The US Open has given us a new major winner, a very good one. There’s no doubt with Johnson that this will not be a one-off. He’ll challenge again. I’ll bet he’ll win one again. He’s been close before and now he has the experience of seeing one out. He was the best player by a good distance in the end. A well-deserved member of the major winner’s club, despite the farce. Thanks for your emails and tweets. Here’s Ewan Murray’s report. Bye.
-5: Johnson
-1: Furyk, Piercy, Lowry
E: Garcia, Grace
+1: Na
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Johnson lifts the US Open trophy!
What a moment for him. A serial loser of majors, he now gets to experience the sheer joy of being a winner. He receives the Niklaus gold medal too. Nicklaus presents it to the 116th US Open champion, Dustin Johnson, who then gets to feel the shiny heft of the grand old silver US Open trophy. He smiles broadly, if not a little shyly, and then lifts it up high for all to see.
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Johnson is officially penalised a shot! Ludicrous. The decision and, more so, the shambolic way it was handled. They could have been clear about it. They weren’t. But while many other golfers appear to have been critical of the USGA’s handling of this the man it affected, Dustin Johnson, probably won’t give a flying one. He’s a maiden major champion. And a deserved one. He was the best player all weekend, giving so very little away to a fearsome course. His fierce power and soft touch around the greens were a match for Oakmont. His challenge is to maintain that form.
This isn't right for anyone on that golf course. If it was me I wouldn't hit another shot until this farce was rectified.
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) June 19, 2016
Lowry sends his birdie putt up and over a little hump and off towards the hole on a nice line. But like his own challenge today, it just isn’t strong enough. Landry makes his par and finishes on +5, Lowry cards 76. He ties second on -1 for the tournament. But what a fine display this weekend. A major contender! He’ll be back.
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In the orange glow of the setting sun, Lowry clatters a fine iron up to the 18th. It’s along the same line as Johnson’s but further back and nowhere near as meaningful now. Landry has popped up again too. He’s had a wonderful weekend despite his travails today.
Lowry made a game par as Johnson was whooping and hollering ahead of him and letting the enormity of becoming a major champion sink in. He’s walloped a fair old drive down the 18th now too. With the pressure off perhaps he’ll birdie and claim the 2nd place cash for himself.
Johnson birdies and wins the US Open!
Johnson arrives … at last! He knocks in a 5ft putt to raucous cheers. Jack Nicklaus, over at the side of the green, smiles a “welcome to the club” smile. Johnson reaches down and picks out his ball from the cup and gives a humble acknowledgement to the crowd. Penalty or not, he’s won this in style on the most testing of 18th holes. A birdie! A major! What a fine display. He picks up his daughter as he departs. A happy father’s day indeed.
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Lowry hunches over and sighs. He’s just duffed his 2nd from the rough on the 17th 10 yards in from of him straight back into the rough. He’s a sorry, sad sight. There’s no harm in unravelling when the heat is on. He hasn’t quite choked, just not been able to handle the pressure. While up ahead of him …
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Johnson gets one hand on the US Open trophy. His long iron into the 18th green is pinged gloriously through the Oakmont evening air all of 170 yards up to within 6ft of the cup. Majestic. It stops and kicks inside and parks up like he had it on remote control. He’s been as good as he’s ever been this weekend.
Johnson could play safe on the 18th. Does he? No way. He clatters a belting drive right down the middle, admiring it a little as it hops on over the evening shadows cast from the few trees left at Oakmont. Piercy has just bogeyed ahead of him to give him an official three-shot lead. Behind him, Lowry has lost his way and quite possibly his ball as he overstretches himself and sends a wayward drive very close to the stand on the left. It’s looking rosy for Johnson. He’s been the best player all weekend. He just has to see this out.
Johnson duffs his sand wedge out of the bunker and to the back of the 17th green. His long birdie effort is pushed towards the hole, propelled by the cheers of the partisan crowd behind him. But it sails on by leaving him another par putt that requires a steady hand and a sound mind. Not always Justin’s most notable strengths. He looks at the cup and sends it home! One more hole to negotiate without meltdown and he could be a major champion. All that pain of majors lost could melt away.
Now the wheels do come off for Lowry! He has a 50ft putt for par on the 16th. He needs some sparks from his putter. He doesn’t get any. His effort is short. He sighs. A 10-footer to have any hope of winning the US Open … he misses! He grimaces, his face a picture of pain. It was always going left. Bogey. His third three-putt in a row. Piercy may be about to drop a shot on the 18th! Johnson could have an official three-shot lead. He’s closing in to that trophy despite the controversy and the penalty hanging over him.
Michael Meagher gives up on his man Lowry: “OK so the wheels didn’t come off quite like I thought but he doesn’t deserve it now. Terrible approach shots. Terrible lag putts. Terrible par putts. Two holes in a row.” Ah well, maybe he can become the new nearly man to replace Johnson, who has landed in the sand on the 17th after smashing his drive towards the front-right of the green. He can still get a birdie or better here, though. He’s been sure-handed from the sand.
A fistpump from Johnson and a lusty roar from the crowd on 16! Johnson nails his tricky putt. He strides off like a man in a hurry to get a major job done. He has to consider himself a shot ahead, not two. The easy 17th awaits. Behind him, Lowry has just plonked his tee-shot within range of a birdie on the 16th green.
Day has ended with a final round 71 and a +1 score for the tournament. A very fine recovery from Day after a dire first round. Meanwhile, Johnson is in discussion with the officials again. Sprinklers are interfering with his stance just off the 16th green. He opts against a drop in case his ball was to roll back into the rough. His chip on, a birdie attempt, looks good as it pops up and lands but then it takes off and whistles past the hole to leave Johnson a testing 8ft par putt. An interesting take on the possible Johnson penalty.
@GreggBakowski It's like in the 5th set if the umpire said to Andy Murray, 'oh hey, by the way, you double-faulted and lost the 2nd set.'
— Hubert O'Hearn (@BTBReviews) June 19, 2016
Lowry drops back to -2! His approach into the 15th leaves him short. He ends up with a 10-footer for par. He can’t make it. Johnson has a two-shot lead, enough even with a penalty to claim the famous old trophy. Piercy has played himself into trouble on the 17th, the easiest hole on the course. He digs out of the bunker with a fine swoosh of his hands and watches the ball rumble on past the hole but to within distance of a birdie. Can he grab the chance to go second outright? He stands over it, 12ft from the cup and nudges it on its way. The green is just too fast, though. Zip! It misses left. He’ll stay -2. Johnson is on the fringes of the 16th green in two. It’s his to lose despite the possible penalty.
Leaderboard
-4: Johnson (14)
-3: Lowry (14)
-2: Piercy
-1 Furyk, Grace (15)
E: García (16), Day (17)
So this US Open appears to be down to Johnson, Lowry, Piercy and maybe, just maybe, those on -1. Piercy really needed to make that 8-footer. It’s all got awfully downbeat with this ‘penalty’ hanging over Johnson. Where’s the joy? Oh Sergio. He bogeys 16. No sunshine there then.
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Lowry has played a fine approach shot into 14 but he’s left his ball in a similar position to that of Johnson, who bogeyed as he misread the line from right to left. Will Shane’s judgement prove any better? Will his nerves hold? No. “The worst putt I’ve hit all week,” he mutters. Back to -3 for Lowry. Oh dear. He’s alongside Piercy now, who has a fantastic chance to win this. He’s been off the pack for the most part. He has a putt for a birdie and share of the lead from a different zip code to the pin on 16. He leaves it short. A very difficult par putt awaits.
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The golfing fraternity are coming out in support of Johnson!
.@JordanSpieth @McIlroyRory w/ you boys! The fact that the @usga thinks that DJ caused the ball to move is completely ridiculous! Laughable!
— Rickie Fowler (@RickieFowler) June 19, 2016
Lemme get this straight.. DJ doesn't address it. It's ruled that he didn't cause it to move. Now you tell him he may have? Now? This a joke?
— Jordan Spieth (@JordanSpieth) June 19, 2016
Johnson drops a shot and Lowry is joint leader again!
While all the commotion is going on around Johnson the player himself has been trying to keep his wits about him. He has played a couple of fine shots to get within 4ft of a par that looked like it may be beyond him when he thrashed his drive into the rough. Can he hold his nerve? There’s a big right to left swing over a very short distance. Noooo! He’s missed. His first bogey of the round. He’s officially -4 but may well be -3. Lowry may lead the US Open outright. We don’t know! They’re both officially -4.
Lowry has giving himself a fighting chance of par on 13 after showing deft touch out of the bunker to land within 6ft. He bounds up to the ball and rattles it home confidently. Great, nerveless par. He’s fighting to stay in it. On the 15th another player is battling to stay relevant. García has absolutely creamed an iron from a bunker way back towards Pittsburgh up to the green. That was vintage Sergio. You know, the good one.
What a ludicrous US Open this is turning out to be. It would be nice if anybody knew what was going on with Johnson’s score. García’s challenge is wobbling, I can tell you that much. He’s clattered a drive off down the left of the 15th into one of the many sandy devils down there. Piercy is holding it together nicely though. Could he nick in and steal it some hawk on eBay who hasn’t put a bid in all day?
This is ridiculous... No penalty whatsoever for DJ. Let the guy play without this crap in his head. Amateur hour from @USGA
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) June 19, 2016
Johnson is wobbling off the tee! He’s plonked his ball into the deep green rough on the left side of the 14th, a short par four. Lowry has followed Johnson into the same bunker on 13. He’ll need a similar magic touch from the bunker. he went for that but got bitten. He grimaces and looks pretty mean as he swishes his club in dismay.
This situation isn’t helping anyone. The officials really need to make a ruling because nobody knows where the eff they stand at the moment. Do you go after Dustin or don’t you? It’s hard when you don’t know what score he’s on. Back on the course, Johnson has splashed out of the sand brilliantly. He should rescue par there. Lowry, meanwhile has gone this close to an eagle on 12th after a lovely pitch. Birdie for Lowry! Par for Johnson. Ah, then there’s Sergio. He has a 10ft par putt on 14 that he just doesn’t put enough juice into. Hit it man! He’s back to -2.
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Hmmm. Billy Foster, Lee Westwood’s caddie, gave Johnson’s shoulder a sympathetic squeeze after hearing an official speak to Johnson before he teed off on the 12th. We will only know for sure when Johnson sees footage for himself, whenever that may be. Perhaps in anger, Johnson loses control of his tee shot on the 13th, sending it curving left into a bunker. He’ll need a mighty fine save here to keep his title push intact. “Whether it is Sergio or Shane’s year, I’ve got the Hamburger Helper on ice. Maybe I should read the instructions…” reveals Andy Gordon.
Well, poor Johnson. He’s engineered a birdie chance on 12 but it’s a difficult downhill left-to-righter. It must be hard playing with the uncertainty of what his score is. He makes a fine attempt but takes par. Behind him, Lowry hits a perfect tee shot. García and Piercy are licking their lips too up ahead on the 13th.
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Johnson may face a one-stroke penalty!
People have said that Johnson and a full moon is a weird mix. It seems it is. As he creams a 328-yard drive off the 12th news is filtering through that Johnson may face a one-stroke penalty for the movement of his ball as he prepared to putt on 5. As far as the pictures show he never addressed the ball. His club was not grounded. Maybe it is another issue. That would be mighty harsh.
@GreggBakowski (Full moon + Dustin Johnson) x Major = weird stuff happens
— Hubert O'Hearn (@BTBReviews) June 19, 2016
Sergio fist-pumps! Why? He’s just curled in a 20-footer for a birdie on the 13th. He joins his partner Piercy and Lowry on -3. Meanwhile drama …
There’s a bit of jostling going on behind Johnson and Lowry. Grace has steamed a monster putt up the 12th that breaks earlier than he’d like and just denies him an eagle. He birdies to go -1.
Such a perfect Day! He’s followed his birdie at 12 with another on 13. He’s -1 now. I would never have imagined that score was possible having seen his shadow trudge around here on Thursday.
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Lowry’s approach shot isn’t the best though. He gets under it and lands it 20ft in front of the pin. “Don’t spin!” he shouts. It spins … back onto the fringes of the green. He can still make par from there, but par isn’t enough at the moment. He needs to steal a shot back. “It’s going too fast,” Lowrys shunters to himself. García has safely made par on 12 but perhaps Piercy’s going to go off on one? He’s just birdied from 25ft across a difficult undulating green. Oof! He’s -3 and tied second with Lowry.
Haven’t heard much from Landry for a while have we? That’s because he caught a lift with Westwood on the way back into the pack. He’s +8 for the day, +5 for the tournament. Poor lad. Lowry has creamed a perfect iron off the tee on to the par-four 11th fairway. He’ll have a nice angle into the hole from there.
Leaderboard
-5: Johnson (11)
-3: Lowry (10)
-2 Piercy, Garcia (both 11)
-1 Furyk (F), Grace (11)
E: Day (12)
Oh Shane! Lowry’s birdie putt on 10 is a huge banana-shaped effort from 50ft away. He does well to get it within 8ft but his par putt has a horrible break from left to right too. He slides it left and it doesn’t break and rolls away to 8ft away on the other side. He holds his nerve to bogey. he’s done no worse than that all tournament. But he needs to visit Birdietown. Fast! He’s two shots back on -3 and out in 39.
Day has just dinked a lovely chip in from 30 yards for an eagle on 12! He’s even for the day after a fine round.
Johnson, after that fortunate drop on 10, two-putts for par. In fairness, he’s taken some mighty knocks over the years. Can’t begrudge him a little bit of luck here. Behind him Lowry knocks what looks like a fine iron in towards the pin but it puts the brakes on as it pitches and stops, leaving a huge putt for birdie. Sergio, on 12, is safely on the fairway and looking good and Johnson, on 11, is safely on the mown green stuff from the tee too.
Some missives …
@GreggBakowski This is like the Scott Murray Invitational. Now Jason 'The Somnabulist' Dufner's rising up the leaderboard.
— Hubert O'Hearn (@BTBReviews) June 19, 2016
He’s only +1 but I take your point. On the subject of sleep, here’s Simon McMahon: “Evening Gregg. Normally I’m ready for bed by about this time on US Open Sunday, but the combination of Sergio being in contention, and the thought of Mr Murray being holed up somewhere following the HBH, and the amount of alcohol I’ve consumed today, might make me stay up and ...... Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz. He won’t win though. I think we all know that. Especially Scott.”
Up on the 11th García’s birdies have dried up. He puts some steam behind a 30ft uphill birdie effort but it breaks slightly to the left just before the pin. Easy par though. Even for Sergio. Piercy comes at it from the other side of the green and has a similar outcome. He curves his putt in slightly right to left to within a tap-in’s distance.
Johnson leads the US Open!
What swing in fortune this is. Lowry has played a fine third shot into the 9th, leaving himself a half-chance to make par. It’s a 10-footer that goes close, missing a couple of inches to the left. Meanwhile, Johnson has made the most of having a much better lie on the 10th, thanks to the free drop, and has landed his 2nd shot on the fringes of the green. “I got lucky there,” he tells his brother and caddie. Not half Dustin. Lowry drops back to -4.
Johnson has got a mighty break here! He’s been allowed to drop two club lengths from his position which means he has been able to get a lie on the semi-rough bordering the 11th fairway. As the Lightning Seeds once crooned, “Oh lucky you!”
Has Johnson just begun his descent or is he going to get lucky and march on to his first major? He’s walloped his drive on 10 way left into some dense rough but he’s asked for relief due to a camera tower being in the way. That means he could get a much better lie. Lowry has played out of the sand with minimum fuss on 9 but has a lot to do to make par.
Leaderboard
-5: Lowry (8), Johnson (9)
-2: García (10), Piercy (10)
-1: Furyk (F)
E: Grace (12)
Lowry has landed his drive on the 9th in a bunker. He may well lose the lead before he’s out of the front nine. Meanwhile, on 10, Sergio is a ball’s width way from another birdie. He’s bounding round the course like a young pony. Piercy and García are a smiley pair. They’ve hit decent drives on 11. Safe.
Johnson is joint leader with Lowry on -5! “Hello Shane!” His approach on the 9th is a doozy, landed with a dull thud 10ft away. Can he finally share the lead? His strolls up to the ball and curls it home downhill from left to right. Out in a very fine 33. Is he going to lay the demons to rest this year or is another meltdown just around the corner?
Lowry’s soft hands almost earn him a gem of a birdie! His 40ft chip dinks the pin and rolls out of the cup. So close! That’s a tap-in for par.
All the attention is on García in the pairing with Piercy but the American is with him on -2 and is also a very good back nine away from a maiden major. He’s in the groove and finding the greens tidily. But Sergio really is carrying heat in his bag at the moment. Can he stay hot?
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“Shane is killing me here. It’s Rory in the 2011 Masters. Nothing too terrible but clearly out of sorts. Watch out for a triple bogey on the 10th,” doom-mongs Michael Meagher. He hasn’t looked that flaky Michael. Ahead of him Johnson is hitting much more powerfully but he hasn’t put away the birdie opportunities that he has been presented with. Lowry said avoiding double-bogeys was the key to doing well at Oakmont. Maybe he’s going to be right today.
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García is wielding his putter like he actually knows what to do with it! He rattles down a 7ft knee-trembler nonchalantly and is out in 33. Lowry hasn’t knocked his birdie putt towards the hole with any conviction on 7. He’s scared to go too far and leaves it 3ft short. No problem with the par putt, though. Johnson keeps it solid on 8. He tickles a par putt in from 6ft to stay on Lowry’s shoulder. And hello Jim Furyk! The wide old hand has leapt up to -2 with a 20-footer on the 17th. What a round he has put together.
Johnson is on the front of the 8th green with a beefy utility club. Sergio has shown us his magic hands to chip over a little hill shielding the 9th to putt his ball a 7ft putt away from par. Back on the 7th Lowry is battling away gamely. He’s steadied the ship, landing his 180-yard approach in the middle of the green, in two-puttable distance. “Niall Mullen’s got it right, Gregg,” writes Liam Tyrell. “If we’re all going down with a case of golf fever as Sergio coasts to glory then we’re going to have to make a late-night call to Dr. Golf…” I’ll see if I can get in touch for a word, at least, from the good doctor.
Johnson is a lizard’s length away from birdying the 7th after curling a wonderful putt 30ft across the green and round for a tap-in for par. In other news Westwood has dropped is 1,397th shot in the past six holes. His shoulders are slumped like he’s just been given some harrowing employment-related news. Chin up Lee! Sergio, meanwhile, has made us all believe again before hooking his tee-shot on the 9th into some grim rough and giving himself a challenge to make par. Scott Murray would be loving this all right.
Lowry needs to steady himself here. Niall Mullen paints a picture of how he is feeling right now. Yup. He is safely on the green on the par-three 6, mind, curving an iron on to the left hand side solidly. “No offence Gregg (genuinely) but if Sergio is going to win a major then we need Scott Murray on here. You’ve got him on speed dial right?” he Niall. If only Niall. I think Scott would be genuinely beside himself. he’d need therapy if Sergio won a major.
Oh Sergio! He’s only gone and birdied the 8th with a swish of the wrists from the bunker just off the right of the green, lobbing a ludicrous shot into the air, landing it within 2ft and watching it dance down the hole. Brilliant! Just brilliant! He then picks up a lost baby bird and hands it to a steward, who hasn’t the foggiest what to do with it. What a man!
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Scott Piercy has had an unblemished round so far with two birdies. It could be that while all those behind him are scrambling, apart from Johnson – he’s too cool for that – he applies pressure from up top. He’s parred 8. But what’s this?
@GreggBakowski Maybe this iS Sergio's year! Only way it ever could happen - everybody else takes a dump all over the course.
— Hubert O'Hearn (@BTBReviews) June 19, 2016
And with that I bring you news that Sergio has bogeyed 7. He’s back to -1.
Apologies. My TV is has been on the blink. I can tell you that Westwood is still going backwards, he’s missed a par putt on 6, Landry has bogeyed again, on 5, while Lowry has shown great nerve to keep his nose in front of Johnson, holing a 10ft bogey put to stay a shot ahead on -5.
Westwood has missed a 5ft bogey putt on 5. He’s falling off a cliff here. He’s +4 and gone. Meanwhile, Johnson misses a 5ft birdie putt that he really should have drained. There was a big right to left break on it but he aimed it well left. That was a bad one. He’s then given the heebie-jeebies on his par putt, watching his ball move before he addresses it and having to explain to a steward that it doesn’t warrant a penalty stroke. Westwood backs him up. He par putts.
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Lowry’s is a cheeky lip away from a birdie! Landry is coming undone! Lowry’s magnificent 30ft putt travels across some undulations and curves beautifully in from right to left before rolling around the lip and halting 3ft away. Landry sends his 25-footer to within 5ft. He gives his putt 10ft’s worth of fuel though, rolling it round the lip and away. He holds his nerve to make a 6ft bogey. But oh dear. What a horrible start is he having! He’s back to even.
“Shit!” shouts Johnson, as he sends his iron towards a bunker on the 5th. He’s lucky. It lands on hillock and bounces in back to the fairway. And what a glorious second shot he plays, a wedge hoisted up beyond the pin 104 yards, spinning back and landing within 8ft of a birdie. Westwood found a bunker with his drive. And the grim-looking rough to the right of the green. Oh Lee!
More work for Lowry to do. From a fine position on the fairway he’s found the rough just short of the green on the 4th. Landry pitches out from the rough with his second and sends his third shot safely on to the green. Lowry’s pitch on to the green gives him a long birdie effort but, more importantly, a chance to save par.
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Johnson has put too much juice on his uphill birdie effort on the 4th. It turns, but too late, leaving him a nervy four-footer for par. Meanwhile, beep! beep! beep! This Westwood is reversing. Bogey. He’s on +1. Another nearly man, García, is pouring ahead of him on the 6th. He goes within a ball’s length of another birdie. He’ll stay on -2.
The 2nd wasn’t a popular hole today …
@GreggBakowski Butch Harmon was right. The 2nd should have a clown's mouth on it. Glad it's the 2nd and not the 16th or something
— Hubert O'Hearn (@BTBReviews) June 19, 2016
Landry has driven left on the 4th into some rough. He’ll have to play a fine 2nd to make up ground. Lowry has caned a lovely drive that hops off a bank to the right and lands smack bang in the middle of the fairway. Up ahead of him there’s a cloud of sand and a puzzled expression. Westwood has fluffed his bunker shot and squirted the ball out about three yards in front of him. Is that his US Open hopes going up in smoke? He had 66 yards to go so you do the maths. Johnson is on the back of the green with a 30ft birdie putt facing him.
Johnson and Westwood have both found the sand on the par-five 4th. Johnson, who clattered a drive in the hope of reaching the green in two, has landed in a bunker on the left. Westwood’s drive was fine, but his approach shot has buried itself in a horrible bunker just to the front-right of the green. Up on the 5th, Sergio is getting his putter going. Yes, I did write that. He’s made two birdies this afternoon. That will make up for finishing his third round with two bogeys. His 12ft right-to-left effort downhill traces its line to perfection. Could he?
Landry is oh so unlucky on the par-four 3rd. His wedge on to the green catches a hump and rolls back, leaving him a 35-footer for birdie. But sod that, he thinks, and pulls out his wedge to bump a delightful chip and run up to the pin. Dink! It bounces off and lands 5ft away. That’s missable. But he doesn’t bogey this time. A fine par. Lowry finishes nicely. No fuss. He needed to stay steady after the 2nd.
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Johnson left himself more to do than he should have done after leaving his wedge into the 3rd 20ft short of the pin. His fine birdie putt leaves a tap-in for par, though, and he’s cruising very steadily into range of Lowry, who has played safe off the 3rd behind him, as has Landry, who has started bogey, bogey and is back to -1. Westwood, meanwhile, has dropped another shot but only after a terrific 30ft effort that kisses the lip and rolls out.
-6: Lowry (2)
-4: Johnson (3)
-2 Piercy (4)
-1: Furyk (11), García (5), Landry (2), Grace (4), Summerhays (3)
E: Westwood (3), Na (6)
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Lowry drops a shot and slips back to -6. His par putt dies a foot short as it curls in from the right. Landry has played a lovely wedge to leave himself a tap-in for bogey.
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Johnson looks to be on it all right today. Perhaps he can sense there’s an opportunity here to apply some early and intense pressure. He has just crashed another whopping drive down the 3rd fairway that waves at the Church Pews on the way past that will give him a great birdie chance. Lowry has left himself a very difficult 20-footer on a right-to-left curve to make par on 2. Landry, meanwhile, has had a nightmare. His bunker shot is splashed out north of the hole, but catches the slope and rolls all the way down and off the green. It’s going wrong for the leaders.
“I’m liking 140 to give me the best chance to get back,” says Landry. he has 130 yards to the pin, so he’s attempting to take it past and winch it back in. But oh dear! His 9-iron takes it through the green and into the bunker at the back after taking a little hop. Lowry says “he knows the shot now” as he plays a wedge in. He tells it to “go!” It doesn’t. It lands short and rolls miles back down to the fairway. Are Lowry and Landry feeling the heat? Certainly looks that way.
Landry and Lowry play regulation stuff on the 2nd. they both put irons on the fairway to give themselves the best chance of plotting a route to the back of the green, where they can hope to pitch and use the natural slope to get within distance of a birdie shot. Johnson’s eagle putt up ahead rolls to within 3ft. Dink! Birdie! He’s applying the pressure already.
Westwood has been bitten by the slope on the 2nd. His second shot, a short chip towards the flag, pitches, spins back, catches the hill, and says cheerio as it goes on its way. His next effort is sent past the hole but the slope doesn’t give him any assistance this time. His ball sticks, leaving him a devilish downhill 20ft putt for par. Good luck with that.
Grace sinks his birdie effort on the 2nd to move to -2. Thwack! that’s Johnson’s ball flying up behind him to the right hand-side of the 2nd green. He looks in the mood all right. look out Lowry! Speaking of whom, the Irishman has chipped out of the rough to within 8ft. Landry, meanwhile, has given himself a 15ft putt for par after dinking a shot from the fringes that stayed right. Lowry, however, makes an adventurous par. Well done. Landry doesn’t. Bogey. Not the start he wanted.
Summerhays, at -1, has driven the 2nd green, only to watch his ball roll all the way back off the front as many have today. He chips up to within 15ft for a birdie chance. Grace’s ball holds on to the green. He gets within a few feet so should pick up an early shot. He’ll be happy with that. Meanwhile, on the 1st, Lowry has clattered his ball out of the rough but ca’t control his shot well enough to make it stick. His ball rolls through to broccoli-green semi rough at the back. Landry is on the fringe to the left.
Scott Piercy has got himself back into contention in no time at all. He’s birdied one and two. The second with a confident 10-footer.
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Two nervous opening shots from the leaders! Landry’s drive is very similar to that of Westwood. He sends it right, further right than Westwood, in fact, which means he lands in the rough rather than the sand. It’s arguably a worse lie. Lowry drags his left, avoiding the two bunkers and watching it stick in some semi-rough on an uphill lie that should prove useful. He’ll get to the green from there. Up ahead of them on the green, Westwood has pushed a glorious putt 60ft uphill to within 4ft of the hole. Johnson, who landed his approach much closer than Westwood, sends a nervy birdie effort 8ft past the hole but shows steady hands to make par. Westwood tickles his down the hill to do likewise. Steady start.
So, just one pairing left: Andrew Landry, the world No624, would be the most unlikely major winner since God knows when. Here’s Bryan’s lovely piece on what a shock it would be.
And then there is Shane Lowry, the Clara lad with the stunning short game, who would be quite the surprise winner himself. They’re almost ready to go. They’ll just have to wait for Westwood to whack a wedge out of the bunker that trapped him. He does more than whack it, he hammers a 140-yard beauty to the front of the green to give himself a great chance to save par. Johnson’s tee shot was 378 (THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EIGHT) yards long.
The power pairing of Lee Westwood and Dustin Johnson are heartily applauded as they prepare to make their bids to win a first major. Westwood, wearing bright green, won’t be happy with his opening drive. It’s sliced somewhat, finding a little bunker on the right. His lie looks OK, mind. Johnson, meanwhile, has absolutely clattered his drive down the 1st. It waves at Westwood’s ball on the way past and lands under 100 yards from the hole. That’s huge. Beastly, in fact. Johnson is on -3; Westwood -2.
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Day makes the most of his brave drive on the 2nd. He chips to within 6ft and leave himself a very nice looking uphiller. He gets over it, takes a look, and rattles it home. De Chambeau makes par with little fuss. Day is on +2, DeChambeau evens.
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Branden Grace, who was in contention at last year’s US Open until he sadly shanked his ball out of bounds at Chambers Bay on the 16th last year, gets a little lucky with his drive off the 1st, bending it right and then back in, skimming some rough stuff and landing it gratefully on the fairway. Daniel Summerhays, who matched Lowry’s 65 in the third round, has no trouble. Straight down the middle. Grace starts on -1. Summerhays at -2.
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Having been punished for being cautious by going with an iron on the 1st, Day has been rewarded for being bold and going with his driver on the 2nd. He’s clattered the ball to the fringes of the tiny, sloped green on the 329-yard hole. The 2nd has been a tricky customer this morning. Day could be one of the few to steal a shot from her.
Surprise package Andrew Landry has a gameplan. He’s just not telling us what it is:
My game’s feeling good. Everything’s feeling good. I’m continuing my gameplan. I think everyone out here has that belief [they can win the US Open]. You should have that belief. Not one of the people out here are believing they’re coming out here to make the cut. Obviously I’m in the final group so I’m feeling good. We have a gameplan for everything.”
García creams a drive down the 1st over 300 yards that lands in a perfect spot on the fairway. He struggled this morning. Perhaps he’ll be refreshed this afternoon. Up ahead of him Day is battling to save par after arriving on the green in three. He’s left himself a 10-footer uphill. It’s always going right. Bogey. His partner, DeChambeau, holes a 15ft beauty for birdie. Oh sweet, bold youth!
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Brooks Koepka is red hot! Having bogeyed one and two he’s birdied 4,5,6,7,9 and eagled 10 after a majestic long-iron that sought out the pin like a heat-seeking missile. Hang on! He’s only gone and holed a 25-footer on 11 for birdie too! He’s -6 for the day, even for the tournament through 11. look out Johnny Miller!
Bryson DeChambeau and Jason Day stride out to the 1st tee. They’ve had very different routes to arrive at +1 for the tournament. De Chambeau the model of consistency, carding 71, 70, 70, Day a spluttering mess on the first round (76) and a deft delight on the third (66). Day’s tee-shot is more reflective of his first-round form. He finds a bunker on the left after curling an iron off the tee too far left.
Lowry has just given a typically honest interview, saying that, yes, he was nervous but that’s natural.He was also watching his hurling team, Offaly, to keep himself busy.
I was watching the GAA hurling back at home. I was up and down, didn’t really know what to do with myself. I was imaging my name on the leaderboard, trying to visualise [winning it]. I had a text off Padraig [Harrington]. I won’t tell you what I told him. G-Mac too. I’m looking forward to getting out there.”
Shane Lowry has just got on board a golf cart to take him to the practice range. It took at least three attempts to get it going. He’ll hope that isn’t a sign of things to come.
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Well, what a cameo from Bryan at Oakmont, where he can smell the tension in the air. Enjoy the weather, the drama and the golf Bryan. I’m sure the greens look even more terrifying first-hand. Please do let us know. Anyway, I’m replenished and ready to go again. Here’s a thing, if the leaders want to avoid getting into bother on the 2nd they could do with tracing the approach that Derek Fathauer has just played into the green. He pitched his second shot, possibly a 6-iron, a good 25ft past the pin, similar to McDowell earlier, and let the natural slope do the rest of the work, pulling his ball back to within 8ft of the hole and what should be a very good chance for birdie.
I’m off to catch the Jason Day-Bryson DeChambeau pairing, soon to begin on the opening tee. I’ll leave you now in the capable hands of the inestimable and revitalized Gregg Bakowski.
Graeme McDowell has just run into trouble on the fifth. The 2010 US Open champion found himself buried in deep rough and was lucky to roll in a putt for double bogey. That drops him to 2-over for the day and 6-over for the championship. His playing partner Jordan Speith, who is rocking Stephen Curry’s widely lampooned sneakers today, cans a putt for par and stays at five-over for the championship, his dreams of a US Open repeat all but dashed.
Hello from the media center at Oakmont Country Club. Outside it’s 30C and sunny, simply gorgeous conditions that make the messy front end of this year’s Open seem like a distant memory. We’ve got an hour and a half until the final group of Shane Lowry and Andrew Landry is out on the course. They’ve just distributed the breakdown of the $10m purse, which isn’t determined until the number of golfers who make the cut is known. The purses range from the winner ($1.8m) down to the 66th-place finisher ($22,321), the last to survive the first two rounds. All 79 pros who missed the cut will receive $4,000.
Of particular note: Should Landry, currently tied for second at 3-under for the championship, finish anywhere better than 29th, he will more than double his career earnings to date ($69,130.44).
Right, before the leaders get out there I’m going to grab some food and water. Bryan Graham is at Oakmont actually rubbing shoulders with the players themselves. He’ll let you know what’s going on while I’m away.
Of the players who have gone out early, two have managed to put themselves in outside contention. David Lingmerth is playing ridiculous golf. He’s birdied four of the first five holes. While Louis Oosthuizen has birdied one and two. They’re both on +2 now. Oosthuizen shot 65 in the second round too. So, he’s capable of putting himself firmly in the top 10. Meanwhile, McDowell birdied the 2nd and Spieth shook off the disappointment of watching his ball reverse back 70ft and off the green to play a sumptuous chip and putt to make par.
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Butch Harmon has got the funk on with the setup of the 2nd green. A few players have suffered the indignity of landing their approach shots a few yards past the 2nd pin and hearing the appreciative applause of the spectators, only to watch on with horror as the ball waves goodbye to the hole as it rolls back 70ft due to the razor-cut on the green and the tricky downhill pin position. Spieth is the latest to be left vexed. McDowel shows how it should be done, knocking his iron 30ft past the pin and watching it shuffle back up to within 6ft.
Kevin Mannerings has the inside scoop on the making of potential US Open champion Shane Lowry’s deft game around the greens.
I lived in Clara for many years and there is something else important: the famous Erry Pitch&Putt where Shane developed his amazing short game is right beside the bog. I used to go down there to practice chipping and saw Shane and his mates playing there. The thing is, back in those days the greens were tiny and the rough terrible, because petrol was so expensive. The kids didn’t realise how hard it was and just got on with it, hitting balls with fantastic backspin. Nowadays it is a top class Pitch&Putt. That is the back-story on Shane’s unique wedge play.” Lovely stuff.
McDowell has made a dire start. He left himself a wedge to the 1st green and looked like he would cruise to par. But the 1st isn’t playing over par for no reason. The speed of the green plays havoc with the 2010 champion’s judgment. Double bogey. Spieth had to hold his nerve to send home a 6ft putt for par. A sound start.
I’m getting a lot of correspondence from Ireland. Here’s Dermot O’Reilly: “My nerves Gregg, my nerves! Struggling to hold it together here. I’ll not lie, a sicky is on the cards for tomorrow. Praying Shane can do the business. A win for the anti-sports people on the cards. He’s fond of a pint, has probably never been in a gym and always speaks with an openness and honesty. Wouldn’t it be just marvellous!” Indeed, this Lowry is no stick man, that’s for sure.
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A couple of golfers who know what it is like to win this tournament have just teed off. Grame McDowell, who won at Pebble Beach in 2010, and Jordan Spieth, the champion last year, send two glorious tee shots down the fairway. Spieth is in the better location, over towards the left. He’ll need to have a record-breaking round to hold on to his title. He’s +4. He’s good. But probably not that good.
David Lingmerth, who is playing alongside the Englishman Chris Wood this afternoon, is another player to show that the 1st and 2nd could be profitable holes for the contenders later on. He’s birdied them both before bounding off to try his luck at the tricky 3rd. A chip out of the rough to within 8ft of the pin there has given him a chance to make par, which is almost like a birdie on that hole this weekend. He’s +4 and moving up the leaderboard nicely.
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Having birdied the 2nd Bubba Watson tried to be clever on the iconic 3rd by attempting a different angle into the green by aiming his tee shot out towards the 4th fairway. It doesn’t work. In fact, he’s had somewhat of a meltdown, taking a triple-bogey. The steady approach on 3 still appears to be the best one.
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Gary Naylor fills this liveblog’s humour quota …
@greggbakowski Surely a raised bog doesn't need a visitor centre but a visitor centre does need a raised bog #badback
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) June 19, 2016
I’ll just provide you with more info on Clara Bog, should you decide to visit: “Clara Bog is a naturally wet environment with many concealed dangers such as deep pools and quaking surfaces. As with any outdoor activity, dress appropriately.” So, there you go folks. Be careful out there.
Marc Leishman has set off like a train! The Australian has just missed a 15ft birdie put by an inch to the left on the 4th. It would have been his fourth birdie in a row. As it stands he’s tearing into Oakmont. He’s up to +4. That will not go unnoticed by those at the top of the leaderboard limbering up in the clubhouse. There are still plenty of birdies to be wrung out of this course yet.
.@GreggBakowski Is Justin Hicks playing on his own? kinda grim..
— Derek Doyle (@dgdoyle84) June 19, 2016
He is playing with Oakmont assistant pro Devin Gee as a marker. I believe it’s all Henrik Stenson’s fault. He would have had the Swede for company but Stenson cited neck and knee injuries as his round disintegrated yesterday and decided to call it a day. So Hicks will have to save all his red-hot chat for Gee.
Bubba Watson made a solid enough start on the 1st, making par before but since praising Danny Lee the New Zealander has made another bogey. He’s -1 for the fourth round having just crossed the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Meanwhile, a tip of the hat to the Spanish amateur Jon Rahm, who has just birdied the 2nd and the fearsome 3rd. He’s now +6. A fine achievement at Oakmont.
I’ve just asked Barry Glendenning if he knows Shane Lowry, not because he is Irish and everyone Irish knows each other but because Lowry is from Clara, not far from Barry’s old stomping ground. Disappointingly, he doesn’t but he’s heard that Lowry never practices. That’s no surprise really. He wouldn’t want to waste any energy unnecessarily. Lowry’s hometown, Clara, is famous for Clara Bog, a raised bog which contains rare flora. If you’re ever passing, go and have a look at it. It even has a visitor centre.
“I’m desperately hoping big Shane can do it,” prays Niall Mullen. “He’ll have to go some to beat his dad’s 1982 achievement. It remains probably the most famous All Ireland final in history. The greatest team (still probably) ever, Kerry were going for an unprecedented 5th win in a row. They were leading with hardly any time left when up popped Seamus Darby with this beauty to win it for Offaly. There’s even a book written about it.
I’m surprised Barry Glendenning hasn’t filled you in on the Offaly boys of 82.” I’m pretty sure I’ve heard him banging on about it to anyone who’ll listen Niall.
Danny Lee has now made three birdies in the first seven holes. He bogeyed the 3rd but he’s on course to be out in a fine score. He’s currently on +8 as he heads round the 8th. The 3rd is biting hard today. The green is insanely fast.
Bubba Watson has just nailed his drive down the 1st, watching his ball hop along nicely right in the centre of the fairway. He starts at +7. He looked good value to challenge after a fine first-round 69 but fell away on the second day, struggling to a 76. He scored an improved 72 yesterday.
John McEnerney is backing Lowry to see this through, if only because of his build.
@GreggBakowski The Burly Bearded Offaly man looks the part, 4 shots isn't much at Oakmont, its built for "big"chaps though look at Angel C
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) June 19, 2016
He reminds me of the lead character from the Icelandic TV drama Trapped. Languid in his movement at all times. Not one to waste energy unnecessarily. He also looks like the kind of person you’d trust to mind your car. But trust him to win a major?
If Andrew Landry can continue to play with the cool-headedness that has been a mark of his play at Oakmont these past three days he could be in with a chance of becoming the first player to win the US Open on his first attempt since Francis Ouimet at Brookline in 1913. If he did that, it would have to rank as one of golf’s biggest-ever upsets. Nobody knew a thing about him before his first round. It would be up there with Leicester City’s Premier League win in the pinch-me stakes. He was 1,000-1 on Thursday. His relaxed approach has served him so well. In fact, the top three on the leaderboard must be among the most laid-back golfers out there. Their post-round interviews are lessons in lovely, unhurried diction.
Hello again. The fourth round is under way at Oakmont but it will be a while till those who could contend for the shiny trophy get going. The leader, Shane Lowry, is out at 3.30pm local time, 8.30pmBST. He wouldn’t mind beginning his round as Danny Lee has. The New Zealander has made a flyer, birdying one and two. He’ll need just another 15 of those to catch Lowry, as he’s on +8 for the tournament, but maybe his start is a sign that the greens aren’t playing like “motorways” as Westwood said he expected them to before the final round.
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Here we go then!
Hello everyone. By the end of play today we may have a maiden major winner. In fact, I’d put money on it. Of the top 10 names on the leaderboard only Jason Day, the world No1, has one of golf’s big prizes to his name, the PGA Championship, won at Whistling Straits last year. Oakmont has been a cruel host this weekend, showing no mercy and mauling the big names – Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Ricky Fowler, Justin Rose and more were all chewed up and sent skittering through the Oakmont Gates towards Pittsburgh after round two.
The supporting cast have starred – none more so than Andrew Landry, the world No624, whose chances of landing the handsome US Open trophy were laughed out of town by all and sundry on Thursday (and Friday), when he shot a 66 to lead after round one. He has hung in there, ignoring the noise and going about his business very tidily indeed, adding a 70 and a 71 to his total to join Shane Lowry in the final pairing (3.30pm local time/8.30pmBST) for today’s final push. His 45ft birdie putt on the 18th this morning to move to -3 was incredible. The crowd have warmed to him to the extent that there’s a basket-load of attention on the Texan now. So Landry must be feeling the strain having been thrust into the spotlight this weekend then? Not really.
I’m looking forward to it. I’m not feeling any nerves right now. I have a nonchalant attitude towards this so I have nothing to lose. I’ve not had a good year on the PGA Tour so …. if Shane continues to drive it well he’ll have a great chance to win the US Open. I’ll just try to capitalise on any opportunities and pick up birdies when I can.”
And what about Shane Lowry? Unshakeable in rounds one and two, he was majestic in the third round, scoring 65, the third-best round in Oakmont history on greens that were approaching top speed again. The 29-year-old from Co. Offaly in Ireland carries a four-shot lead into the final round. He has a wonderfully relaxed manner about him.
I’ve never felt this comfortable on a course in my life. I am where I am, so why not enjoy it why I’m here? I have a four-shot lead going into the final round. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be. I try to play every hole trying to make no more than a bogey and that’s the way I’ll approach it again this afternoon.
He has a well-known dad in Ireland too. Brendan Lowry won the All-Ireland title with Offaly in 1982. Barry Glendenning, of this parish, may have fond memories of that success, seeing as he’s an Offaly lad himself. But I digress. For a big man, Lowry has had wonderfully soft hands around the Oakmont greens. His chip from an awkward stance to set up a birdie on the 17th this morning was a fine example of how good his touch has become since he won the Irish Open in 2009 as an amateur. His tactic of avoiding double-bogeys has worked to perfection. He has made just two bogeys in each of his three rounds. If he can repeat the trick today and get round in even or better I can’t see anybody catching him.
But there are some big-name nearly-men in close attention. Dustin Johnson and Lee Westwood are masters at almost winning majors. Johnson, particularly, in this very competition. Winning here would help kill some of the demons that have followed him around since three-putting on the 18th at Chambers Bay last year to hand the trophy to Jordan Spieth. He’s also had horror shows at Pebble Beach and Sandwich. Johnson is just four shots behind Lowry, on -3, having played some of the best tee-to-green of his career here. He’s been a little unlucky not to have holed more of his birdie chances. If his putter starts singing, he’ll likely be Lowry’s most combative opponent. Westwood has finished runner-up a few times in majors too. He’s another who has handled Oakmont with calm authority. Sergio had a poor end to his third round, finishing with sand in his shoes, a shaky putter in his hand and a couple more bogeys than he’d like.
Branden Grace and the world No1, Jason Day, carded 66 apiece in the third round. Their putting was supreme. Keep an eye on Day, he began on Thursday in risible fashion – it was as though he didn’t want to be here for Saturday and Sunday – but he has steadily got into his rhythm. Daniel Summerhays can sniff a chance too. He matched Lowry’s 65 in round two and is more than capable of going low again. I’m looking forward to this …
-7: Lowry
-3: Landy, Johnson
-2: Westwood, Summerhays
-1 Grace
E: García, Piercy
Round four tee times (local time/BST)
10am/3pm: Justin Hicks
10.10am/3.10pm: Spencer Levin, Ethan Tracy
10.20am/3.20pm: Matt Fitzpatrick, Romain Wattel
10.30am/3.30pm: Tim Wilkinson, Danny Lee
10.40am/3.40pm: Hideto Tanihara, Matt Marshall
10.50am/3.50pm: James Hahn, Andrew Johnston
11.00am/4pm: Martin Kaymer, Angel Cabrera
11.10am/4.10pm: Lee Slattery, Ryan Moore
11.20am/4.10pm: Danny Willett, Brandon Harkins
11.30am/4.30pm: Bill Haas, Emiliano Grillo
11.40am/4.40pm: Matteo Manassero, Marc Leishman
11.50am/4.50pm: Chase Parker, Jon Rahm
12pm/5pm: Bubba Watson, Byeong Hun An
12.10pm/5.10pm: Cameron Smith, Charley Hoffman
12.20pm/5.20pm: David Lingmerth, Chris Wood
12.30pm/5.30pm: Rob Oppenheim, Brooks Koepka
12.40pm/5.40pm: Jason Kokrak, Justin Thomas
12.50pm/5.50pm: Kevin Kisner, Andrew Sullivan
1pm/6pm: Louis Oosthuizen/Russell Knox
1.10pm/6.10pm: Graeme McDowell, Jordan Spieth
1.20pm/6.20pm: Matt Kuchar, Gregory Bourdy
1.30pm/6.30pm: Jim Furyk, Harris English
1.40pm/6.40pm: Patrick Rodgers, Yusaku Miyazato
1.50pm/6.50pm: Rafa Cabrera Bello, Charl Schwartzel
2pm/7pm: Billy Horschel, Adam Scott
2.10pm/7.10pmpm: Brendan Steele, Derek Fathauer
2.20pm/7.20pm: Sung Kang, Daniel Berger
2.30pm/7.30pm: Jason Dufner, Kevin Na
2.40pm/7.40pm: Kevin Streelman, Zach Johnson
2.50pm/7.50pm: Bryson DeChambeau, Jason Day
3pm/8pm: Scott Piercy, Sergio Garcia
3.10pm/8.10pm: Branden Grace, Daniel Summerhays
3.20pm/8.20pm: Lee Westwood, Dustin Johnson
3.30pm/8.30pm: Andrew Landry, Shane Lowry
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