SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – The player with the unbreakable spirit who finds a way to win this 118th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills could well be a player who has tapped into the requisite stoicism and toughness once already. Dustin Johnson (2016), Brooks Koepka (2017), Justin Rose (2013) and even 48-year-old Jim Furyk (2003) are among those on the first page of the leaderboard who have already won the tournament once. Their secret? Taking their lumps, biting their tongues and coming back for more. “It’s the U.S. Open,â€� said Furyk, who shot 72 and at 6 over is just three off the lead shared by Johnson (77), Koepka (72) and early finishers Daniel Berger (66) and Tony Finau (66). “You know that they’re trying to set the golf course up as close to the edge as possible.â€� The four co-leaders going into Sunday ties the U.S. Open record. Johnny Miller was among four who shared the lead in 1973; Jordan Spieth was one of a quartet at the top in 2015. Both won. “I’m glad I’m in the position I’m in,â€� said Koepka, who is trying to become the first player to successfully defend his U.S. Open title since Curtis Strange (1988, ’89). Rose (73) is just one back after hitting just six greens in regulation but taking only 27 putts, and could be playing for not just his second U.S. Open trophy but also his third PGA TOUR win this season and the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking. He could also take over in pole position in the FedExCup. Others in the hunt include fellow major winners Henrik Stenson (2016 Open Championship), who shot 74 and is just two off the lead, and Patrick Reed (2018 Masters), who shot 71 and suddenly finds himself just three back in a bid to win a second straight major. No player has won the season’s first two majors since Jordan Spieth in 2015. One day after a golden twilight bathed Shinnecock and late starters enjoyed an almost total absence of wind, Saturday brought strong gusts, hot sun and crispy greens. The casualties included Rickie Fowler (84), Phil Mickelson (81) and Scott Piercy (79), among others. Still, no one cried foul among those who go into Sunday with a chance. “I feel like the whole entire golf course is fair, even with how the wind is blowing, even with 13 and 15, where those pins are,â€� said Reed. “There’s going to be a lot of guys that are going to complain about those two holes.â€� Mike Davis, the USGA’s CEO, admitted that the organization let a few holes get away from them in the windier-than-expected weather, but your U.S. Open contenders didn’t go there. “I enjoy it,â€� Koepka said. “I enjoy firing away from pins and having to be conservative sometimes and just finding a way to get through it. 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,â€� he added. “Some guys get down on themselves. You can eliminate them pretty much right away. You can’t get frustrated. You just got to keep plugging away. I think that’s why I’ve done so well.â€� How far back is too far back? Ian Poulter (76) and Charley Hoffman (77) are in a large group at 7 over, four off the lead, and among others with a reasonable chance on Sunday is FedExCup leader Justin Thomas (74, 8 over), who will go into the final round just five back. Given that Berger and Finau each started Saturday 11 shots behind and will wake up Sunday morning tied for the lead, that margin looks imminently surmountable. Attitude may be the final determinant. Instead of debating whether the pins were set too close to the edges, those on first page of the leaderboard have focused on staying away from those edges. “You’ve just got to stay on the fat side of the green,â€� said Furyk, who is already likely to wind up in the World Golf Hall of Fame (17 PGA TOUR wins, including a major and two sub-60 rounds) but would be a shoe-in with another U.S. Open victory. The forecast for Sunday is more sunshine, but with intermittent breezes. Perhaps the USGA will throw some extra water on the course in an effort not to repeat its mistakes of the past. Perhaps not. Best to assume the leaders will face a nasty, fast and fierce Shinnecock. And best to assume the last man standing will waste little or no energy complaining about it.
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