Degenerate Gamblers for the US Open

[jv001]

The Twitterverse is telling me that many people — including Winged Foot membership — are up in arms at how easy the course played yesterday. It sounds like conditions are supposed to be more windy today, so we’ll see what Round 2 brings.

From what I read about Winged Foot, the greens were suppose to be very hard to negotiate. With wind coming into play, we should see the scores go up. I haven't watched the first round yet but I do have it recorded. I can't imagine a US Open winning score being much below par. I guess we'll see when conditions get tougher. GoDuke!

[jv001]

Strong day 1 for your first major, jv001!

Hope I do better than the last degenerate challenge.

[tbyers11]

The Twitterverse is telling me that many people — including Winged Foot membership — are up in arms at how easy the course played yesterday. It sounds like conditions are supposed to be more windy today, so we’ll see what Round 2 brings.

Nick Faldo mentioned several times on the broadcast yesterday that the course was setup a little on the easy side because with the shorter amount of daylight in mid Sept vs mid June the USGA was worried the last groups would run out of daylight.

He also mentioned that they would correct for that going forward. They can obviously do that after the cut, but if daylight is truly an issue with the full field won't Friday have the same issue?

[Tripping William]

Nick Faldo mentioned several times on the broadcast yesterday that the course was setup a little on the easy side because with the shorter amount of daylight in mid Sept vs mid June the USGA was worried the last groups would run out of daylight.

He also mentioned that they would correct for that going forward. They can obviously do that after the cut, but if daylight is truly an issue with the full field won't Friday have the same issue?

I read similar speculation online. But, yes, they ought to face the same issues today if that is the cases. And maybe even more if the wind does, indeed, pick up versus yesterday.

[sagegrouse]

Twenty-two golfers have finished their Friday round. No one near par -- best score +2, 72. Median score is 75.

Adam Long is in with a seemingly disappointing 74 for a total of +5. Truthfully, I think +5 makes the cut!

[Tripping William]

Twenty-two golfers have finished their Friday round. No one near par -- best score +2, 72. Median score is 75.

Adam Long is in with a seemingly disappointing 74 for a total of +5. Truthfully, I think +5 makes the cut!

Last I checked (about 30 minutes ago), projected cut line was +6. So, yeah.

[SouthernDukie]

Last I checked (about 30 minutes ago), projected cut line was +6. So, yeah.

Then I'm guessing Lefty won't be playing on the weekend. He was +9 yesterday! Absolutely horrible. Too bad, I really like Phil.

[mr. synellinden]

The back 9 scores - especially 16, 17 and 18 - are going to make the Winged Foot membership very happy.

I’d love to see the average back 9 score today.

So far - Bubba Watson, who shot 1 under, is the only player who finished under par.

[mr. synellinden]

And DeChambeau puts up an eagle on 9 (his last hole) to finish at -2. Low round of the day so far.

[tbyers11]

The back 9 scores - especially 16, 17 and 18 - are going to make the Winged Foot membership very happy.

I’d love to see the average back 9 score today.

So far - Bubba Watson, who shot 1 under, is the only player who finished under par.

Bryson DeChambeau just became the second player to finish under par this morning with a 2 under that included and eagle on 9 (his finishing hole).

Course is playing tougher for sure. Wind usually picks up in the afternoon as well.

[Tripping William]

So much for high-volume. I have 5 who missed the cut, and 3 who didn’t (JT, Niemann, Hovland). And only the latter two differentiate Team Tripping at all. Yeesh.

[elvis14]

10 - DJ
07 - Collin
05 - Bryson
02 - Wolff
02 - Phil
02 - Rickie
02 - B.Todd

Score -4 (I almost always go with -14 but the US Open shouldn't see that).

DJ +3 made cut
Collin +7 missed cut by 1
Bryson -3
Matt Even
Phil WTF
Rickie +6 (was 1 under yesterday)
Todd E

[JasonEvans]

So many of us picked Thomas, having him really isn't that much of a boost to your team.

Anyway...

Team Evans
Thomas 1
Schauffele T8
DeChambeau T14
Fleetwood T92
Morikawa T120

At the end of day 2...

Team Evans
DeChambeau 2
Thomas T3
Schauffele T7
Fleetwood cut
Morikawa cut

I'll take 3 of the top 7... but I still don't really like my chances as I suspect several others have these three as well.

[Bob Green]

Team Green

T3 Thomas
T22 DJ, McIlroy

CUT: Streelman and Kisner

[sagegrouse]

Team Green

T3 Thomas
T22 DJ, McIlroy

CUT: Streelman and Kisner

I got to watch half my time nosedive in the sale threesome: Morikawa and Tiger missed the cut. Justin Thomas rallied to finish +3 and fell to T-3.

Adam Long T-33 and Webb Simpson T-17 remain in contention, under the theory that "no lead is safe."

Will the overall winner be under par? Maybe, from what I saw Patrick Reed was flirting with disaster all day.

[mkirsh]

I’m feeling ok about my squad
JT T3
Xander and Wolff T7
Oostie T12
Day and Cantlay T49
Fairway Jesus MC

So four guys within 5 strokes of the lead with a chance to win, and 2 who can make some money to help the team

[Tripping William]

Has there ever been a less likable US Open final pairing than today’s?

[rsvman]

Has there ever been a less likable US Open final pairing than today’s?

I dunno, and I'm sure a lot of people really dislike both of these players, for a variety of reasons.

I actually like Bryson and find it interesting to watch him play. Reed may be despicable, but I feel like I learn a lot watching his iron swing, and his chipping and putting is phenomenal.


If you could choose anybody from the pga tour, give them one six-foot putt, and if they make it you win a million dollars, who would you choose to take that putt? The answer used to be Tiger, and he would still be a pretty good pick, but right now I think the two best choices are Fowler and Reed.

[Bob Green]

If you could choose anybody from the pga tour, give them one six-foot putt, and if they make it you win a million dollars, who would you choose to take that putt? The answer used to be Tiger, and he would still be a pretty good pick, but right now I think the two best choices are Fowler and Reed.

I’d go with Fowler myself.

A few years ago I would’ve added Jordan Spieth to the conversation but his game has fallen dramatically.

[sagegrouse]

FWIW, Saturday's early starts are +34 in 58 holes played, which works out to be -- [pause] chukka-chukka-chukka -- a score of 80.5 for 18 holes. Course is playing hard.

Caveats: it seemed to me that 1-2-3 were especially hard. Plus, guys at the bottom often seem to lose a bit of edge.