Watch Mackenzie Hughes' Tee Shot on 11th Hole Get Stuck in Tree at 2021 US Open
Jun 20, 2021
Mackenzie Hughes, of Canada, plays his shot from the seventh tee during the final round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Sunday, June 20, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Mackenzie Hughes became one with nature during the final round of the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego.
Hughes' tee shot on No. 11 bounced off the cart path to the left of the green and into a nearby tree, where the ball became lodged.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Golf Association doesn't award points for difficulty.
Instead, Hughes took a one-shot penalty and had to hit his third shot out of the rough. He settled for a double-bogey on the hole, adding to what was already a final round to forget. The 30-year-old fell to three over on the day, tumbling down the leaderboard after having a share of the lead through 54 holes.
Russell Henley, Mackenzie Hughes and Louis Oosthuizen go into the final round of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Club tied for the lead...
US Open Golf Purse 2021: Projecting Payouts for Top-10 Leaderboard Standings
Jun 20, 2021
Louis Oosthuizen, of South Africa, reacts to making his eagle putt on the 18th green during the third round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Saturday, June 19, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Based on the thrilling third round of play on Saturday, the final round of the 2021 U.S. Open, which is being played at Torrey Pines for the first time since 2008, when Tiger Woods roared to his epic 14th major championship, should be one for the books.
Louis Oosthuizen, Russell Henley and Mackenzie Hughes are leading the way, with Rory McIlroy and last year's winner, Bryson DeChambeau right there still in serious contention to repeat.
Here's a breakdown of the breakdown of the $12.5 million purse that's up for grabs and what players will be paid on Sunday should the order on the leaderboard hold.
Henley had the solo lead as Moving Day was waning and looked to be in complete control.
But after missing a putt for birdie and the solo lead, he'll have to fend off Hughes, who began his charge late to tie for the lead and Oosthuizen, who made it a three-way tie after carding an eagle on the 18th.
The shot from 52 feet garnered the biggest applause of the day and allowed the South African golfer to finish at -5.
Torrey Pines is known for being a course where it's more important to hit the ball deep than accurate, so it's no wonder that power hitter Bryson DeChambeau, the only player that was bogey-free on the day, is not far behind and is still a threat.
And for those golf fans wanting to see new blood take home the hardware, 13 of the top 20 players on the leaderboard have yet to win a major.
McIlroy, who last won the U.S. Open in 2014, is only two shots behind, so it's going to be a pressure-packed Sunday.
He's taking the course at 12:44 p.m. ET in a pairing with Henley.
Oosthuizen and Hughes are paired up for the final group at 12:55 p.m. ET.
Dustin Johnson Moves to 1 Under Overall with 3rd-Round 68 at 2021 US Open
Jun 19, 2021
Dustin Johnson plays his shot from the fifth tee during the second round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Friday, June 18, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Dustin Johnson turned in his best performance of the 2021 U.S. Open on Saturday with a 68 that moved his overall score to one under par in San Diego, California.
The world's top-ranked player came into the third round trailing the leaders by seven shots. He continued his recent dominance on the front nine with two more birdies today.
If not for a brutal stretch on the back nine in the second round, Johnson could have found himself among the leaders at this point. He hit five bogeys during that stretch to card a 40 in those nine holes.
In the 45 holes outside of that stretch, Johnson has played the Torrey Pines South Course at six under.
Johnson started his third round on a high note with a birdie on the 457-yard par four.
After the strong opening, Johnson did make things difficult for himself frequently throughout the round. He followed up a tee shot on No. 2 that landed in the rough by hitting his second shot over the green, though he was able to salvage par.
Johnson hit fairway bunkers on the fourth and fifth holes that had the potential to derail him in the early going. Instead, he was able to salvage par both times. The 36-year-old had a 60-foot birdie putt on No. 5 that stopped just short of the hole.
Teeing off on the 470-yard seventh hole, Johnson set himself up nicely with a 325-yard drive down the middle of the fairway. He made a birdie from six feet out to get back to even par for the tournament.
Following a run of five straight pars, Johnson ran into his first significant problem of the day on hole No. 13. The South Carolina native had to settle for a bogey after missing a 15-foot par putt.
The 17th was big for Johnson because it ended a run of 13 straight holes on the back nine without a birdie.
Heading onto the 533-yard 18th hole, Johnson was able to cut loose off the tee. His first shot landed in the fairway after traveling 330 yards. His second shot put him on the green with a 30-foot putt for eagle.
Even though Johnson was unable to convert for eagle, he did finish the day with another birdie.
The green is where Johnson did most of his best work in the third round. He only hit five of 14 fairwaysand got on the green in regulation 50 percent of the time, but he made up for it by needing just 24 total putts and gaining 4.71 strokes on the green.
If Johnson can clean up his long game Sunday, he could potentially finish the tournament inside the top 10 for the second consecutive year.
US Open Golf 2021: Daily Fantasy Picks and Tips for Saturday
Jun 19, 2021
Jon Rahm, of Spain, plays a shot from a bunker on the 11th hole during the second round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Friday, June 18, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The 2021 U.S. Open leaderboard is headlined by two relatively obscure players in Richard Bland and Russell Henley.
The pair of players at five under will be under immense pressure to keep their slim advantage at Torrey Pines Golf Club on Saturday.
While Bland and Henley are nice stories, it is hard to see both of them remaining at the top after the third round.
Louis Oosthuizen, Bubba Watson and Bryson DeChambeau lead a list of previous major champions within a few strokes, while Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele are among the top golfers in search of their first major victories.
Rahm, Schauffele and others seem to be the better daily fantasy plays for Saturday's third round because of their consistency at Torrey Pines and the lack of pressure they face compared to the co-leaders.
Daily Fantasy Picks and Tips
Target Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele
Rahm and Schauffele have been on the front page of the leaderboard for most of the first two rounds.
They put in two of the most consistent rounds to set them up for success. Rahm and Schauffele each recorded a 69 on Thursday, and the Spaniard was one shot better with a second-round 70.
Rahm was regarded as the favorite to win the U.S. Open because of the success he achieved in the buildup to Torrey Pines. The 26-year-old finished inside the top 10 at both of the season's majors, and he had four top-10 finishes at the Farmers Insurance Open, which is held every year at Torrey Pines.
Schauffele has been in contention in each of the past four U.S. Opens, landing inside the top 10 in every one of those appearances.
The American has been close to earning his first major win for the past four years, as he has eight top-10 placings across all majors.
Rahm and Schauffele will not be bothered by the increased pressure that comes with the third round of a major since they have experience being toward the top of the leaderboard.
Each player should be considered as a DFS selection, and if you can fit both into a lineup, it is worth doing.
Jordan Spieth eked his way into weekend play by reaching four under with a second-round 69.
All that matters is that Spieth will play Saturday and Sunday, and he has a chance to make a surge up the leaderboard.
Spieth's second-round should give him a confidence boost after a tough Thursday saw him card 77.
In his past six tournaments, Spieth carded five third-round scores in the 60s. Most of those put him in contention for top-10 finishes.
Spieth is far removed from that milestone, but he could move up a handful of places if he turns in a consistent round Saturday.
The American will not face any pressure playing in one of the first groups out, and it is not out of the question for him to go a few shots under par and get closer to even par for the tournament.
Bryson DeChambeau Video-Bombs Brooks Koepka at US Open, Says He 'Had Fun' with It
Jun 18, 2021
Bryson DeChambeau waits to hit on the second fairway during the first round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Thursday, June 17, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Bryson DeChambeau video-bombed a Brooks Koepka interview.
Again.
As Mark Schlabach of ESPN noted, DeChambeau jumped and waved his arm in the background Thursday while Koepka was being interviewed by Golf Channel's Todd Lewis following his opening round at the U.S. Open.
DeChambeau was heading to the first hole as part of the later tee times and said: "Again, it's one of those things people are thinking I was doing something, I wasn't doing anything at the PGA Championship. I saw an opportunity and I just had fun with it."
Koepka said Tuesday of his relationship with DeChambeau, "We just don't like each other."
Last month, Koepka was visibly frustrated with DeChambeau as he walked toward him during an interview, a video that went so viral even Tom Brady joked about it:
Koepka shot a two-under 69 on Thursday to put himself in contention among the leaders.
DeChambeau may be fighting against the cut line Friday after shooting a two-over 73.
US Open Tee Times 2021: Pairings and Predictions for Friday Schedule
Jun 18, 2021
SAN DIEGO, CA - JUNE 17: A course scenic view as fans watch the group of Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa on the fifth hole green during the first round of the 121st U.S. Open on the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course on June 17, 2021 in La Jolla, San Diego, California. (Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
Louis Oosthuizen ended his Thursday at Torrey Pines tied for first place at four-under par with Russell Henley. By the time Oosthuizen finishes his first round, he may find himself in the solo lead.
Oosthuizen was forced to wrap up play around 8 p.m. local time in California, just after finishing his 16th hole, The South African had been on a tear for the most part of the day, netting one bogey on five birdies. Henley dropped in six birdies, but also bogeyed twice.
Only one other golfer in the top ten of the leaderboard failed to finish their opening rounds with Sebastian Munoz sitting at two-under par through 14 holes and tied for fifth place.
Here's a look at Thursday's leaderboard, Friday's tee times and what's on tap as the intensity at the U.S. Open begins to climb.
U.S. Open First Round Leaderboard
T1. Russell Henley (-4)
T1. Louis Oosthuizen (-4, through 16)
T3. Francesco Molinari (-3)
T3. Rafa Cabrera Bello (-3)
T5. Brooks Koepka (-2)
T5. Xander Schauffele (-2)
T5. Hayden Buckley (-2)
T5. Hideki Matsuyama (-2)
T5. Jon Rahm (-2)
T5. Sebastian Munoz (-2, through 14)
Notables: T11. Matthew Wolff (-1), T11. Rory McIlroy (-1), T24. Sergio Garcia (E), T24. Dustin Johnson (E), T61. Justin Thomas (+2), T61. Bryson DeChambeau (+2), T78. Gary Woodland (+3), T96. Phil Mickelson (+4), T129. Jordan Spieth (+6)
Round 2 at Torrey Pines should see a rather furious rush to make the cut by the end of the day. The only question is what score it will take to qualify for the weekend. At the end of play on Thursday, a round of 73—two-over par—was good enough to tie for 62nd place.
When the cut line comes into play on Friday, a round of 73 might have those same players breathing a sigh of relief. Expect the cut line to hover around five-over par on Friday as the field works to secure a spot in the third and fourth rounds.
That would be quite normal compared to previous U.S. Opens, where low scores have been hard to find. Last year the cut line at Winged Foot was six-over par. In 2019 at Pebble Beach, it was two-over.
The last time the U.S. Open visited Torrey Pine in 2008, the cut line reach seven-over par.
Things may not get that drastic in California on Friday, but it certainly won't be easy.
DeChambeau Fails To Make Cut
Don't expect to see the defending champion in the field this weekend. Not after how Bryson DeChambeau played on Thursday.
The 2020 U.S. Open-winner couldn't get out of his own way on Friday, posting six bogeys on just four birdies in his opening round as he finished the day tied for 61st place.
As much as golf fans would've loved to see DeChambeau defend his title against budding rival Brooks Koepka, it doesn't appear they'll get their wish of a made-for-TV pairing. Not with Koepka sitting near the top of the leaderboard and DeChambeau some 100-odd spots below him.
If DeChambeau does earn an early exit, it would be the second consecutive year the defending U.S. Open champ missed the cut after Gary Woodland failed to reach the weekend last year.
US Open Golf 2021: Russell Henley, Louis Oosthuizen Start Strong at Torrey Pines
Jun 18, 2021
Russell Henley plays his shot from the 17th tee during the first round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Thursday, June 17, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Day 1 of the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego is in the books.
Round 1 is not over, though.
A 90-minute fog delay pushed the beginning of the tournament back. Thirty-six golfers were on the course when the day's action was suspended for darkness, so the first round will conclude early Friday morning before Round 2 can begin.
Louis Oosthuizen and Russell Henley sit atop the leaderboard at four under.
Oosthuizen caught fire during his round, knocking home birdies on Nos. 16-18. The putter cooperated, and he drilled an 18'11" putt on No. 16:
Oosthuizen may have never won a U.S. Open, but he's been brilliant at the major with four top-nine finishes. Justin Ray of Twenty First Group provided some stats:
Louis being Louis.
Oosthuizen is 1 of 3 players to finish in the top-10 at each of the last 2 U.S. Opens (Schauffele, McIlroy). Ranks third in scoring average at the @usopengolf the last 20 years among players with 20+ rounds played.
Oosthuizen did not finish his round, and he currently sits on the No. 8 green. He has about 12 yards for a birdie.
Henley entered the clubhouse as the tournament leader thanks to a four-under 67. Six birdies helped him emerge in first place, and he can thank his exceptional putting (fourth in strokes gained on the green).
Torrey Pines hasn't exactly been kind to Henley in the past, as he told Jason Sobel on SiriusXM Radio following his round:
— SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio (@SiriusXMPGATOUR) June 17, 2021
But he was all smiles Thursday thanks to a fantastic short game.
It's awfully crowded at the top, though, and some of golf's best players are in the mix.
It's never a good sign for the competition when four-time major winner Brooks Koepka is lurking around, but that's the case as he finished the day two under.
Koepka was four under at one point after knocking home this birdie on No. 12:
A pair of bogeys knocked him down to two under, but he's certainly off to a great start.
It's been an eventual few weeks for another contender in Jon Rahm. The Spaniard was forced to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament after testing positive for COVID-19. He was leading the tournament by six strokes at 18 under going into Sunday.
That was undoubtedly disappointing, but he's recovered and in great form, shooting two under on Thursday. This 30-feet birdie putt on No. 14 helped matters.
Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama is seeking his second major win of the year, and he's in good shape to do so at two under. He had three birdies and just one bogey.
Other notable contenders include 2019 Open champion Francesco Molinari (three under) and Xander Schauffele (two under).
On the flip side, a who's who of golf's biggest names sit below the one-over cut line going into Friday.
World No. 2 Justin Thomas is at two over. He started the day with 11 straight pars before bogeying No. 3.
He bogeyed No. 5 as well but came through with a clutch birdie on the tough par-four sixth (519 yards).
Thomas did finish with one more bogey but ended the day just one shot below the cut line, so he could very well end up playing this weekend despite his current position.
Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth is also on the outside looking into the picture at six over. He was treading water through 14 holes at two over, but a disastrous finish, which included a double bogey on No. 6, led to the six-over day.
It wasn't been a good day for former U.S. Open champions. Gary Woodland, the 2019 victor, is three over. He was one under through 10 holes but carded five bogeys from Nos. 11-17 before finishing with a birdie on the last.
Bryson DeChambeau, who was the only player to shoot under par in 2020, shot two over. His approach game didn't do him any favors, as he finished 127th in strokes gained.
PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson's quest to win that elusive U.S. Open did not get off to a good start, as he's four over. The six-time major winner is still basking in the glow of his Wanamaker Trophy, though.
Justin Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open champion, had three straight bogeys from holes Nos. 4-6 to fall below the cut line. He has seven bogeys and zero birdies through 17 holes.
Webb Simpson, who won the U.S. Open the year before Rose, had a day to forget and finished eight over. Six bogeys on the front nine and a double bogey on No. 17 have all but sent Simpson home early.
Phil Mickelson: U.S. Open Spectators' Cell Phone Cameras 'Didn't Do Me Any Favors'
Jun 17, 2021
Phil Mickelson plays his shot from the 12th tee during the first round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Thursday, June 17, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Phil Mickelson shot a four-over 75 in the first round of U.S. Open play at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California on Thursday, and he blamed at least part of his poor outing on the fans.
Mickelson was frustrated by fans who were using their cell phone cameras, particularly on the No. 13 hole, when he had to back away on three occasions to request that a camera be turned off. A police officer was involved after his third ask, according to Bob Harig of ESPN.
He bogeyed that hole en route to his finish, which had him eight strokes behind clubhouse leader Russell Henley.
Mickelson, who turned 51 on Wednesday, acknowledged that spectators—and interference—were just "part of professional golf" and said he could have done a better job of managing the distractions internally.
"You have to learn to deal with it," he said. "I don't understand why you just can't turn that little button on the side into silent. I probably didn't deal with it internally as well as I could have or as well as I need to. It's part of playing the game out here at this level. Certainly I didn't do the best job of dealing with it."
Mickelson, who has won at Torrey Pines three times before it was renovated in 2001, said he "was fighting hard" throughout his opening round but struggled with "getting anything going."
The oldest major champion after claiming the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, South Carolina last month, Mickelson is seeking a career grand slam. He has five second-place finishes in the U.S. Open, most recently in 2013, but the U.S. Open is the only major that has evaded him thus far.
He tees off with Max Homa (+5) and Xander Schauffele (-2) at 4:36 p.m. ET on Friday.
Jordan Spieth 's hunt for his first major title since 2017 has come into focus over the last few months. The three-time major winner entered the first two Grand Slam tournaments in form, and he landed a tie for third at the Masters...
