Long, tough grass, large crowds and constant media attention made the Canadian Open a strong matchup for the US Open this weekend. Especially for Canadians competing for their national championship, with increased responsibilities.
Posted at 17:32
Updated at 8:24 pm
Corey Conners was crowned the best Canadian by finishing sixth in the competition, with a final round 62, eight under par. He will be the highest ranked Canadian for the third major of the season.
The tournament will take place this year at the Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, a historic course in suburban Boston. The USGA, which organizes the competition, is especially fond of the very long grass, undulating greens and narrow fairways.
“I think a lot of the things I was able to do this week will help me next week at Brookline,” Conners said last Sunday after his final round at St George’s. The course was good this week, a bit like a big tournament. You had to hit several different shots to keep the ball on short grass. »
His result at the Canadian Open allowed him to climb to 30me in the world rankings, a career milestone for the 30-year-old golfer. It was his fourth top-10 finish this season, including a tie for sixth at the Masters.
Conners thinks he can take that pace to Brookline and get another strong finish there.
“Over the years I learned how to manage my energy, how to prepare for the big tournaments, and I missed the weekend rounds in all three of his US Open appearances. I have a plan. I’ll try to follow it and have fun. »
Conners will lead a contingent that will be completed by Mackenzie Hughes, Roger Sloan, Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin. The five PGA golfers will be joined by Ben Silverman, who plays on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Silverman will be in the first major tournament of his career.
The spotlight finally turned to the US Open.
The US Golf Open is not the first major tournament to take place on American soil to be relegated to the background, lost amid chatter and innuendo on topics unrelated to birdies and bogeys.
Golf was no longer the main concern on the eve of the 1990 PGA Championship in Shoal Creek, Alabama. The club’s founder had said that he would not be pressured into accepting a black member. Corporate sponsors began pulling their television ads, protests were organized, and Shoal Creek granted membership to a black insurance industry executive a week before the tournament.
Until the first tee shot, most of the news had focused on the controversy and its impact on golf, rather than Nick Faldo’s chances of winning his third Grand Slam of the year.
In 2003, activist Martha Burk requested that the Augusta National Club, home of the Masters Tournament, accept a woman as a member, to which club president Hootie Johnson responded that that day might come, but “not at the end of the day.” bayonet”.
Tiger Woods was aiming for his third consecutive Masters win, a feat that had never been achieved, and reporters asked him 10 questions about social problems and the chaos in Augusta. Then when Thursday came around, rain canceled the first round.
The difference is that the US Open has been relegated to the background due to developments for which its organizers are not responsible. This return to Brookline comes a week after the first LIV Golf tournament, financed by a Saudi fund, was held in London.
Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, the top two quitters, are among 14 players suspended by the PGA Tour for signing up for the new Tour and competing at the US Open this weekend.
Mickelson defended his decision. Rory McIlroy said players who signed up for the 54-hole no-limit, guaranteed-money events were “taking the easy way out.”
Mickelson received nothing but applause and support, not as loud as previous years, during his practice rounds. He can expect some renditions of “Happy Birthday” in the first round from him on Thursday, which will coincide with his 52nd birthday.me birthday.
In general, the US Open requires more precision than power, as well as patience. However, the most recent editions have favored hard hitters: Jon Rahm last year, Bryson DeChambeau at Winged Foot, Gary Woodland at Pebble Beach and Brooks Koepka in back-to-back years and Johnson at Oakmont.
Above all, this is an opportunity to make history and win the second oldest championship in golf. That should be enough to hold the public’s attention for four days.
“We’re here in a major tournament, we’re here to win the US Open, and we’re here to beat everyone else that’s part of this golf contingent, this great golf contingent,” Collin said. Morikawa, winner of two career Grand Slams.
“That’s what it’s about. »