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Spieth predicting low scores at the U.S. Open

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Jordan Spieth signs autographs during a practice round ahead of the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills in Erin, Wash. on Monday, June 12, 2017. (Copyright USGA/Jeff Haynes)

2015 U.S. Open Champion Jordan Spieth is predicting the winner of the 2017 Open at Erin Hills will go lower than most at a U.S. Open.

Rory McIlroy won in 2011 by finishing 16-under par, but that isn’t par for the course at a normally difficult U.S. Open.  In fact, if you take McIlroy’s score out if the equation, the average winning score since 2006 has been 1.1 strokes under par.

Spieth told reporters on Tuesday that someone who has good control of the ball off the tee will have plenty of opportunities to make birdies, given the conditions that are expected.

Those conditions are for off and on rain throughout the tournament, which will leave the green’s soft and receptive to the type of target shooting that the pro’s love.

AUDIO: Jordan Spieth asked what will win this U.S. Open :17

Jason Day, who won the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, said he doesn’t care about the winning score, as long as he figures into the race. [Read more…]

Practice continues at Erin Hills with the U.S. Open to start Thursday

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Shane Lowry watches his tee shot on the sixth hole during a practice round ahead of the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills in Erin, Wash. on Monday, June 12, 2017. (Copyright USGA/Darren Carroll)

The world’s best golfers continue to get their practice rounds in as they prepare for the start of the U.S. Open on Thursday at Erin Hills.

The players love the course but not everything about the course.  The players that feel that way, have no doubt had an experience with the thick fescue that lines the fairways.

The fairways are generous in their width, which helps.  But if the pro’s miss, they’re in for some trouble.

Kevin Na posted a video on Instagram Sunday.  He tossed a ball into the thick grass, took a pair of swings before losing the ball entirely.  The airways are generally about 50% wider then most U.S. Open venues.  So players will be rewarded for driving it straight.  If they don’t, the penalty could prove difficult.

USGA officials will also have to keep an eye on the skies.  There is rain in the forecast for the week.  Wednesday and Saturday appear to be the two biggest threats, but there’s pop-up shower chances throughout the tournament.

A number of top golfers are scheduled to meet with reporters today to talk further about the course and their game, heading into the U.S. Open on Thursday.

Stricker set to tee off with Mickelson at U.S. Open

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Steve Stricker

Six-time U.S. Open runner-up Phil Mickelson is expected to withdraw from the U.S. Open to attend his daughter’s high school graduation in Carlsbad, California.  The ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, June 15, the same day as the opening round of the 2017 U.S. Open.

But Mickelson still hasn’t withdrawn, so he was included in the list of tee times for the first two days of the upcoming major at Erin Hills.

Mickelson is listed with Madison’s Steve Stricker and Stewart Cink, scheduled to tee off at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday and then again at 8:35 a.m. Friday on hole number 10.

Jordan Niebrugge of Mequon is the only other Wisconsin golfer in the U.S. Open field and will tee off on the first tee at 6:45 a.m. Thursday.  His second round will start at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.

Dustin Johnson is the defending U.S. Open champion.  He’ll tee off with a pair of former champions, Jordan Spieth and Martin Kaymer at 8:35 a.m. Thursday and 2:30 p.m. on Friday.

Stricker, Niebrugge earn their way into 117th U.S. Open Field (AUDIO)

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Erin Hills

Steve Stricker had his request for a special exemption into the U.S. Open denied, so Monday he went out and earned a spot in the field.

The 50-year-old Stricker shot rounds of 67 and 65 to win the sectional in Memphis, Tennessee, earning one of the 156 spots in the U.S. Open field at Erin Hills next week.

Jordan Niebrugge of Mequon also qualified, finishing in a tie for second in the Tacoma, Washington sectional.  Niebrugge fired rounds of 73 and 67.  He and Stricker are the only two players with Wisconsin ties to make the U.S. Open field.

Stricker will be making his 20th appearance in the U.S. Open.  His best finishes came when he took fifth in both 1998 and 1999.

The 23-year-old Niebrugge will be making his U.S. Open debut, but he does have some major experience.  Niebrugge tied for sixth place at the 2015 British Open as an amateur and also played in the 2014 Masters.  Niebrugge also won a qualifier for the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at Erin Hills in 2013 and ended up capturing the title. [Read more…]

Six golfers with Wisconsin ties set for US Open Qualifying

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Steve Stricker

With the start of the U.S. Open (June 15-18) at Erin Hills just a couple of weeks away, six golfers with Wisconsin ties will be attempting to earn a spot in the field through open qualifying on Monday.

Madison’s Steve Stricker tops the list.  He has played in 19 U.S. Opens and has 11 top-25 finishes.  Stricker finished fifth in both 1998 and 1999 and has 12 PGA Tour victories.  He’ll be joined at Germantown Country Club and Ridgeway Country Club in Memphis, Tennessee by two others. Mark Wilson of Menomonee Falls has four U.S. Open appearances.  26-year-old substitute teacher Austin Gaugert will be attempting to gain a spot in his first U.S. Open.

Marquette assistant golf coach Richard Todd will attempt to qualify in Columbus, Ohio.

Mequon’s Jordan Niebrugge, who won the silver medal as the low amateur (tied for 6th) in the 2016 Open Championship at St. Andrews, will take his shot in Tacoma, Washington.  Niebrugge won the 2013 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship and was a member of the 2013 and 2015 Walker Cup teams.

Osceola’s 23-year-old Charlie Danielson will attempt to qualify in Springfield, Ohio.  He competed in his first U.S. Open last year at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club and was chosen 2016 Big Ten Conference Player of the Year.

 

Erin Hills tested me, will it test the pros?

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As the 117th U.S. Open Championship at Erin Hills approaches, the question remains; Will the winds be blowing when the world’s best players arrive?

There is no definitive answer to that question.  The U.S. Open is set for June 15-18, less than a month away.  The course will be one of the longest ever in a major championship at 7,693 yards.

USGA officials expect the winds to blow, it’s one of the traits of the property.  But if it rains and the winds don’t blow, the pro’s could have a field day.

“If there’s no wind for four days, that would be highly unusual, but they’ll definitely shoot lower scores,” said USGA Executive Director Mike Davis.  “If it’s softer they’re going to shoot lower scores.  The greens are so good they’re going to make putts. [Read more…]

Tickets on sale for 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills

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Erin Hills

Erin Hills

Tickets for the 2017 U.S. Open Championship at Erin Hills are now available for purchase on usga.org/tickets and usopen.com.

The 117th U.S. Open Championship, scheduled for June 15-18, will be the first in Wisconsin and the first in the Midwest since 2003 at Olympia Fields Country Club in Illinois.  It will also be the sixth publicly accessible course to host the championship.

Erin Hills opened in 2006 and hosted the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links and the 2011 U.S. Amateur championships.

The 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club marks the 30th consecutive sellout of championship-round tickets.

 

Niebrugge ties for fourth at Erin Hills

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Erin Hills

Erin Hills

Mequon amateur golf standout Jordan Niebrugge finished in a tie for fourth at the Erin Hills Intercollegiate tournament northwest of Milwaukee.

The Oklahoma State senior finished his three rounds at five-under-par 211.  Niebrugge had the lowest score by an amateur in a major when he placed sixth at this  year’s British Open.

Niebrugge helped the Cowboys take second place at Erin Hills, which will serve as the host for the 2017 U-S Open.

Southern Methodist won the tournament at 13-under-par.  Marquette, which hosted the eleven-team tournament, took fifth at 12-over-par.  Wisconsin was sixth at 18-over-par.

Jonathan Garrick of U-C-L-A was the individual champ at ten-under-206.  Oliver Farrell tied for eighth to lead Marquette.  Michael Abrahamson was the top Badger, tying for 14th.