Jason Day was No. 1 in the world not that long ago. Then, it all went away. A win at the Wells Fargo Championship is more proof he’s got his groove back.
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NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. — J.T. Poston shot a bogey-free 6-under 66 on Friday to take the second-round lead in the PGA TOUR’s Barbasol Championship. RELATED: Louis Oosthuizen goes low to lead The Open Championship | Leaderboard Poston had a 13-under 131 total at rain-soaked Keene Trace in the tournament that was delayed twice Thursday because of rain and lightning. Because of the wet conditions, players were allowed to use preferred lies in the fairways. “It’s been really good,” Poston said. “Just ball-striking’s been a lot better than I’d say it has been the last few months. Just nice to give myself a lot of looks. They’re bent greens, it’s soft. Hit the ball close to the hole and you can make a few putts, too.” Poston had late birdies on the par-4 seventh and par-5 eighth in the round that began on No. 10. The 28-year-old former Western Carolina player won the 2019 Wyndham Championship in Greensboro for his lone PGA TOUR title. He’s comfortable on Keene Trace’s greens. “They’re a lot like what I grew up on in Hickory, North Carolina,” Poston said. “They’re bent and they’re about the same speed as what I’m probably used to when I was a kid. Just kind of brings back some good memories of putting on that putting green growing up. It just feels normal to me.” Ryan Armour and Joseph Bramlett were a stroke back, each shooting 67. “It was softer today,” Armour said. “Definitely that rain yesterday afternoon, the two rain delays we had, I was not getting any bounce on the driver, it was kind of hit and plug, which I would love it if it would bounce a little more, the length I hit it, but I’m still able to get to three of the par 5s, which is good for me.” Brian Stuard, tied for the first-round lead after a 64, shot a 69 to drop into a tie for fourth at 11 under with Taylor Pendrith (68), Luke List (68) and Seamus Power (68). “Today, obviously, wasn’t quite as good,” Stuard said. “I didn’t think I hit my irons as well as I did yesterday, but hung in there nicely and was able to kind of put together a good score, which is good.” Pendrith finished his late afternoon round in the rain. Defending champion Jim Herman was 7 under after a 70. He won in 2019, and the event was canceled last year. Will Grimmer, tied with Stuard for the lead after wrapping up an opening 64 in the morning, shot a 74 in the second round to drop to 6 under. Wilco Nienaber, the big-hitting South African who received a foreign exemption to play, had a 71 to get to 5 under. John Daly missed the cut with rounds of 76 and 70.
Here are nine tidbits from the final round of the 118th United States Open that gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., is hosting for the fifth time in history and plays 7,440 yards to a Par-70. National Champion Again Brooks Koepka fired a final round 68 to post 281 to win his second consecutive United States Open. The podium was rounded off by Englishman Tommy Fleetwood (282) and 2016 champion Dustin Johnson (283). There were plenty of questions about the selection and set-up of Erin Hills last year. Koepka couldn’t care less about those questions as he beat that Par-72 windless layout into oblivion. The course with wide fairways and huge greens with four Par-5 holes didn’t resemble a “true” U.S. Open layout or challenge. Koepka’s winning score of 16-under tied the record in relation to par and people grumbled. He returned as the reigning champion this year, hustling to get into form because of a wrist injury suffered late last year, to a course that was the quintessential opposite of the one he defeated, rather easily, last year. The beast that is Shinnecock Hills would test his wrist, mettle and entire bag and he passed again with flying colors. Koepka finished second in driving distance yet just T55 in fairways. He found 49 of 72 GIR, the fourth-best effort of the week. He circled 14 birdies, also the fourth-best effort. His final round in the penultimate group with buddy Dustin Johnson saw him circle five birdies against just one bogey before his safety-first approach on the final green with a two-shot lead. I can hear the gamers screaming “where were you last week in Memphis” as he was the most-selected player in both PGA TOUR games. Given the choice of last week versus this week, I can’t argue with you. Only six previous players have defended their title so winning this week would be some feat at just 28. With Koepka winning on a “new” school course followed by a historical classic, it’s clear he’s worthy of a look regardless of the event. His last 11 majors have included two titles and nothing worse than T21 as he cements his place as one of the young studs on TOUR. Know Thy Enemy These were the top-10 selected golfers, plus one, in the PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf game presented by SERVPRO. Rickie Fowler’s weekend of 84-65 was interesting so hopefully gamers played him on the right day! Based on the above, some might have been stuck, like I was, using him in both rounds. Luckily for me I had Mickelson with him on Saturday and they earned me MINUS FIVE points. Not awesome. PAIN OR GAIN These were the top-10 selected golfers (plus one) in the PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO: Tough week for Johnson’s investors but a podium finish is a little easier to take than a few of the results on the table above. Only one guy can win but it’s evident this THE major to play Johnson. Tommy, Boy! Tommy Fleetwood adds his name to the list of players who have signed for 63 in a major championship. He also adds his name to the list of players that didn’t win while doing so. His eight birdies, after making zero during a 78 in Round 3, were cancelled out by just one bogey. He had an eight-footer on the last to tie the major championship record of 62 set just last summer at Royal Birkdale by Braden Grace. Fleetwood backed up his fourth-place money at Erin Hills last year with solo second Sunday, his best finish in a major. Just Missed, Again Dustin Johnson’s U.S Open history is colorful, pitiful and filled with plenty of “what if” and this edition adds to this novel. He was magnificent over the first 36 holes on the more difficult side of the draw, leading by four at the half-way point. His weekend saw him post 77 in Round 3 and yet began the final round tied for first. His final round of 70, even par, wasn’t good enough to win, force a playoff or even take home second place alone. Yeah, it was a strange week to say the least. Captain America Patrick Reed improved every round and his 68 on Sunday was the best of the bunch. He birdied five of his first seven holes to ignite the grand slam conversation. He ran out of magic as he came home in 37 but his last three finishes in a major are stout. He was T2 at the PGA Championship, picked up his first major at Augusta and solo fourth, his best finish and first top-10 payday at the U.S. Open. Drive for Dough Entering the week Tony Finau (5th) checked in at No. 2 in driving distance and No. 195 in driving accuracy. The first number was a plus but the second surely had to be a hindrance. Nope. He found just enough fairways (T51) and GIR (T12) that led to 17 birdies, the most in the event. Playing with Daniel Berger in the final group after his outstanding 66 Saturday morning, his 72 led to his second consecutive top-10 payday in the majors. This one did not involve a dislocated ankle though! Finau has a top 10 at every major with the exception of the Open Championship. Length travels. Sunday Silence Playing in his first final group in a major Daniel Berger signed for 73 and shared sixth. He’s now cashed at Pinehurst, Oakmont and Shinnecock Hills while just missing at Erin Hills. His worst finish in three Masters is T32. These are clues folks! This experience will be stored away in the memory bank for next time. He’ll be in play for gamers this week at the Travelers Championship as he lost in a playoff to Spieth last year. … Justin Rose was stalking the lead entering the weekend but 73-73 in the final 36 holes knocked him back to T10. That’s four top 10’s in just seven of 13 made cuts for the Englishman in this event. This one stings for gamers as he was one out of the lead on the first tee Sunday. … Jim Furyk began the day T7 and shot 80 to finish T48. Study Hall The final round scoring average was 72.180 (+2.180), the easiest round of the week by almost 1.5 shots. After the uproar on Saturday I don’t think many gamers were surprised to see birdies and lack of others in the final round. … The scoring average for the week was 74.650 as 67 players who made the cut finished worse than par. … There were zero bogey-free rounds recorded for the round and for the week. … LSU rising senior Luis Gagne and Mid Amateur champ Matt Parziale shared the low amateur (T48).
Instead of chasing his third consecutive win at the Valspar Championship this week, two-time defending champ Paul Casey is still trying to sort things out — just like the rest of us in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. On a Friday conference call with golf writers, Casey was asked a variety of questions, including his thoughts on a potential compact major schedule once play resumes (“I’m fine with that. I’ll suck it upâ€�) and the potential of playing without fans (“If that’s what needed … at least we’re still out there playingâ€�). Here are his extended answers on the disappointment of not being able to defend this week, the new normal that we’re living in, concern for his parents, and the importance of golf in the current climate. ‘Guess I’ll still be going for three in a row’ Less than two weeks ago, Casey was preparing for THE PLAYERS Championship, to be followed by the Valspar Championship. The things changed quickly. “We went from probably a space of 48 hours from being slightly concerned to suddenly canceling events after the NBA [suspended] their season. Obviously, it’s disappointing not to defend at Valspar and now suddenly the situation is no longer about golf. It’s a whole plethora of things now. It’s worrying about people’s safety, people’s health, the economic impact of that. Look at somebody at Tampa, there’s probably going to be people who probably get sick, lose jobs, loss of income, a whole bunch of other things. It’s weird one. It’s a really strange one. It’s a strange thing … “Hopefully the impact of not having this year, the 2020 Valspar Championship, doesn’t affect too many people. There will still be money going to charity, which is an amazing thing, that [tournament director] Tracy West and her team can still donate some … “I guess I’ll still be going for three in a row [next year]. Hopefully we can get the field that we were looking at getting this week, which would have been maybe one of the best field they’ve ever had. Everybody will just want us to get back going again. We obviously don’t know how long this is going to be, but people are going to be craving golf and I know I’ll be craving golf and I’ll be looking forward to getting back out there. Hopefully when whenever it happens, the 2021 Valspar Championship will be as good if not better than it was going to be this year.â€� ‘Trying to figure out what to do’ Casey was asked how he’s passed the time in the last week without a tournament to play and defend. “I just did a podcast with Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz, so it should probably take another week before they edit that and get it out. I’ve been playing football — or soccer as you’d call it — with my little boy outside a lot, riding my bike. My clubs are still packed up in my Club Glove in the garage; I haven’t dusted them off yet … “Whisper Rock’s still open, but I can’t go down to Papago and practice where the Arizona State team practices because I’m not allowed down there because they’ve closed the facility to all non-students, which is understandable [Casey played collegiately at Arizona State]. One of the golf clubs I’m a member at in the Valley has had a member and his wife test positive for coronavirus, so very limited access down there. “So I don’t know. I’m trying to formulate a plan. Right now it’s teaching the kids. It’s wake up and we have a schedule of breakfast time and then reading time and then creative time and TV time and all that kind of stuff, so that’s basically what I’m doing. I’m trying to figure out what to do. This is unfamiliar, this is unlike anything. I’m a big fan of time off, and you’ve talked to me in the past. There’s been times I’ve taken 3-4 weeks without hitting golf balls and it’s quite common for me in the offseason, but there’s always been a prospect of going back to work. So I’m trying to balance it out, pacing myself because that’s really the unknown.â€� ‘Technically, can I get there?’ Although he lives in Arizona, Casey has family in his native England but suspects he won’t be able to see them for quite some time. “My parents were in South Africa until about two days ago, they were just down on holiday. You know my dad is South African; they were down there visiting friends and family and it was very strange because just a few days ago, things obviously multiplied drastically rapidly. “My brother who’s in New York, we were messaging backward and forward thinking mom and dad need to get out of South Africa. I mean not that anywhere is particularly safe, but they’d rather surely be at home, so the last few days were a bit strange, making sure they get back safely, making sure they weren’t stuck, what happens if suddenly UK airspace is closed or something like that? And then when my parents got home, I imagine the fridge would probably be empty and they’re right in … the crosshairs of danger, shall we say. They’re in their 70s. “I don’t know — it’s weird and if something were to happen, technically can I get there? I can’t, really — which is just the same as everybody else on the planet. I’m no different. My wife, her parents are elderly as well and have underlying health issues, so yeah, the focus is very much been on that. Luckily, they’re back home now. I don’t know if that makes them safer or not but at least they’re back in their own home.â€� ‘A great place to be’ Casey said he has no hesitation in playing golf during the current crisis – as long as the necessary precautions are taken. “I love some of the new rules, the new norm that has been adopted. In fact, I was just talking to Colt Knost earlier on his podcast. He’s all pissed off ‘cause he’s obviously a great putter and now he’s frustrated that the guys are raising the cups up. You know, what passes as a holed putt now? If it just hits the cup, does that mean it just goes in, does that mean you can just hit the cup as hard as you want and it’s a holed putt? He’s all frustrated by that, but I love the fact we can still play this game and we don’t have to get that close to anybody to do it. “I don’t want to put anybody at risk and assume the golf courses are going to be in their usual manicured state. If people choose not to come to work … so the greens aren’t maybe the same kind of manicured way they normally are, the bunkers aren’t raked — I’m totally fine with that. I don’t really care. I’m accepting to play on any kind of golf course if that’s still cool. “Yeah, I’m not going to handle the flag; I’m not going to pick up my partner’s golf ball. If you’re riding in a cart, separate carts. Or you just walk, just pick up your bag and go. “All the rules of the golf clubs I’m a member at have been relaxed. I’m obviously a member of some nice clubs in the Scottsdale area. There’s no more valet, guys are parking their cars in the car park and changing their shoes and just walking to the first tee. We’ve got no food in the clubhouse; they don’t even want anybody in the clubhouse and that’s totally cool. People are still out there playing. People aren’t getting close to each other. I’m fine with that. I think it’s a great place to be. “In fact, I’ve never seen so many people outside walking. Weather’s great in Arizona right now. They’re hiking, they’re walking on the streets, they’re riding bikes, getting out there and doing stuff, which I think is amazing. And the golf course is the perfect place to do it. So I hope they stay open. I really do. I’d be sad if they closed. As I said, I don’t care what state they’re in – the fairways can be long, the greens can be long, the bunkers can be unraked. I couldn’t care less. I think it’d be a great place just to be out on the golf course, away from people.â€�
