Moving Day at The 2022 US Open
Posted on June 19, 2022
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Moving Day at US Open
What a day at Brookline with the wind and cold creating a real test for the world’s best. The forecast for tomorrow is even worse and added to that the course will be wearing badly. The true US Open test awaits!
The world number 1 managed to tame her briefly, getting to 6 under before he collapsed at the docile looking 11th. A few others (Rahmbo, Fitzy) all got to 5 under much later on, only to drop shots on the 18th.
The lead ebbed and flowed throughout the day, much like the whole week.
But slowly the Zala rose to finally post 67 (low round of the day) and 4 under. It was a brilliant ball-striking round which included a shank! On the 10th, but he (and the putter held firm).
Although Zala was briefly 1 shot back, the leaders kept coming back to him, with Fitzy quietly moving into the lead with a string of birdies on the back 9. Once again these 2 are in the mix in a major, fresh from their PGA exploits last month.
Only 1 shot back sits Rahmbo, looking to defend his crown and a massive shadow for the leaders. He also found form down the back stretch before a closing double, after sand trouble, wrestled control away from him.
There are a host of others in the mix at 2 under and 1 under and they will feel confident heading into what will be a tumultuous day. Many of these are proven major winners (Keegs, Scottie, Rory) or top tier players with multiple wins under their belts (Burns, Dahmen).
3 shots in a major on Sunday is nothing.
Rory only recorded a 73, but did enjoy 8 one putts on a back 9, and if he can find his long game again, he will be a threat on Sunday. He does seem to be lined up for a winner from the final 2 pairings though.
The last 31! US Open winners were T8 or better (thats everyone under par and within 3 shots of the lead) and the last 23 winners were within 4 shots of the lead (takes us down to unheralded Nick Hardy at Even)
Final Day Sunday is going to be a real grind fest. The winning score is likely to be closer to EVEN, thus bringing a few players into the mix. Its unlikely that all of the thoroughbreds are going to collapse - but they all will experience their share of toils!
There are some brilliant potentials heading into the Final Day:
Zala: Finally a win and a major win!
Fitzy: A rare US Amateur and US Open win at the same course!
Rahmbo: successful defense of US Open, matching only 6 players before him
Rory: winning his 5th major, longest gap between 4th and 5th majors of 8 years
Round of the Day:
Zala was able to post relatively early compared to the leaders, though was not spared the pain of a very tough day. His 67 was a masterclass in patience and ball striking, which he felt was even better. Another chance for a FIRST! Win for the young American.
Shot of the Day:
Scottie was beaming early on and why not after this Eagle hole out on the 8th, where some players posted 8s and 9s during a tricky third day.
Performance of the Day:
The Leaders:
Reminder of the Stats:
Top Bucket: Rory 33%, JT 29%, Cambo 9% & Burns 8% (2 are under par, 1 MC)
2nd Bucket: Zala 18%, Fitzy 15%, Xander 14% & Lowry 10% (2 are under par (and leading!), 1 MC)
3rd Bucket: JRose 16%, Riley 14%, Mito 13% & Power 10% (none are under par, 1 MC)
An intriguing final day awaits!
For a full view of the scores head to US Open Leaderboard and
majorpunter leaderboard.
majorpunter Leaderboard:
| Rank | Team | Punter | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | WRPHILLIPS21 (2) | William Phillips | -11 |
| T1 | RAHM-COM | Nelson Long | -11 |
| 3 | Team Buddy | Craig Fourie | -8 |
| 4 | 🍀 | Kate Rodrigues | -7 |
| 5 | RORY > LIV | Nelson Long | -6 |
| 6 | NELLO | Nelson Long | -5 |
| T7 | PokeyAU3 | Preston Barnes | -4 |
| T7 | You only LIV once | James Bisset | -4 |
| T7 | GJBAMA | Griffin Jenkins | -4 |
| 10 | Becker | John Becker | -3 |
The Chasers will need minor miracles but these do happen in majors so don’t stop believing. Its going to be topsy turvy guaranteed!
Just like the real deal, we have a tie at the top. At 11 under and 3 shots clear sits WRPHILLIPS21 (2) and RAHM-COM.
WRPHILLIPS21 (2) has been in the thick of it all week and enjoys 4 players in the top 10 (and 1 lonely MC!). Could the lack of a wild card ultimately hurt the Sunday run?
RAHM-COM is part of a big stable of entries and also holds the MC in place, but does have 3 players in the top 3!
3 shots back, but not out of it sits Team Buddy who is in rarefied air of the leaderboard, but with all 5 players in tact, is nicely poised for a charge come Sunday. This team will lean on Leish & JT to try make the difference.
Hovering further back is the emoji 4 leaf clover, who had a rough Moving Day.
majorpunter Bottomboard:
| Rank | Team | Punter | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| T57 | St Francis Stingers | Mike Wyliie | +20 |
| T57 | Tomoose & Friends | Kath East | +20 |
| 59 | LoopdiLoop | Keith Van Niekerk | +21 |
| 60 | To The Trees | Clyde Botha | +22 |
| T61 | Rambo | Andrew Rowell | +24 |
| T61 | Bradthig1 | Bradley Thigpen | +24 |
| 63 | Team Scrotum | Jovan Tutunovic | +25 |
| 64 | PokeyAU2 | Preston Barnes | +27 |
| 65 | Bradthig3 | Bradley Thigpen | +31 |
| 66 | Still trying | Barry Adams | +32 |
The bottomboard is a mess with so many scores over 20 over and 1 punter at +32, just destroyed by the volume of MCs and then big scores on Moving Day.
Still trying endured a disaster of +26 on Saturday and are 1 adrift of perennial winner Bradthig3, just showing we are all human.
It was good to see those making subs managed to shake off the bottom as they clawed their way up - away from the wooden spoon!
For more news and information head over to majorpunter.
Final Day Sunday at the US Open is going to be brilliant, filled with tears and pain. Enjoy what unfolds, as it’s going to be unbelievable regardless of the outcome.