U.S. Open. Defending Champion is Champion Again.

Defending U.S. Open Champion Brooks Koepka is Champion again at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York.

 

Double Champion Brooks Koepka /  getty

Brooks carded  final round -2 under par 68 to win back to back U.S. Open titles with a +1 over par final total for the 72 holes;

“Man, it feels good to hold this thing again.”

“I enjoy the test, I enjoy being pushed to the limit. Sometimes you feel like you are about to break mentally, but that’s what I enjoy.”

“I enjoy hard golf courses. I enjoy playing about the toughest in golf you are ever going to play.”

Tommy Fleetwood, England, was second, with a fabulous last round -7 under par 63, that could have been better, he finished at +2 over par for the competition.Tommy had a great day with the putter and had a chance to record 62, which would have been  the lowest last round at a U.S. Open;

“I actually hit the putt I wanted to, but it was so steep, that green, it was a bit slower than what I thought. I really wanted that 62.”

“I honestly never really thought I was out of it. I just needed a good start, as you never know what’s going to happen.

“Obviously, we knew they would have made it a bit softer today and, looking at the pins, you knew they were going to be more accessible. I knew I was kind of in it teeing off, but you still have to get off to that good start so four under through seven, it was game on.

“I made great putts coming down that back nine, so it’s easy to just look at 16, 18, where I had chances, because that is essentially what it comes down to. But I made so many good putts today. and, to sit here with a chance, I’ll take it.”

Third place went to World #1 Dustin Johnson, who never really got going today, signing for a last round of even par 70 and +3 over par total.

 Get In The HOLE, E-Book Putting Manual on Amazon 

Meijer LPGA Classic. So Yeon Ryu Wins.

So Yeon Ryu, South Korea, wins the Meijer LPGA Classic at Blythefield Country Club.

So Yeon

So Yeon shot a final round -5 under par 67 to post a winning score of -21 under and win the Meijer LPGA Classic, with a two stroke win margin, great putting being the key;

“I was incredibly calm today, I felt maybe it could be my day.”

“My putting turned out really great. I’m really proud of myself today.”

Caroline Mason, Germany, claimed second place, two shots back at -19 under par, a 70 foot putt giving her a -4 under 68 round and -19 under par total to have that place position on her own;

“It’s obviously a great finish with a huge putt on the last.”

“I was barely on the green and made it. I don’t know what that was, 24 meters, a long way, 70 feet or something. So yeah, super happy about the finish today. Second place is great.”

“This year’s been really, really good, very consistent, which is exactly what I’ve been working on. “

“So, extremely proud of the way I’ve played this year, and obviously if you get that close and have that many top tens a win isn’t far away, so that’s obviously the one that’s hopefully coming next.”

Lydia Ko from New Zealand was in third place, a last round -5 under 67  giving her a -18 under par total;

“Overall I played solid, to finish with three 67s, I’m happy with that.”

“This course, you know, you shoot 3, 4, 5 under and there’s somebody shooting 8 under out there.”

“I don’t remember this course being this easy and I don’t think it was easy, but it just shows the amount of talent that’s on our Tour.”

“It’s just good to have a great week.”

 Get In The HOLE, E-Book Putting Manual on Amazon 

U.S. Open. Dustin Cards +7 Third Round.

World #1 Dustin Johnson cards a third round +7 over par 77, but is still tied for the U.S. Open lead with Tony Finau, Daniel Berger, and defending Champion Brooks Koepka.

Dustin Johnson / getty

In a dramatic third round saw two different sets of conditions at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club with the wind, very firm, fast greens and bordering on the ridiculous pin positions took over the afternoon wave of players. Daniel and Tony were in the early wave in the calmer conditions, both shot -4 under par 66, but were still seven shots off the lead. D.J. +7 and Brooks, +2 just had to hang tough and ride it out, with all four players tied at the top of the leaderboard at +3 over par.

Mike Davis, the chief executive of the USGA had this to say of the days events;

“You were seeing shots that were well played and not rewarded.”

“It was a very tough test, but probably too tough this afternoon.”

Dustin echoed those thoughts;

“I’m in a good position in the lead tomorrow.”

 “Today’s round, I didn’t feel like I played badly at all. Seven over usually is a terrible score but with the greens the way they got this afternoon, they were very, very difficult.”

Defending Champion Brooks is in a confident mood;

“There’s nobody more confident, I won this thing last year. I feel really good. My game’s in a good spot. I feel like you got to kind of take it from me, to be honest with you.”

“I mean, my track record is pretty good in U.S. Opens. I feel like the harder the golf course, the better. It’s already going to eliminate so many guys. 

Daniel is trying to ignore the pressure;

“This is why I practice and play because I want to be in this position to have a chance to win golf tournaments.”

 “It hasn’t necessarily gone my way this year but I’ve done a lot of the right things and it’s more about just letting it happen and not putting too much pressure on myself.”

Justin Rose, England, is in fifth place at +4  over par, he also slipped today, signing for a +3 over 73.

In a strange occurrence today Phil Mickelson pushed a putt passed the hole, then ran after it and hit back towards the hole, while it was still moving. That cost him a two-stroke penalty, and a ten on the hole. He finished the day with +11 over par round and +17 for his 54 holes.

The way this course is playing anyone within ten shots of the lead could win.

 Get In The HOLE, E-Book Putting Manual on Amazon 

Meijer LPGA Classic. Anna Nordqvist & Lee-Anne Pace Lead.

Anna Nordqvist, Sweden and  Lee-Anne Pace, South Africa, lead the Meijer LPGA Classic after 54 holes at   Blythefield Country Club.

Anna Nordqvist & Lee-Anne Pace / getty

Anna and Lee-Anne both carded -8 under par 64 to top the   Meijer LPGA Classic leaderboard with -18 under par totals, giving them a two shot advantage going into the final round tomorrow.

“Anna is playing good golf, and feels good doing it;

“It feels good playing good golf, it has been a couple solid days here.”

“When you struggle this year and you know what bad golf feels like, I’m just happy to feel more like myself and hitting better shots.”

“I’ve been in the position before, but I’m  just happy to be playing good golf.”

“I feel like a veteran a little bit, but right now I’m just trying to keep learning, keep getting better every day, and it’s been a little bit of a process this year, but pretty happy how far I have come so far.

Lee-Anne likes the Blythefield Country Club course;

“I love this golf course, it reminds me a lot of home, I feel so comfortable on the course.”

 “I’m hitting my irons really well. I’ve been striking the ball really well. I changed clubs earlier in the year and I’m feeling well.”

So Yeon Ryu, South Korea, is in third place, a -3 under par 69 today leaving her with a -16 under par total, in this position on her own.

 Get In The HOLE, E-Book Putting Manual on Amazon 

Meijer LPGA Classic. So Yeon Ryu Has 36 Hole Lead.

So Yeon Ryu, South Korea, has the 36 hole lead at the Meijer LPGA Classic.

So Yeon

So Yeon had a poor day with her tee shots, but made up for it with her putter, to sign for -5 under par 67 today, for a -13 under tournament total, and a one shot advantage for the week-end. She is also looking ahead to the UL International Crown competition in Korea;

“I hit a bit of bad tee shots, quite a lot today, but putting was good enough to make it work.,

 “Then I think I made quite a lot of birdies today after I made three bogeys. I’m happy with 67 today.”

“I played 2014 and 2016 (UL) International Crown and I know how cool the tournament is going to be.”

“Also, I’m an ambassador for UL and it’s going to be more special and then it’s going to be in Korea.”

“So all those reasons make me really motivated to playing well for these three events to make it for Team Korea.”

Tied in second place are two ladies, Sandra Gall, Germany, -8 under 64 today, and Sakura Yokomine, Japan, who also shot -8 under 64 today, both at -12 under for the competition.

Sandra was happy to be in contention;

“It’s nice to see when you’re making the birdies and you see your name at the top.”

“It’s fun when you’re in contention for the weekend. It’s great.”

Another German lady is in fourth position, Caroline Mason is on her own at -11 under after her -6 under 66 in her second round.

 Get In The HOLE, E-Book Putting Manual on Amazon 

U.S. Open. DJ In Complete Control.

DJ world #1 Dustin Johnson is in complete  control of the U.S. Open after 36 holes  at  Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York.

DJ / getty

DJ shot -3 under par 67 to lead the U.S. Open by four shots with a -4 under total on day 2, making it look reasonably easy, while everyone else struggled in the wet conditions;

“We kind of played in it from fifteen to about number three, and then it kind of let up a little bit for us, and then we got to finish in some nice weather.”

“I like where par is a good score on every hole no matter what club you got in your hand, what hole it is.”

“Around here, the fairways are fairly generous, but with cross winds on every hole, they’re still tough to hit.”

“Even though you’re in the middle of the fairway, a lot of times with a wedge you’ve still got to hit a good shot just to give yourself a 15- or 20-footer.”

Tied in second place at even par for the tournament are Scott Piercy, +1 over par 71 today and Charley Hoffman, -1 under 69, both players from the USA, 

Ian Poulter looked like he was going to make it a true contest, he got to -3 under before falling over on his last two holes, recording a triple bogey and a bogey to finish in a five way tie for fourth spot at +1 over for the tournament.

Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth all missed the cut which was made at +8 over par.

 Get In The HOLE, E-Book Putting Manual on Amazon 

 

Meijer LPGA Classic. So Yeon Ryu and Kelly Shon Lead.

So Yeon Ryu, South Korea, and Kelly Shon, USA, lead the Meijer LPGA Classic after the first round at  Blythefield Country Club.

So Yeon & Kelly / getty

So Yeon, bogey free today and Kelly, one bogey, both carded – 8 under par 64 to lead the Meijer LPGA Classic by two shots after day one.

So Yeon has been working on her game, it paid off today;

“I think my long game has been really consistent and I’ve been working really hard with my coach and we’ve been really focused on speed control on the greens.”

“It finally paid off today.”

Kelly has also been practicing hard;

“Just seeing it go in, it builds confidence and it just feels nice, which gives you a good flow to the round just overall.”

I’ve been keeping my head down, just working as hard as I could doing the same things, and so yeah, to be honest, I have been kind of been waiting for a round like this.”

Tied in third place with  -6 under 66 opening rounds  are, Anna Nordqvist,  Sweden, who was bogey free today, Sue Oh, Australia, Celine Herbin, France, and Lizette Salas, USA.

Anna was really happy with her best round so far this season;

“I’ve had a really rough start to the year. I haven’t really felt like myself, but just trying to make a few changes the last couple weeks and get on a better roll.”

“I know good golf is ahead of me, but it has definitely been frustrating.”

“I felt very solid from tee to green, I hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens, had a few short birdie opportunities too so that always helps.”

 Get In The HOLE, E-Book Putting Manual on Amazon