US OPen 2021

[Corona Man]

The 121st Staging of The US Open begins in the early hours of tomorrow (Australian Time).

The US Open returns to Torrey Pines, San Diego California, for the first time since 2008. On that occasion Tiger triumphed on one leg, and no, not the middle one.

The course will be fully tricked up, fast greens and very penal rough, particularly greenside. I'd expect many of the players will "bail out" and opt to play out of the bunkers than take on the rough.

Been a bit of talk around the Koepka Vs De Chambeau slanging match which has continued over social media. Appartently big Brooks encouraging fans to heckle Bryson. Not sure that's quite in the mild mannered spirit of golf. Don't think that's Palmer/Nicklaus type behavior, but whatever. There was a bit of tension years ago between Tiger & Phil, but that has cooled now. So perhaps that's a case of a couple of young bulls marking their ground.

John Rahm enters the week as the $10.00 favorite, following his Corona holiday at the end of the 3rd round of the Memorial where he had a commanding 6 shot lead.

DeChambeau is the defending champ and is a $15 hope. The next line of betting see's DJ and Xander Schaufeelle together as $17 quotes.

Going to be an interesting tournament to see who can get it done, a roughie may be Garrick Higgo - the young South African looked the goods last week, and took the money.

I am on Xander this week. A San Diego native, who has been knocking the ball around at Torrey Pines since high school. Hoping some local knowledge see's him salute.

[Mythical Creature]

I'm going to put a bit on Tony Finou.
Was watching some pre show talk last night and he is a significantly better putter at torrey pines then he is for his career averages.
He's just gotta get from tee to green.

[Corona Man]

I'm going to put a bit on Tony Finou.
Was watching some pre show talk last night and he is a significantly better putter at torrey pines then he is for his career averages.
He's just gotta get from tee to green.

Finau strikes me as one of those good ordinary players destined to never win a major...... I could of course be wrong here.

[Eagles2014]

I hope may be Leishman's turn, not done well in US open previously, but has won at this course which has to be a bonus.

[Corona Man]

I hope may be Leishman's turn, not done well in US open previously, but has won at this course which has to be a bonus.

Yes has won here but this week will be a very different course set up than when he won. That said, I am always hoping for the Aussies..

[Mythical Creature]

I'm going to put a bit on Tony Finou.
Was watching some pre show talk last night and he is a significantly better putter at torrey pines then he is for his career averages.
He's just gotta get from tee to green.

Finau strikes me as one of those good ordinary players destined to never win a major...... I could of course be wrong here.

You're probably right.
Don't think I've ever got a golf bet right yet.
Will be fun watching, I prefer watching the pros hitting from the rough rather than a birdie fest as its more relatable!

[Corona Man]

2 rounds down and we have a pair of unexpected golfers atop the leaderboard.

A 48-year-old journeyman golfer from Southampton ranked 115th who had never won a top-flight tournament until 35 days ago.

World, meet Richard Bland. His second round 4 under par score was anything but bland.

The unheralded Englishman, who went off as a 500-1 underdog this week at Torrey Pines Golf Club, added a second-round 67 to his opening-round 70 to go five under for the championship and a share of the 36-hole lead with the Georgia native, Russell Henley.

Bland, whose four appearances in major tournaments have been scattered across four different decades, started on the back nine beneath a marine layer overcast and reached the turn at two under, then added three more birdies over the next six holes to match the low round of the tournament.

“I was feeling pretty good about my game,” said Bland, who is playing on American soil for only the second time in a 28-year professional career and betraying no sign of nerves on the sport’s biggest stage. “I’ve been driving the ball well for five, six weeks now, which is the cornerstone if you’re going to put a fight up for a US Open.

American Russell Henley (& Grange) sits alongside Bland, and will make an unlikely final pairing on Saturday.

1 shot behind is Matt Wolff, who as his name suggest is stalking the leaders and ready to pounce. Joining Wolff on the score of -4 is Louis Oosthuizen. Can he go on and take the title in 2021?

A further shot adrift at -3 are Bubba Watson, who is back in contention at a major for the first time in quite some years. Pre Tournament favorite Jon Rahm is also on -3

Three players sit on -2, Canadian Mackenzie Hughes, my man Xander Schauffele, and 42 year old American Kevin Streelman.

Greens are getting firmer and less receptive, so birdies and eagles could prove elusive over the weekend.

[Corona Man]

Henley going well here. Has a 2 shot lead over Bland..

[Corona Man]

10 players within 1 shot of the lead with 12 holes to play.

Wide open, not sure who wins from here.

[Corona Man]

Louie has steadied now has a 1 shot lead over Rahm with 6 holes to play.

Been some crazy stuff going on. Koepka chunking chips, DeChambeau blading bunker shots, Hughes lodges a ball up a tree...

[Dutchy]

Just when you think you have seen everything

[Corona Man]

Rahm rolls in a bomb to join Louie in the lead...

[Corona Man]

Rahm birdies the 18th to take a 1 shot lead. Louie has 4 still to play...

[Mr Beefy]

Rahm gets another one to take the clubhouse lead

[Dutchy]

Bryson is all over the place

[Corona Man]

Bryson is all over the place

Just had a snowman...

[mighty_tiger_79]

Can Louis pick up Rahm?



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[Corona Man]

Big miss on 17 by Louie.... ouch.

[mighty_tiger_79]

And there it goes for Louis... gonna be hard now

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[Corona Man]

Rahm wins.