 course at Crestview Country Club.