Expert Picks: Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard

ERIN, Wis. – In terms of experience, Jordan Spieth and Peter Uihlein should have an advantage on the rest of the 156-man field at the U.S. Open. They both reached the quarterfinals of the 2011 U.S. Amateur, the only other major competition that has been held at Erin Hills. But that deep run on the sprawling, linksy layout might not have helped as much as you’d think. “It’s weird, I don’t remember much from 2011,� Spieth said Tuesday. U.S. Open: Tee times | Full coverage He remembered that he was in form, coming off a U.S. Junior title a few weeks earlier. He remembered the par-5 opener. He also remembered the last four holes, and in particular the par-5 18th – that’s where he went bunker-to-bunker-to-bunker

Right when it looked as though Xander Schauffele had lost his grip on an Olympic gold medal, he delivered two clutch putts Sunday for a one-shot victory in the men’s golf competition. Schauffele made a 6-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole to take the lead, and then made a 4-foot par putt on the final hole for a 4-under 67. Rory Sabbatini of Slovakia set the men’s Olympic record with a 61 and won the silver.

Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele were discussing the quality of a certain golf shot, not belonging to either one of them, when the conversation turned into the self-deprecating variety. ”If you want to know how to hook a 3-wood into the garbage, I can help with that,” Thomas said. ”If you need to know how to three-putt,” Schauffele countered, pointing toward the 18th green at Kapalua.