The 119th U.S. Open is held at one of the most picturesque golf courses in the world, and also doubles for one of the most difficult golf courses in the world. And I love it.
This week is my favorite week of the year. Some love the Super Bowl, some love The Masters. The U.S. Open is what I look forward to every single year. Call me strange, or weird, or demented, but I really like watching the best golfers in the world look like us mortal hackers.
Not only is this my favorite week of the year, but this year's edition also has so many juicy storylines that I cannot wait to see play out. Can Phil complete the career grand slam? Can Tiger add to his major total? Will Brooks Koepka make it three U.S. Open wins in a row? If today was any indication, we are in for a GREAT tournament.
The 1st round of the U.S. Open was not the most difficult scoring day by any means, but as the day went along, Pebble Beach showed its teeth. I don’t think the low-ish scores were a mistake. I think it was a gift from the USGA. For years the USGA has taken a lot of heat from players for the “unplayable” conditions the governing body has tried to create in the past. The USGA is stubborn, like a lot of governing bodies. Thankfully they allowed the course to be a little more “gettable” through the first round. Here’s the proof…
----------------------------------Today's 17 eagles were the most in a single round in #USOpen history: https://t.co/uqfOLOd4O7 pic.twitter.com/Q0KBgia2LY
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 14, 2019Californians represented well in the first round with two players in the top 5 hailing from Southern California. Murrieta’s Rickie Fowler, and San Diego State’s Xander Schauffele ended the day with a 5-under 66. Fan favorite Rickie Fowler has yet to breakthrough in a major, and will have to keep the foot on the gas pedal the next three days.
It was England’s Justin Rose that will go to sleep with the first round lead at Pebble. He shot a blistering 6-under, 65, to take the solo lead. Rose’s scorecard looks like a good old fashioned U.S. Open scorecard with eleven par’s, five birdies, an eagle, and only one bogey. Don’t sleep on Justin Rose. He is one of the most consistent players on tour and already has shown he can win a major. If he gets on one of his rolls like he did today, watch out.
Justin Rose sinks a long putt on 17 to pull into a five-way tie for the lead! #USOpen pic.twitter.com/3HWn3rs3ZL
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 14, 2019In the end, Justin Rose tied the U.S. Open course record with this putt on 18.
History!Justin Rose finishes with 65, tying the lowest #USOpen round at Pebble Beach. pic.twitter.com/FjOHUHqLq1
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 14, 2019Ok, ok the part you were all waiting for. What did Tiger Woods do?
Well, Tiger had a solid day, but he wasn’t able to score like the Tiger of the past. The front 9 yielded three birdies in four holes, BUT sandwiched in between those was a double bogey on the par 3 3rd hole. Although he didn’t give any shots away, he par’d the entire back nine, which helped keep him in the mix. It wasn’t without drama though. Here’s Tiger being Tiger with the putter to save a long par.
Tiger is all about the par saves today. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/vASl0nPkgP
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 14, 2019Tiger is only 4 shots back and well within range. Here's a birdie to give you those Tiger feels.
Tiger's putting today = -- #USOpen pic.twitter.com/qC7wIzpL9v
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 13, 2019Now to Brooks Koepka. It’s known that I am not the biggest Koepka fan in the world, but I can’t take away from what he has done in the last two years. Back to back PGA’s, and back to back U.S. Opens. Even though I am not a fan, I would love to see him win three in a row strictly for the history that would be made. The last time a player won three U.S. Open’s in a row was Willie Anderson when he completed the trifecta in 1905.
Brooks started the round ON FIRE! Through six holes he was 4-under and looking like he was going to dominate once again. That wasn’t the case, because Pebble Beach got tougher throughout the day and Koepka wasn’t as dominant as he was when he started, and was 2 over for the rest of the round. It is fun though to see someone hit it off the cart path.
After playing off the cart path, Brooks Koepka saves par on 18 and finishes with a 2-under 69. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/c18pmIqvqH
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 14, 2019Phil, oh Phil. His quest for the career grand slam is not out of reach but a 1-over 72 will not help. He sits 7 shots back of leader Justin Rose.
There are plenty of big names lurking so click here for the full leaderboard. If the rest of the tournament is anything like Day 1, we are in for a riveting 199th U.S. Open.
