Tag: s

Rory McIlroy can’t convert chances in U.S. Open pursuit rory,mcilroy,can,t,convert,chances,in,u,s,open,pursuit,sbnation,com,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-pga-tour,golf-news

On: By: admin


When Rory McIlroy prematurely walked in his final birdie of the day on Thursday evening, the talk of the golf world was, ‘Could this be the week?’

After all, McIlroy has opened a major with a bogey-free round three times before, and he has gone on to win each of those times. He did so again at Pinehurst No. 2 on Thursday, firing a clean, 5-under 65 to share the lead with Patrick Cantlay through 18 holes.

But he could not convert any opportunities a day later, when he carded a disappointing 2-over 72. His poor Friday round dropped him back to 3-under for the championship.

“Obviously not quite as well as [Thursday], but I feel like the golf course plays a little more difficult, even though we were off in the morning,” McIlroy explained afterward.

“Some of the hole locations were definitely a little tougher. Sort of had to have your wits about you.”

McIlroy lost his wits for a brief moment on the par-3 17th, when he putted his birdie attempt off the front of the green. That brought a double-bogey into play, as his third shot had to climb the steep false front that guards the front of the green. But instead of making a bigger mess of things, McIlroy chipped in for a wild par.

“Overall, I felt like I did a pretty good job of keeping some of the mistakes off the scorecard,” McIlroy opined.

“I wish I had converted a couple more chances. Hit the ball pretty well. I think I only missed one fairway. So, I had plenty of opportunities. Yeah, I wasn’t quite as good with the putter today. Still, overall, we are in a great position going into the weekend.”

McIlroy lost 2.5 strokes on the greens on Friday as he failed to convert multiple looks at birdie. He could not get into a rhythm with his putter, unlike Thursday, when he had an above-average day on the greens.

That trend started early and often: McIlroy missed an 11-footer for birdie at 10, and then missed a par-putt from five feet on 11. Three holes later, McIlroy missed another birdie attempt from 11 feet, increasing his frustrations. He then bogeyed the par-3 15th. Another missed birdie putt followed at the 1st, this time from 10 feet.

At least he salvaged these misses with a birdie at the par-4 3rd, his first of the day. But that proved to be his last one, too.

“I was 2-over pretty early. My goal going into that second nine was if I could get it back to even for the day, I would have been pretty happy,” McIlroy added.

“Got that birdie on 3. I was trying to claw one back there. Ultima,tely I gave one back again.”

McIlroy closed his round with a bogey at the par-3 9th and walked off with his head hung low. But he hit the ball well from tee to green again on Friday. He even led the field in strokes gained off the tee.

Yet, his putter failed him the most, and if he wants to break his decade-long major drought and win the U.S. Open, he will need his flat stick to show up—like it did on Thursday.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

U.S. Open: Bryson DeChambeau remains patient, honors legend u,s,open,bryson,dechambeau,remains,patient,honors,legend,sbnation,com,front-page,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-news,liv-golf

On: By: admin


Bryson DeChambeau carded a 1-under 69 Friday at the 124th U.S. Open. It marks his second straight sub-70 score, an impressive feat at treacherous Pinehurst No. 2.

Coincidentally, he posted back-to-back rounds in the 60s to open up the U.S. Open at Winged Foot, where he won in 2020. Will history repeat itself?

Nevertheless, Friday’s second round challenged DeChambeau more so than on day one. He tallied five birdies and four bogeys. However, he ended it on a high note with a birdie on the 18th to shoot under par for the day.

This 1-under round puts him at 4-under for the championship, as he walked off the golf course trailing the leaders by a stroke.

“All in all, I was very happy with how I stayed patient, gave myself good opportunities when they mattered, and I made a lot of clutch putts coming in,” DeChambeau said.

Thursday saw him gain strokes off the tee, but on Friday, he lost a smidge to the field, losing 0.08. He only hit 7-of-14 fairways and 9-of-17 greens.

DeChambeau picked up those strokes on the green, though. In strokes gained putting, he picked up 2.29 on the field, a stark improvement from losing 0.33 on Thursday.

“This golf course is not going to be the same come tomorrow and the next day, and I’m expecting that,” he said.

“Us competitors, players, have to adjust to those conditions accordingly. I’m excited about the game that I have right now. I feel pretty confident and ready to get after it this weekend.”

This week also marks the 25th anniversary of Payne Stewart’s U.S. Open victory in 1999. The golf legend happened to be someone DeChambeau idolized growing up.

Stewart is a big reason why DeChambeau went to SMU and wore the scally cap for a while. On a recruiting trip to SMU, he saw Stewart’s mural at the golf center, which made the decision easy for him.

DeChambeau does not wear the flat cap as much anymore, but this week, he brought it to honor Stewart.

“I wore the hat as a bit of a tribute to Payne and Ben Hogan,” DeChambeau said.

“Growing up, I was a big Ben Hogan fanatic. Knowing what Payne meant to the game of golf, I am also a Payne Stewart fan. He’s meant a lot to me in the game.

“My first [PGA Tour] win was his first win—the John Deere Classic. It was a different tournament back then, but it meant a lot to me to win there. We have the cap on my bag this week as a remembrance of him. The cap is hanging on the side of the bag and it’s with me and makes me think of him every time I’m walking on these grounds.”

Stewart won the first U.S. Open at Pinehurst in 1999 but would tragically die in a plane crash just four months later. The resort has a statue of Stewart’s iconic celebration that fans can see as they enter the main entrance this week.

After 36 holes, DeChambeau is in the hunt and will need a solid weekend to win his second U.S. Open. He has proven to be one of the most consistent players in the field, which will help tremendously as Pinehurst only gets more complicated.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, be sure to follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.

U.S. Open: Sepp Straka ace is perfect redemption story u,s,open,sepp,straka,ace,is,perfect,redemption,story,sbnation,com,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-pga-tour,golf-news

On: By: admin


Sepp Straka brought the excitement on Friday at the U.S. Open.

He showed the full spectrum of what golf can provide during his second round, following up his triple bogey on the 3rd hole with a hole-in-one on the par-3 9th.

Straka’s 194-yard ace marked his first hole-in-one during a PGA Tour round.

His playing partners watched him as he hit the ball, and as soon as they realized it went in the hole, everyone shot their hands up to celebrate. Straka gave high fives all around, as that shot clearly boosted his mood.

The U.S. Open’s social team got a slight dig with the caption as they referenced his triple bogey earlier in the round. That shot on the third was such a tough break for the Austrian.

Straka nailed the flagstick on the fly, and his ball ricocheted into the greenside bunker. He went on to make a mess of things, making a triple bogey after airmailing his third shot from the sand over the green. So what looked like a birdie opportunity from the fairway quickly turned into a disaster.

Nevertheless, the golfing gods at Pinehurst No. 2 blessed Straka with an ace, a Shakespearean redemption story of sorts. From recording a seven to a one on the scorecard, it does not get any wilder than that.

Straka became the third player to make a hole-in-one on the 9th hole at No. 2. He joins Zach Johnson, who made one in 2014 during the final round, and Peter Jacobson, who did so in 2005 during the third round.

Straka’s ace vaulted him back up to 2-over for the championship, which is inside the cutline at this point. But that hole-in-one helped him immensely after his tough break at the 3rd threatened his chances of making the weekend.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.

MLB mock draft 2024: Updated projection ahead of Men’s College World Series mlb,mock,draft,updated,projection,ahead,of,men,s,college,world,series,sbnation,com,front-page,mlb,mlb-draft,draftkings

On: By: admin


This week eight men’s college baseball teams arrive in Omaha with a shot at a national championship, and NCAA baseball immortality.

But for some of the players in Omaha, the Men’s College World Series is just the next stop on their way to achieving their personal MLB dreams.

The 2024 MLB Draft is now a month away, as it gets underway on July 14 in Fort Worth, Texas. Many prospects have done all they can to impress the scouts, but some players still have some baseball to be played, as they chase down a National Championship in Omaha.

How might the first round play out, and what players should you keep an eye on in the Men’s College World Series? Here is our first MLB mock draft of the 2024 scouting season..

1. Cleveland Guardians: Charlie Condon, 3B, Georgia

Throughout the spring Charlie Condon and Travis Bazzana have flip-flopped in this position, and if the Guardians end up drafting Bazzana it will certainly not be a surprise. Both players posted video game numbers this year (with Condon putting up a slash line of .433/.556/1.009 along with 37 home runs) and the Georgia infielder has room to grow into his 6’6 frame.

2. Cincinnati Reds: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State

As noted above, Bazzana and Condon have flip-flopped in the one and two spots throughout mock draft season. Many mocks have the Oregon State infielder in the top spot right now, given his production over his time on campus. A tremendous summer on the Cape, as he won Cape Cod MVP honors as well as a batting title with a .375 average — done with a wooden bat, which MLB scouts love to see — might give him the edge.

Ultimately it might come down to a preference regarding Bazzana’s middle infielder profile, and Condon’s corner infielder prospects. However, both the Reds and the Guardians are in a good spot.

3. Colorado Rockies: Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida

This might be where the 2024 MLB Draft truly begins, with the Colorado Rockies in the third spot. A number of players have been linked to Colorado with this pick, but for my money Ja Caglianone is the most fascinating player in the draft. His two-way skills have earned him the nickname “Jactani” — a nod to Shohei Ohtani — but his MLB future is likely forged as a hitter.

To that point, Caglianone stands alone in the storied history of SEC baseball as the only player with back-to-back 30 HR seasons.

Coming into this season there was a concern about his strikeout numbers, as he struckout 58 times in 319 plate appearances a season ago. But this year he cut down on the strikeouts dramatically, striking out just 25 times over his 297 plate appearances. He also raised his batting average from .323 in 2023 to an impressive .411 this past season.

Given that he is absolutely a pro-level prospect with what he can do on the mound, Caglianone is absolutely worthy of an early selection.

4. Oakland Athletics: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest

A few different arms have the potential to be the first pitcher taken in July, and at the moment the nod might go to Chase Burns out of Wake Forest. Burns began his collegiate career at Tennessee — after being drafted in the 20th round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres — but was moved to the bullpen after a stint as a starter in the Volunteers rotation.

Burns transferred to Wake Forest and thrived as a starter, going 10-1 this season with an ERA of 2.70 while holding opposing hitters to a .175 batting average. He has a solid array of pitches, with a fastball that can top out in triple digits, an impressive slider, and a curveball and a changeup that round out his attack.

5. Chicago White Sox: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas

Burns is one option for an arm inside the top five of the 2024 MLB Draft. Left-hander Hagen Smith is the other. Smith leaves campus having gotten better and better every single season at Arkansas. Back in 2022 Smith started 20 games for the Razorbacks, posting a 7-2 record with an ERA of 4.66 and a batting average allowed of .234.

Over the 2023 season Smith posted a win-loss record of 8-2, with an ERA of 3.64 while holding hitters to a batting average of .217.

This past season? Smith went 9-2 for the Razorbacks, with an ERA of 2.04 and an opponent batting average of .144. That is quite the trajectory.

Smith also uses a three-quarters delivery, which you can see in this cutup from Rob Friedman:

While he underwent Tommy John surgery as a high school sophomore, he has been a workhorse since then, with the potential to be a top-tier starter in the majors.

6. Kansas City Royals: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest

Wake Forest recruited Nick Kurtz as a left-handed starting pitcher, but his prowess at the dish saw him thrive as a hitter in the collegiate game. He has been a force at the plate for the Demon Deacons since arriving on campus, posting a slash line of .338/.471./.637 back in 2022 with 15 home runs. This past season saw his average dip a bit, as he hit .306, but combine that with an OBP of .531 and a .763 Slugging Percentage and you have some really solid numbers.

Strikeouts might be an issue, as he was punched out 50 times back in 2023 and another 42 times this past season. But the numbers at the plate warrant an early selection.

7. St. Louis Cardinals: Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M

The Aggies are headed to Omaha, and Braden Montgomery is a huge reason why. The outfielder is part of a three-headed monster at Texas A&M, along with infielder Gavin Grahovac and fellow outfielder Jace Laviolette, that punishes opposing pitchers.

As for Montgomery, he put up a slash line of .322/.454/.733 this past season, while belting 27 home runs and driving in a team-high 85 runs. The switch-hitting prospect has seen his power numbers tick up sine the start of his collegiate career, which came at Stanford before transferring to Texas A&M.

Oh, and he also pitches. While the Aggies only used him in two games this past year with one start, he appeared in ten games for Stanford in 2023 and 13 back in 2022. In that 2022 campaign he held hitters to a batting average of just .197.

His MLB future, however, is likely as a corner outfielder.

8. Los Angeles Angels: Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina

At first blush, this might seem like a reach.

But from where I sit, few players have helped their draft stock the past few weeks more than Vance Honeycutt.

The UNC outfielder is a true “five-tool” player, with lots of evidence to back up that proposition. You can point to the second straight ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award he earned this spring, or the 76 bases he swiped on campus over his three seasons. You can also point to the 63 home runs he hit at UNC, becoming the school leader in that category.

But for me it was what he delivered in the Super Regionals that tell his full story, as he belted a walk-off two run shot in Game 1 against West Virginia, and then started Game 2 with a solo shot on the very first pitch of the game.

Strikeouts are an issue, and are a big reason he is often seen in the late teens in mock drafts. His strikeout rate back in 2022 was 30%, and after dipping in 2023 crept back up to 28% this past season. But someone is going to place a big bet on those tools, and be happy they did.

9. Pittsburgh Pirates: JJ Wetherholt, SS/2B, West Virginia

After taking Paul Skenes with the first-overall selection a year ago, the Pittsburgh Pirates likely look to add a bat with this selection. They have been linked to a few players already selected in this mock, including Montgomery and Kurtz, but with both taken they look at the West Virginia middle infielder.

JJ Wetherholt is one of the best hitters in the class, and showed that during a 2022 campaign where he posted an astronomical slash line of .449/.517/.782, earning Big 12 Conference Player of the Year honors. A hamstring injury at the start of the 2024 campaign cut down his production numbers, but he is as close to a sure thing at the plate as it gets. His MLB position remains a question mark, as he might be better suited to 2B in the pros, but this is a top ten pick.

10. Washington Nationals: Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Jackson Prep MS

After a run of college players we see our first prep prospect come off the board.

And what a prospect Konnor Griffin is.

He put up absurd numbers this past season, batting .559 with 9 home runs. He also stole 85 bases in just 43 games, and was named the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year. That combination of speed and power makes him a player with 30-30 potential at the next level.

Try and find where this home run lands. It is not easy:

While he has committed to LSU, expect him to be an early pick next month.

11. Detroit Tigers: Bryce Ranier, SS, Harvard-Westlake (CA)

The draft continues along prep lines with Bryce Ranier, a shortstop from Harvard-Westlake in California. At the National High School Invitational Ranier put on a show, going 7-for-13 with two doubles, five walks, and a pair of stolen bases. He also posted the top four exit velocities at the plate, and did that while making a relief appearance that saw him consistently in the mid 90s with his fastball.

That above link has a good cutup of Ranier’s approach at the plate.

Ranier has committed to Texas, but like Griffin he is likely an early pick in round one.

12. Boston Red Sox: James Tibbs III, OF, Florida State

This might be the second inflection point of the first round. While the first comes at pick No. 3 by the Colorado Rockies — after the expected top two of Condon and Bazzana in some order — the second is here.

Which makes me nervous as a Boston Red Sox fan.

As noted in this mock draft from MLB.com, at this point there are over a dozen college hitters “who could go anywhere from the teens to the supplemental first round and tye could come off the board in just about any order.” However, that same mock has Florida State outfielder James Tibbs going in the top-ten selections, while here (in yes a bit of homer manifestation I concede) Tibbs slides to the Red Sox at No. 12.

Tibbs put up massive numbers for the Seminoles this season, with a slash line of .374/.497/.813, and was huge for FSU in the Super Regionals against Connecticut. Tibbs went 2-for-5 with four RBI in their Game 1 win over the Huskies, and then had a massive afternoon in Game 2, going 5-for-6 with four RBI and three home runs, including this two-run shot in the top of the 12th to give FSU the 10-8 lead:

Yes, I am manifesting. But you understand why.

13. San Francisco Giants: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (AZ)

I know what you are thinking.

No, Cam Caminiti is not Ken Caminiti’s son.

But they are cousins.

The LSU commit has done work both on the bump and at the dish, but his MLB future is likely as a left-handed starting pitcher. Caminiti has four solid pitches, including a fastball that can top out in the upper 90s along with both a curveball and a slider. That fourth pitch is a changeup, which he used more this past season according to scouting reports.

Here is a good look at Caminiti on the bump:

14. Chicago Cubs: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina

Trey Yesavage missed the AAC Tournament with a partially collapsed lung.

He came back for the Regionals and in Game 2 of the Greenville Regional against Wake Forest he went 7.1 innings, allowing just one run. His counterpart that day? Chase Burns, who lasted just five innings and gave up four runs.

On the year Yesavage went 11-1 with an ERA of 2.02, while holding hitters to a .154 clip.

His slider might be his best pitch, but he can dial it up with the fastball, which gets into the upper 90s.

15. Seattle Mariners: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State

After hitting just .258 in 2023 for the Seminoles, Smith broke out in a huge way this past season. Smith put up a slash line of .402/.497/.677 for FSU this year, while cutting his strikeout rate from 29% in 2023 to just 16% this past season.

He also enjoyed a strong summer on the Cape, earning Most Outstanding Pro Prospect honors in the Cape Cod league while putting up an OPS of .981.

The draft-eligible sophomore can certainly help his cause in Omaha.

16. Miami Marlins: Seaver King, 3B/OF, Wake Forest

After two standout seasons at Division II Wingate (NC) where he slashed .411/.457/.699 with 11 homers as a sophomore, Seaver King transferred to Wake Forest. He played all over the field for the Demon Deacons this season, seeing time at shortstop, second, third, and in the outfield.

This season he put up a slash line of .308/.377/.577, while showing some pop with 16 home runs. He also has some wood bat experience, having secured MVP accolades in the Valley League in 2022, and hitting .424 with the Harwich Mariners last summer in the Cape Cod League.

His MLB position might be a question mark, and his best fit might be at shortstop, but the bat leads the way.

17. Milwaukee Brewers: Tommy White, 3B, LSU

In the bottom of the 11th inning in a game against Wake Forest in last year’s Men’s College World Series, Tommy “Tanks” White strode to the plate with a berth in the Finals on the line. He was looking for a fastball.

He did not get one.

It did not matter:

White’s walk-off home run capped off an instant classic, and has become part of LSU baseball lore. In fact the play was name the Male Sports Play of the Year by the school, and helped LSU along to a National Title.

While the Tigers’ bid for another championship fell short this year, White certainly held up his end of the bargain, slashing .330/.401/.638. He also hit 24 home runs, marking the third-straight season he left the yard at least 24 times (he belted 27 home runs at NC State in 2022, then 24 in both 2023 and 2024 with LSU).

The Brewers are rumored to be eying college bats with this selection, and White stands out as a very good option.

18. Tampa Bay Rays: William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic HS (LA)

While teams sometimes shy away from high school pitchers in the first round, the Tampa Bay Rays are not one of those teams. Looking through their draft history you see a number of high school arms in the first round, including Blake Snell, Matthew Liberatore, and most recently Nick Bitsko in 2020.

William Schmidt could be their next high school pitcher in the first round, especially if he slides to them at No. 18. Scouts believe he has the best breaking ball in the class, a low-80s “hammer” that has a spin rate over 3,000 and a heater that sits in the mid-90s.

Here are both pitches in action:

He has committed to LSU, but he might be headed elsewhere.

19. New York Mets: Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State

According to reports the Mets have been looking at college hitters for this spot, and given how this mock draft has fallen, their eyes turn to Carson Benge. The Oregon State outfielder has put up monster numbers the past two collegiate seasons, slashing .343/.466/.535 during 2023 and showing a bit more pop this past year, posting a slash line of .335/.444/.665 with 18 home runs, more than double his 2023 total of seven.

Benge is also a solid prospect on the bump, as he went 3-1 this season for the Beavers with an ERA of 2.75, and an impressive BA allowed of just .175. However, like some prospects we have already discussed, his future lies with what he can do as a left-handed hitter.

20. Toronto Blue Jays: Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston State

We have our first catcher.

Four catchers are potential first-round picks next month: Walker Janek from Sam Houston State, Malcolm Moore from Stanford, Caleb Lomavita from California, and NC State backstop Jacob Cozart. (For those looking ahead to this weekend’s Men’s College World Series, Cozart is a master when it comes to framing pitches … perhaps too good).

The Toronto Blue Jays have been mentioned as a team that could look to a catcher with this selection, and Janek is the pick here. He hit .281 in the Cape Cod League regular season this past summer with Falmouth, with five home runs. That will certainly help his prospects.

21. Minnesota Twins: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee

As you can probably tell there are a host of prospects that will be playing in the Men’s College World Series over the next few days, if not beyond.

One of those is Christian Moore, who helps power a Volunteers lineup that is one of the best in the college game. Moore started his college journey as a DH for the Volunteers, before cracking the lineup at second base. This season he slashed .375/.453/.796, while ripping a career-best 32 home runs. He is one of five everyday players in the Tennessee lineup with an OPS over 1.000, and he has some speed too, as evidenced by the 16 steals a season ago.

22. Baltimore Orioles: Ryan Sloan, RHP, York HS (IL)

Mike Elias has not drafted a high school pitcher since taking over in Baltimore, but if Ryan Sloan falls to this spot, the Orioles GM might just break that streak. Ryan Sloan brings three solid pitches to the table as a prospect: A fastball that hangs in the mid-90s with some upper-90s pop, a solid changeup, and a slider with some good horizontal movement.

You can see all three pitches on display in this cutup of Sloan:

23. Los Angeles Dodgers: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa

There was a time when I thought Brody Brecht would be appearing in more football mock drafts than anything else, as he enrolled at Iowa as a wide receiver for the football team as well as his duties on the bump for the Hawkeyes. But after a redshirt season, and playing sparingly the year after that, Brecht left the gridiron behind to focus on his pitching duties.

Probably a smart move.

He led all pitchers with a .143 batting average against during the 2023 campaign, when he finished with a 5-2 record and an ERA of 3.74. He went 4-3 this season with an ERA of just 3.33, while hitters managed a .165 average against him in 2024.

He has drawn some comparisons to Paul Skenes thanks to a fastball that can hit triple digits, and a slider with some snap. You can see both pitches here:

A lofty comparison to be sure, but one that will certainly grab some attention.

24. Atlanta Braves: Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee

Earlier we discussed the potent Volunteers lineup that features five everyday players with an OPS above 1.000. Christian Moore, the second baseman, is one of those players.

Billy Amick is another.

Amick slashed .313/.392/.678 this past season for Tennessee, leading to that OPS north of 1.000. The third baseman also belted 23 home runs, behind only Moore on the Volunteers’ roster. A solid weekend in Omaha could see his stock move even higher than the back end of the first round.

25. San Diego Padres: Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View (AR)

A.J. Preller has drafted a high school player in the first round of the last seven MLB Drafts.

Will he make it eight?

Slade Caldwell was the Gatorade Arkansas high school Player of the Year as a junior in 2023, when he hit .512 with five home runs. Described as his high school coach as a “true five tool player,” Caldwell can be a menace on the base paths with a left-handed swing that can spray line drives to all fields.

26. New York Yankees: Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City (OK)

The New York Yankees are likely to select the best bat available, unless one of the top arms falls to them.

In this scenario, one of the top arms indeed falls to them.

Kash Mayfield helped Elk City to the state semifinals in 2023, and he was named Gatorade’s Oklahoma high school Player of the Year as a result. That season he finished with a 9-1 record and a 0.75 ERA across 46 2/3 innings of work. In that span, he fanned 109 batters and walked only 13, allowing 18 hits in total. But after taking the summer off he exploded this spring, he truly made a name for himself at the Super 60 Pro Showcase in February, where he showed improved velocity on his fastball.

During the 2023 season his fastball was in the mid- to upper-80s, but starting with the Super 60 Pro Showcase and into his spring season it was hitting in the mid- to upper-90s. Add in a solid changeup and a curve that he commands well, and you have starter stuff in the big leagues.

27. Philadelphia Phillies: Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State

The Philadelphia Phillies dipped into the high school market with their first-round selection a year ago, drafting Aidan Miller out of J. W. Mitchell High School in Florida.

They could dip back into the high school market, and if the board fell this way Theo Gillen out of Westlake High School in Texas would be an option, but here we have the Phillies adding Dakota Jordan from Mississippi State. The left-handed hitting outfielder put up big numbers for the Bulldogs this season, slashing .354/.459/.671 with 20 home runs, doubling the number he posted a season ago.

Another consideration with Jordan? He might still be learning how to use his speed. He was a three-star WR recruit coming out of high school and planned on playing receiver for Mississippi State, and also ran track while in high school.

But speaking of speed, his bat speed stands out. Watch how quick he gets his hands around on this home run from the Charlottesville Regional:

That’s pretty quick.

28. Houston Astros: Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State

As a sophomore in 2023 Kaelen Culpepper slashed .325/.423/.576 for the Wildcats, but there were concerns about his power projection when he struggled a bit this past summer in the Cape Cod League. Playing for the Harwich Mariners, Culpepper hit just .270 with a .318 Slugging Percentage, as his three doubles were his only extra-base hits.

But Culpepper moved to shortstop for this past season, ahd showed the ability to handle the defensive parts of the position while continuing to improve at the plate. This year he slashed .324/.416/.570 with 11 home runs, a career-high number. He may never be a 20+ HR player in the bigs, but could be a consistent 15-20 HR player with the ability to hit for average.

29. Arizona Diamondbacks: Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford

Thanks to the MLB Draft rules, the Arizona Diamondbacks have three picks clustered together, starting with this selection at No. 29 overall. With Corbin Carroll winning National League Rookie of the Year the Diamondbacks will be on the clock again at No. 31, and then they will be on the clock again at No. 35, in the “Competitive Balance Round.”

So they have a lot of freedom with this pick to explore the studio space.

Catcher Malcolm Moore from Stanford could be an option. Moore put up a slash line of .255/.414/.553 this year, which does not jump off the page, but the tools are there for him to be a more consistent hitter. He showed that during his first season at Stanford, when he slashed .311/.386/.564, and the power has been there both season, as he belted 15 home runs in 2023 and another 16 home runs this past season.

30. Texas Rangers: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State

You read that right.

Jurrangelo Cinjntje is a natural left-hander, but wanted to be like his dad, who was a right-handed pitcher in the Netherlands. So he would put on his dad’s right-handed glove and start to throw.

He first became known worldwide as a member of Curacao’s team at the 2016 Little League World Series, where his switch-pitching ability drew lots of eyeballs. As a right-handed hurler he operates with a fastball that can get into the upper 90s, while that same pitch left-handed is more of a low-90s heater.

For fun, here is an overlay of Cinjntje throwing a fastball with both arms:

Also if you are wondering, his glove is a custom design that he can change on the fly:

His best stuff comes as a right-hander, so do not be surprised if he focuses on that going forward. But he is certainly an intriguing prospect.

Golf Talk Today: U.S. Open Rd. 2 Tee Times, Pinehurst causes carnage golf,talk,today,u,s,open,rd,tee,times,pinehurst,causes,carnage,sbnation,com,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-pga-tour,golf-news

On: By: admin


Welcome to Playing Through’s new morning ritual — Golf Talk Today.

Each morning will feature a Golf Talk Today, where the crew will discuss various elements throughout the PGA Tour, LPGA, LIV Golf, and more.

It’s Friday at the 124th U.S. Open. The round 2 tee times are below, but let’s also discuss how much damage Pinehurst No. 2 did on Thursday.

So brew a pot of coffee, grab some breakfast, and settle in as we get you ready for the second round of the U.S. Open.

Pinehurst No. 2 put a beating on the U.S. Open field

Among the 156 players who teed off on Thursday, 15 are in red figures, and a total of 33 golfers are at even par or better. Pinehurst No. 2 brought the heat, and some of the biggest names in golf fell victim to the carnage.

Big numbers posted by prominent players:

Phil Mickelson: 9-over, 79
Viktor Hovland: 8-over 78
Sahith Theegala: 7-over 77
Justin Thomas: 7-over 77
Harry Higgs: 6-over 76
Will Zalatoris: 5-over 75
Tiger Woods: 4-over 74
Shane Lowry: 4-over 74
Dustin Johnson: 4-over 74

Best quotes from Thursday at The U.S. Open

“It’s really diabolical out there. It was a testament to the patience I had,” Bryson DeChambeau said about the difficulty of Pinehurst No. 2.

“It sort of brings me back to links golf when I was a kid a little bit. The greens are a bit more sort of slopey and there’s a bit more movement on them. But there are options. You can chip it. You can putt it. I’d love if we played more golf courses like this,” Rory McIlroy said on why he loves Pinehurst.

“He’s a strike show. That’s the first time I ever played with him actually… He’s far from a rookie. He’s not even your average first guy playing in a major championship. He’s been on some of the biggest stages already and has shown he’s going to be a world-class player. It was a joy to watch,” Tony Finau said about playing with Ludvig Åberg.

U.S. Open Round 2 Tee Times (ET):

* — Denotes 10th hole start

6:45 a.m. – Greyson Sigg, Grant Forrest, (a) Wells Williams

*6:45 a.m. – Jason Scrivener, Brandon Robinson Thompson, (a) Brendan Valdes

6:56 a.m. – Chesson Hadley, Mark Hubbard, Adam Svensson

*6:56 a.m. – (a) Santiago de la Fuente, Sam Bairstow, Eugenio Chacarra

7:07 a.m. – Beau Hossler, Victor Perez, Adam Schenk

*7:07 a.m. – Kurt Kitayama, Taylor Moore, Christiaan Bezuidenhout

7:18 a.m. – Robert MacIntyre, Nick Taylor, Mackenzie Hughes

*7:18 a.m. – Jason Day, Harris English, Tom Kim

7:29 a.m. – Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Tom Hoge

*7:29 a.m. – Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler

7:40 a.m. – Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Max Homa

*7:40 a.m. — Brian Harman, Nick Dunlap, Wyndham Clark

7:51 a.m. – Sepp Straka, Peter Malnati, J.T. Poston

*7:51 a.m. – Hideki Matsuyama, Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth

8:02 a.m. – (a) Gordon Sargent, Jake Knapp, Cameron Young

*8:02 a.m. – Shane Lowry, Keegan Bradley, Martin Kaymer

8:13 a.m. – Chris Kirk, Billy Horschel, Adam Scott

*8:13 a.m. – Akshay Bhatia, Eric Cole, Erik van Rooyen

8:24 a.m. – Ben Kohles, Denny McCarthy, (a) Ben James

*8:24 a.m. – Brendon Todd, Taylor Pendrith, Alex Noren

8:35 a.m. – Frankie Capan III, Andy Svoboda, (a) Luke Clanton

*8:35 a.m. – Thomas Detry, Brian Campbell, (a) Jackson Buchanan

8:46 a.m. – Harry Higgs, (a) Hiroshi Tai, Brandon Wu

*8:46 a.m. – Taisei Shimizu, (a) Gunnar Broin, Maxwell Moldovan

8:57 a.m. – Joey Vrzich, Chris Naegel, Otto Black

*8:57 a.m. – Sung Kang, Riki Kawamoto, John Chin

12:30 p.m. – Rico Hoey, Tom McKibbin, Matteo Manassero

*12:30 p.m. – Michael McGowan, Carter Jenkins, Logan McAllister

12:41 p.m. – Dean Burmester, Rikuya Hoshino, Seamus Power

*12:41 p.m. – Frederik Kjettrup, Christopher Petefish, (a) Parker Bell

12:52 p.m. – S.H. Kim, Justin Lower, Tim Widing

*12:52 p.m. – (a) Omar Morales, Max Greyserman, Casey Jarvis

1:03 p.m. – Lucas Glover, Sam Burns, Cameron Smith

*1:03 p.m. – Corey Conners, Stephan Jaeger, Emiliano Grillo

1:14 p.m. – Will Zalatoris, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tiger Woods

*1:14 p.m. – Ryo Ishikawa, Francesco Molinari, Sergio Garcia

1:25 p.m. – Patrick Cantlay, Matt Kuchar, Russell Henley

*1:25 p.m. – Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Brooks Koepka

1:36 p.m. – Tony Finau, Ludvig Åberg, Dustin Johnson

*1:36 p.m. – Rickie Fowler, Adam Hadwin, Phil Mickelson

1:47 p.m. – Justin Rose, Gary Woodland, Webb Simpson

*1:47 p.m. – Min Woo Lee, Sahith Theegala, Nicolai Højgaard

1:58 p.m. – Daniel Berger, Ryan Fox, David Puig

*1:58 p.m. – Si Woo Kim, Matthieu Pavon, Sungjae Im

2:09 p.m. – Byeong Hun An, Sam Bennett, Edoardo Molinari

*2:09 p.m. – Nico Echavarria, Robert Rock, (a) Neal Shipley

2:20 p.m. – Austin Eckroat, Adrian Meronk, Cam Davis

*2:20 p.m. – Takumi Kanaya, (a) Stewart Hagestad, Mac Meissner

2:31 p.m. – Aaron Rai, Davis Thompson, Ga.; Zac Blair

*2:31 p.m. – Isaiah Salinda, (a) Bryan Kim, Jim Herman

2:42 p.m. – Willie Mack III, Richard Mansell, (a) Ashton McCulloch

*2:42 p.m. – Carson Schaake, Charles Reiter, (a) Colin Prater

ICYMI: Top stories from the 1st Round of the U.S. Open

Check out these stories:

U.S. Open Day 1 Winners, Losers: Rory McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay lead; Phil Mickelson falters

An authentic Bryson DeChambeau details “diabolical,” mentally exhausting day at U.S. Open

Rory McIlroy posts strong, disciplined U.S. Open start; has history on his side

Jon Rahm’s U.S. Open replacement taking full advantage of opportunity at Pinehurst

LIV Golf’s Brooks Koepka hilariously entertains fans by reading mean tweets directed at him

Patrick Cantlay relies on short-game wizardry to grab early control of U.S. Open

Tiger Woods teases fans, then falters to begin U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.

Ludvig Åberg makes promising U.S. Open start with excellent veteran-like score

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, be sure to follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.

Jon Rahm’s U.S. Open fill-in taking full advantage of opportunity jon,rahm,s,u,s,open,fill,in,taking,full,advantage,of,opportunity,sbnation,com,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-pga-tour,golf-news,liv-golf

Jon Rahms US Open fill in taking full advantage of opportunity
On: By: admin


When Jon Rahm withdrew and closed the door on his chances of winning another U.S. Open on Tuesday, another door opened for Jackson Suber.

Suber, who attended Ole Miss and has missed four straight cuts on the Korn Ferry Tour, took Rahm’s spot in the field as the first alternate at Pinehurst No. 2. He has since taken full advantage of the opportunity.

The former Ole Miss Rebel shot an impressive 1-under 71 in his major championship debut, all while playing alongside Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama in one of the featured groups. It’s an impressive accomplishment for anyone, let alone someone who has played in only two events on the PGA Tour.

Yet, the most remarkable aspect of Suber’s performance was not the round itself—instead, it was the rollercoaster he had to take just to become an alternate in this year’s field.

Suber posted 7-under par at the 36-hole final qualifier in Rockville, Maryland. No doubt a solid score, but it was not good enough. He missed a spot in the U.S. Open by a stroke and instead had to go to a 3-for-2 playoff to determine two alternate spots.

“In that qualifier, I had a six-footer on the last hole, and ended up missing that to get to a playoff [for a final spot],” Suber explained.

Jackson Suber hits from a bunker during the first round of the 2024 U.S. Open.
Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images

“I went into the playoff and was pretty bummed but ended up on the third hole making a 50-foot putt for birdie, while my opponent missed a five-footer. It was a very roller coaster week, just like this has been. I heard that I had a chance to get in, almost be the last man in the field, and then ended up being the first alternate with how things shook down at the Memorial. It’s just been a roller coaster.”

He then arrived in Pinehurst, North Carolina, on Sunday evening, hoping somebody would pull out to give him a chance. If nobody did, he had a flight booked to Wichita, Kansas on Tuesday evening for this week’s tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour.

But in a weird twist of fate, one of the biggest stars in professional golf turned Suber’s hopes into a reality.

“I was on the 8th hole, and I got a tip from someone. They said Rahm was pulling out. I wasn’t sure yet, but I was freaking out,” Suber said.

“No. 8 and 9 didn’t get much done in my practice round. When we were on the 9th, we started getting announcements, and my phone started blowing up; people were asking me if I was getting in, and then I called Reese from the USGA pretty quickly and tried to figure out what was going on and if I was going to be playing.

“That was just a really cool moment, especially to figure out I’m getting in the tournament out on the golf course and then be able to call my family and people around me who help me so much. It was a really special moment.”

Since Rahm withdrew after the USGA released the pairings for this year’s tournament, Suber slid in alongside Spieth and Matsuyama.

Best of all, Suber beat them both on Thursday, finishing in red figures while the two major champions failed to break par.

“I talked to Hideki and his caddie a little bit and talked to Jordan and [his caddy] Michael [Greller], as well, and my caddie talked to them, too,” Suber said about playing with Spieth and Matsuyama.

“There wasn’t a ton of chatter, but there were a couple of conversations here and there, and it was good to talk to them. They’re good people.”

Suber managed to score in red figures, but he still had an up-and-down day on Thursday—much like the rollercoaster ride he has experienced as of late.

Over his first five holes, Suber made par, bogey, birdie, bogey, birdie; a stressful yet entertaining way to begin your U.S. Open and sit at even par through five.

He then made a birdie at the par-3 9th, thanks to a tremendous tee shot that landed four feet from the stick. Another birdie at the short par-4 13th followed.

Then, Suber dropped a pair of shots at the 14th and 15th holes. But he bounced back with a birdie at the 523-yard par-4 16th. Like his opening few holes, and his last couple of weeks for that matter, he enjoyed quite the rollercoaster on the back nine, too.

“I always believed I could do this. You never know if you’re actually going to do it, but I feel like I always knew that this was in me,” Suber said.

“I didn’t know if it was going to happen because nothing in life is for sure, but I was going to give it my best chance. I worked hard to be here and feel like I just need to keep working hard and stay humble.”

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

U.S. Open: Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson among Day 1 winners, losers u,s,open,rory,mcilroy,phil,mickelson,among,day,winners,losers,sbnation,com,front-page,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-pga-tour,golf-news,liv-golf

US Open Rory McIlroy Phil Mickelson among Day 1 winners
On: By: admin


The opening round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 did not disappoint. The widely-discussed ‘Turtleback’ greens made some players look foolish, while others struggled to navigate the native areas that line the fairways.

And yet, after all 156 players finished their rounds, two players sit atop the leaderboard by themselves. Patrick Cantlay and Rory McIlroy shot impressive 5-under 65s, with Cantlay posting his score in the morning while McIlroy did so during the afternoon.

Interestingly, when Martin Kaymer won at Pinehurst in 2014, he, too, carded a 65 to open the championship. Kaymer held a three-shot lead after that first round and won by eight. Cantlay and McIlroy, meanwhile, have plenty of company within striking distance. They hold a one-stroke lead over Ludvig Åberg, while Bryson DeChambeau and Matthieu Pavon lurk two shots back. Tony Finau, Tyrrell Hatton, and Akshay Bhatia sit at 2-under.

Here are the winners and losers from round one:

Winners

Rory McIlroy has history on his side

Rory McIlroy posted the best round of his season, bar none. He shot a 5-under 65, which included a pair of birdies on the 16th and 18th holes. But in doing so, he carded a bogey-free opening round in a major for the fourth time in his career.

The previous three instances?

The 2011 U.S. Open, the 2012 PGA Championship, and the 2014 Open Championship.

Hmmmm. What do these three tournaments have in common? Oh yeah, McIlroy won each, each by a sizable margin, too.

Rory McIlroy during the first round of the 2024 U.S. Open.
Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Before this week, I wrote that, for McIlroy to win the U.S. Open, he needed to take advantage of Pinehurst’s par-5s, remain patient, and gain strokes putting.

He checked all three of those boxes Thursday, even though his birdie at five came via a chip-in—no pictures exist on a scorecard, however. All jokes aside, McIlroy had a stoic vibe about him all day. He remained conservative when needed, and never got overly aggressive with his approaches. Most importantly, he gained one stroke on the field with his putter, the ultimate determining factor for McIlroy’s success. Now, thanks to this solid start, he has given himself a terrific opportunity to break that 10-year-long major championship drought.

Patrick Cantlay

Patrick Cantlay is currently ranked 9th in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), but he has not played up to that standard so far this season.

His numbers are down across the board from a year ago when he ranked 3rd on the PGA Tour in total strokes gained. At this point in the season, he is currently 77th and has recorded only a pair of top 10s to date.

Patrick Cantlay, U.S. Open

Patrick Cantlay on the 13th tee.
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Yet, he showed everyone why he is still a top player on Thursday, carding a 5-under 65 to shoot to the top of the leaderboard. But he does not have a terrific major championship resume. He only has four career top 10s in major, none of which have come in a U.S. Open.

Nevertheless, if his short game continues to perform as it did on Thursday, a day in which he led the field in strokes gained around the greens, watch out for Cantlay to possibly join his close friend Xander Schauffele as first-time major winners this season.

The golf course itself

So much talk was made of Pinehurst No. 2 coming into the championship: the history, the sandy waste areas that line the fairways, the greens, and the areas surrounding these putting surfaces, too. All of it has lived up to the hype and then some. The course tested the best players in the world both adequately and fairly while also producing some quality entertainment.

Look no further than Collin Morikawa, who ‘ping-ponged’ his way around the 15th hole en route to a double bogey. Two holes later, he holed out from the sand for a birdie.

Keep an eye on Morikawa, too. He did not have his best stuff on Thursday, but he closed with a pair of par breakers to get back to even for the championship.

Ludvig Åberg

How can you not be impressed with 24-year-old Ludvig Åberg?

In his U.S. Open debut, Åberg looked like a seasoned veteran, firing to the middle of the greens while making little mistakes. When he tallied up his score, it totaled to a 4-under 66, an impressive mark for anyone, let alone someone playing Pinehurst No. 2 for the first time.

The young Swede relied heavily on his driver and ball striking, ranking in the top three in both categories on Thursday. Typically, good results follow when a player has both of these facets working. That was the case for Åberg, who said afterward that he has “nothing to complain about.”

Matthieu Pavon’s putter

Nobody gained more strokes on the putting greens (4.31) on Thursday than Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, who rolled in a pair of eagles on both of Pinehurst’s par-5s.

Matthieu Pavon, U.S. Open

Matthieu Pavon putts on the 16th hole.
Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images

The first eagle came at the par-5 5th, where he rifled a 4-iron to 17 feet and made the putt. Five holes later, at the 617-yard 10th hole, Pavon launched a 3-wood from 288 yards away to 27 feet. He made that, too. He had his putter rolling, a necessity to score well on these diabolical, ‘Turtleback’ greens at Pinehurst No. 2.

If he can keep his putter hot, who knows? Perhaps Pavon can contend, and win, much like he did at Torrey Pines—another U.S. Open course—earlier this season. But he still has a long way to go before we can have that discussion, and he needs to improve his ball striking, which ranked 62nd among the field on Thursday.

Losers:

Peacock

You have the best three golfers in the world, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Rory McIlroy, playing in the tournament’s marquee pairing on Thursday afternoon. Scheffler and Schauffele struggled somewhat, relative to how they have played as of late, while McIlroy put together his best round of the season. But to watch them finish their opening rounds, you needed to do so behind a paywall.

Peacock aired the first round’s final three hours, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET, a prime time slot that cable television should have picked up.

The U.S. Open prides itself on providing hours of coverage, but it fumbled this time slot badly. I’m fine with putting coverage behind a paywall in the morning but not in the afternoon, when everyone’s attention is on the tournament while the workday wraps up.

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson, U.S. Open

Phil Mickelson grimaces during the first round of the 2024 U.S. Open.
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Twenty-five years ago, Phil Mickelson came agonizingly close to winning his first U.S. Open title. But he will not come close this time around.

The 6-time major champion made nine bogies during his opening round, carding a 9-over 79. He could not get anything going with any club in his bag, as he hit only 6-of-14 fairways. But perhaps even more shocking is that Mickelson found only three greens in regulation. He lost nearly three strokes to the field on approach.

He will need to shoot in the mid-60s on Friday just to make the cut, which, given how he hit the ball on Thursday, seems rather unlikely.

Mickelson last made a U.S. Open cut in 2021.

Justin Thomas

Justin Thomas has been trending in the right direction over the last month, which includes a top-10 finish in his hometown at the PGA Championship.

But he looked nowhere close to replicating that form on Thursday. Thomas signed for a 7-over 77 on Thursday, struggling heavily with his irons. He even had Tiger Woods watch him hit balls on the range after his round, per Golf.com’s James Colgan.

Like Mickelson, Thomas made nine bogies during the first round, but unlike the left-hander, he did make two birdies: one at the par-5 5th and another at the par-4 18th.

Regardless, Thomas will need to have a better ball-striking day on Friday, or else he will miss a cut at a major for the second time this season. It would also mark his fifth missed cut over his last seven major starts. Yikes.

Temporary TIO Relief

The temporary immovable obstruction (TIO) rules in professional golf are ridiculous. These guys have more talent than anyone else in the world, and yet, when a tower, sign, or even wiring obstructs their line somewhat, they must seek relief.

That happened to both Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler on Thursday.

DeChambeau rifled his tee-shot way right on the par-5 5th hole, destined for trouble. But it came to rest with a “wire” obstructing his view. As such, DeChambeau got to take a drop in a much easier spot a few yards to the left, which provided him with a clear line to the green. He went on to make birdie.

Scottie Scheffler, U.S. Open

Scottie Scheffler hits his second shot on the 16th hole during the first round.
Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Scheffler, meanwhile, had a similar instance take place on the challenging par-4 16th. After pulling drives all day, and uncharacteristically missing left with his driver on multiple occasions, Scheffler did so again on 16. His ball stopped rolling right behind a tree, but because the tee signage from the 18th hole obstructed his view, he received TIO relief. He then dropped his ball—scratch that—he placed his ball a few yards right, giving himself a perfect angle into the green. Unfortunately for him, Scheffler caught his second shot too clean and airmailed the green. He went on to make bogey.

But it’s not like this is anything new, either. Dustin Johnson received TIO relief on the 10th hole at Oakmont during the final round of the 2016 U.S. Open. He hooked his drive 50 yards left off the tee, which nestled down in gnarly thick rough. But because a TV Tower blocked his view some 100 yards away, Johnson asked for TIO relief, received it, then dropped in the first cut of an adjacent fairway and walked away with par.

If only us amateurs could receive TIO when we play…

Viktor Hovland

Viktor Hovland, U.S. Open

Viktor Hovland on the 8th tee.
Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images

What happened to Viktor Hovland on Thursday?

After finishing in solo third at Valhalla and posting a strong finish at the Memorial, Hovland looked lost at Pinehurst No. 2 on Thursday—a shocking development considering he looked back on track after reuniting with his coach, Joe Mayo.

He shot an 8-over 78, a round that included a pair of double-bogies on the 11th and 14th holes. He also made six more bogies.

Hovland lost nearly three strokes around the greens on Thursday, ranking 151st out of 156 players in that department—proof that his short game is still a work in progress.

The Norwegian has struggled chipping and pitching this season, ranking 173rd on tour in strokes gained around the green. Given that Pinehurst No. 2 places a premium on one’s short game, it’s no surprise that Hovland struggled as much as he did, given his shortcomings with his game around the greens. Still, to see one of the best players in the world implode this badly is an alarming sight to see.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

U.S. Open: Bryson DeChambeau details “diabolical,” exhausting day u,s,open,bryson,dechambeau,details,diabolical,exhausting,day,sbnation,com,front-page,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-news,liv-golf

On: By: admin


Bryson DeChambeau shot an impressive 3-under 67 to begin the 124th U.S. Open. He is one of 15 players who shot under par on Thursday, but that did not stop him from being completely authentic after his round.

Only DeChambeau could pick an immaculate adjective like this when discussing Pinehurst No. 2:

“It’s really diabolical out there,” DeChambeau said.

“Those greens, oh, my gosh, they can get away from you.”

It was a solid day for DeChambeau, who made four birdies and a bogey on his 16th hole, the par-4 7th.

DeChambeau leads the field in strokes gained off the tee, gaining 2.85 on the field. He is also eighth in strokes gained around the greens, picking up 2.17 on his fellow competitors.

In all, the 2020 U.S. Open champion hit 15-of-18 greens and 12-of-14 fairways.

He is right in the mix and just two shots behind leaders Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay.

A birdie on 13 got his day started, but his momentum surged when he chipped in for a birdie on the 18th, his ninth hole.

His last two birdies came at the 3rd and 4th—both par-4s—before a mistake at 7 cost him his bogey-free round. He seemed pleased with his performance, but it was not a leisurely day on the course.

“I would say from a mental exhaustion perspective, this was probably the most difficult that I’ve had in a long, long, long time,” he said.

“I can’t remember the last time I mentally exerted myself that hard to focus on hitting fatter parts of the green instead of going for flags. I did that quite nicely until the last few holes.”

He knows how to recoup for Friday’s round, though, mentally and physically.

“Eat a lot. Get a lot of carbs and food in me, good protein, just recover tonight,” DeChambeau said of what he needs to do to prepare for round two.

“I have to get up early and go back at it in the morning. Recovery is going to be key. I’m going to go hit a couple of balls and make sure it’s all dialed in and ready for tomorrow. I do a lot of breathing techniques. It’s almost like nature now. So, I’ve got my techniques that I work on. Make sure my brain is in a good spot, get some good treatment, and really focus on the positives of the day.”

Everyone in the field seems to have some kind of strategy this week—breathing techniques are just one part of DeChambeau’s unique approach to the game.

But the LIV golf star’s recuperation period will be short as he, Viktor Hovland, and Max Homa will begin their second rounds on Friday at 7:40 a.m. ET.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.

U.S. Open: Rory McIlroy has history on his side after solid start u,s,open,rory,mcilroy,has,history,on,his,side,after,solid,start,sbnation,com,front-page,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-pga-tour,golf-news

On: By: admin


Rory McIlroy matched Patrick Cantlay’s first-round score at the 124th U.S. Open as he fired off a bogey-free 5-under 65. They both sit atop the leaderboard after the first 18 holes at Pinehurst No. 2.

The last time McIlroy shot a bogey-free opening round at a U.S. Open was in 2011 at Congressional Country Club. He also did not make bogies during his opening rounds at the 2012 PGA Championship and the 2014 Open Championship, all three tournaments he went on to win.

But at Congressional, where went on to win his first major championship of his career, he also started with a bogey-free 65.

“I felt like I controlled most aspects of my game well. Controlled myself, controlled my mind—was disciplined when I needed to be,” McIlroy said on air with NBC Sports’ Damon Hack.

“Relentlessly trying to hit fairways, hit greens—there was a stretch at the start of the back nine where I kept hitting it to 20 feet and missing putts. I could have gotten frustrated, but I felt my patience was rewarded with the birdies on two of the last three holes.”

McIlroy hit 11-of-14 fairways and 14-of-17 greens in regulation. He recorded five birdies on the day, including two in his last three holes.

The four-time major winner ranked fifth in strokes gained around the greens, picking up 2.51 strokes on the field. He also gained 1.4 off the tee and 2.17 with his iron play.

“Super conservative with my strategy and my game,” he said.

“I think with my demeanor, trying to be super stoic, trying to be as even-keeled as I possibly can be. I feel like that’s the thing that has served me well in these U.S. Opens over the past few years. Just trying to be 100 percent committed to the shots.”

McIlroy knows how important a good start is in a major championship, but when it comes to the U.S. Open, it’s crucial to start well if a player wants to win the event. He has gotten off to a good start the last couple of years at this event, which has led to him finishing runner-up in 2023 and tying for fifth in 2022, seventh in 2021, and eighth in 2020.

Before that, he missed three straight cuts at the U.S. Open, as he opened with rounds of 80, 78 and 77.

“I think more so in this championship than the others—getting off to a good start is important to try and keep yourself up there,” McIlroy said.

“You need to give yourself as much of a cushion as possible, knowing what’s lurking around these corners. Certainly, the major championships that I’ve won or the ones that I’ve played well at, I’ve always seemed to get off to a good start, and it’s nice to get off to another one.”

It also helps that McIlroy loves Pinehurst No. 2 and how it plays. In 2014, he tied for 23rd here and started with a 1-over 71 that week. But the 35-year-old is already off to a better start and has his eyes on ending that decade-long major championship drought.

McIlroy will not have a long break before his second round begins as he, Scottie Scheffler, and Xander Schauffele will tee off on the 10th hole at 7:29 a.m. ET.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.

Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin is easy to overlook, but Tank’s return is big for boxing gervonta,davis,vs,frank,martin,is,easy,to,overlook,but,tank,s,return,is,big,for,boxing,sbnation,com,front-page,boxing,dot-com-grid-coverage

On: By: admin


Gervonta “Tank” Davis will be back in the ring on Saturday night, marking the return of one of boxing’s most talked-about stars and reliable draws as he puts his WBA lightweight title on the line against undefeated Frank Martin.

Davis (29-0, 27 KO) hasn’t been seen in action since his win over Ryan Garcia 14 months ago, in what was probably the biggest fight of 2023. The 29-year-old “Tank” will not have that level of spotlight against Martin (18-0, 12 KO), who just isn’t near Garcia’s level in notoriety and fame, but any time Davis fights, it’s a big deal for the boxing world.

As is usually the case, however, a lot of the talk days ahead of the fight is about what everyone would like to see Gervonta do next, once he’s done with this fight that pretty much everybody assumes he will win without much trouble.

Martin, also 29, is a good fighter. “The Ghost” has spent the last couple of years earnestly battling his way up the 135-pound ranks with wins over Romero Duno, Jackson Marinez, Michel Rivera, and Artem Harutyunyan, his most recent opponent, and a fight where we saw him struggle a good deal more than he had against the prior trio of opponents.

That struggle leads most to believe that Martin just won’t be good enough to pull the upset on Davis, and it’s a reasonable position. It is worth keeping in mind boxing’s “styles make fights” rule, because Davis fights nothing like Harutyunyan.

Unfortunately for Martin, the things he’s best at are things Davis excels in, too, and “Tank” also packs the power that Martin doesn’t. Davis is not an aggressive fighter by nature, taking his time to figure opponents out, but once he does, he lets the power go, and there’s a reason his knockout percentage is so high.

In a way, Saturday’s Gervonta return feels a little ho-hum, a little pedestrian, because the intrigue just isn’t there. It’s hard to even expect that he will come in unprepared and overlooking his opponent, because he never does that no matter how heavily he’s favored or how easy a fight is supposed to be.

It’s easy to want to look ahead, then, so are we any closer to Gervonta giving the public the fights they want to see instead of just lining up the next available PBC-affiliated name?

Boxing matchmaking is often overwhelmed by the political issues between various promoters and stables, and then further complicated by the broadcast deals tied to those promoters and stables.

Actual star fighters, though, ultimately have the most say, at least when they want to use their leverage. That’s how we got Tank vs Ryan Garcia last year; the fighters made that deal happen, Garcia in particular. Anything really can be done, and with the Saudi government showing wider-ranging interest in the sport, that’s more true than ever. Money will always talk in boxing, and they have a lot more of it than anyone else.

The key fights at 135 for Davis would be a long-awaited showdown with Vasiliy Lomachenko, who holds the WBO title, or a meeting with Shakur Stevenson, the WBC titleholder. Both of those fighters are currently with Top Rank and ESPN. Davis vs Lomachenko might come too late for Loma; as good as the Ukrainian still is, he’s past his best days. But Davis vs Shakur would be a meeting of two of boxing’s smartest in-ring tacticians, and they’ve floated a good bit of animosity into the world. Whether it’s real or not doesn’t even matter — it’s just about getting enough people to believe it’s real.

Maybe one of those guys will be across the ring from Davis next time we see him, whenever that comes, or maybe Davis will entertain a move up to 140, where he’s fought once and wasn’t quite himself, to take on someone like Devin Haney or Teofimo Lopez. There are always curveballs, too. It might sound crazy right now, but Davis may look at a currently soft welterweight division and a chance to become a four-division world champion with a favorable vacant title fight, now that Terence Crawford is moving up in weight.

Whatever it is, the real hope is that we see Davis in against someone you can reasonably see as a serious threat to him. Boxing is at its best when there is an actual split in opinion on who can win a fight and not just building, bit by bit, the marketability of a single fighter with carefully-chosen matchups, which unfortunately has been the bulk of Davis’ career, and seems most likely to be what we get this weekend.