Scotty Scheffler Struggles at the US Open
Oakmont, Pa. – World’s top golfer Scotty Scheffler couldn’t find his game this week.
Entering the US Open as a clear favorite, having won three of his last four tournaments, Scheffler finished with an even-par 70 on Sunday, ending four over par overall.
Though he leads the PGA Tour in avoiding bogeys, he had a tough time with 17 bogeys and even some doubles.
His lowest moment came as he bogeyed the sixth hole, needing three putts. “I felt like I did some good things there,” Scheffler reflected. He added, “I hit a few shots I thought would go in. It was just tough; I was really on the edge today.”
Scheffler took some pride in his mental resilience during the tournament, saying, “My main takeaway was how hard I fought this week. I feel proud of what I accomplished over those four days.”
Meanwhile, John Rahm took the clubhouse lead with a round of 3-under 67, finishing four over. He credited his precise driving as key to his performance, particularly closing with birdies on the last three holes. “It’s surprising… I don’t feel like I played differently than before,” Rahm noted.
Rory McIlroy matched Rahm with a similar score but ended up finishing at seven over, wrapping up his streak of four consecutive US Open victories. He managed seven birdies over the first three rounds and added six more on Sunday.
On a noteworthy note, the par 3 hole played at 302 yards on Sunday, the longest in US Open history. Rahm commented on the shot, saying, “It was downwind; I just went for it. I decided to use a 5 wood for better height and accuracy.”
Justin Hastings, one of 15 amateurs making the cut, was excited to finish as the low amateur, ending up at 15 over par after shooting 76 on the final day. “It’s such a big deal for me to be here and to call myself a low amateur,” he expressed. Hastings earned his spot by winning the Latin American Amateur Championship earlier in the year.
He shared his immense gratitude for the experience. “I can’t even put into words how significant this tournament is for me,” he stated, mentioning plans to turn professional after the British Open next month. “I want to join the PGA Tour as soon as I can.”
In a less fortunate turn, Canada’s Corey Connors had to withdraw before his final round due to a wrist injury. The 33-year-old was slated to tee off at 10:20 am with New Zealand’s Ryan Fox. Connors, who had his best US Open finish last year, tied for 9th place, has achieved top-15 finishes in all four major championships and has twice won on the PGA Tour. His injury reportedly occurred when his club snagged on a television wire while playing from a bunker.
