Warning: may contain sentimental references to Father’s Day.
Phil looked ready to end a career of US Open heartbreak, but the leaderboard was crowded with big names desperate to spoil his Father’s Day party. Relive the final round with our blow-by-blow account.
So close!
Despite a bogey on the monstrous par-4, 521-yard 18th, Phil Mickelson, who has come up just short five times at the U.S. Open, shot a solid even-par 70, one-under total, on Saturday at Merion, giving him a one-shot edge over Hunter Mahan, Charl Schwartzel and Steve Stricker. Sunday’s final round is not only Father’s Day, but it’s also Phil’s 43rd birthday.
Phil, who is campaigning for Father-of-the-year, flew across the country in his private jet twice earlier this week to attend his daughter’s eighth-grade graduation. The return flight was a redeye from San Diego to Philadelphia just a few hours before he teed off on Thursday.
Tiger Woods starts slow in defense of title
Tiger Woods got schooled by 53-year-old Fred Couples, the oldest player in the 120-man field, in the first round of the Memorial Tournament.
“He kicked my ass,” Woods joked, following his opening one-under 71 on Thursday.
Haas likes Riviera
Defending champion Bill Haas outplayed the rest of the pack, firing an impressive seven-under 64, three shots better than the next lowest round — which is the second-largest margin of the season (Phil Mickelson was four clear of the rest when his putt for 59 lipped out in the first round in Phoenix).
Haas kicked off the day in a ho-hum style, parring the first hole, which is playing the easiest this week, at Riviera. He opened with four straight pars before he appeared to get his rhythm going with birdies on Nos. 5 and 7. But the game-changer was rolling in a tough 30-footer for birdie on No. 9, chipping-in for eagle on No. 10 and getting up-and-down (for birdie) on No. 11, and then he made some good par saves to keep the momentum going. (continue reading…)
By now, you’ve probably seen some version of The Awkward Handshake That Shook The World With Laughter, but it really doesn’t get old (and probably never will). I watched it on loop in the press center with awe and marvel, not to mention trying not to fall out of my chair giggling — that would have been totally embarrassing!
Well, the above clip shows Billy Payne going in to shake 2012 Masters champ Bubba Watson’s hand and then getting nothing but air. You see, Bubba started to extend his hand toward the Chairman until he saw the shiny green jacket that Charl Schwartzel was holding, so naturally, Bubba turned to Charl. (continue reading…)
Louis' consolation prize: an albatross, only the fourth in Masters history
I spent Sunday afternoon in the sitting room in between the locker room and the Grill Room at Augusta National and watched most of the final round with Louis Oosthuizen’s family and management. Defending champion Charl Schwartzel and his Green Jacket even showed up around the 12th hole. So did Bubba Watson’s agent Jens Beck.
Interesting enough, WUP’s special contributor Brendan Prunty and I unknowingly switched places. At the end of regulation, I headed back to the press center, while Brendan wandered into the same room and observed the final 90 minutes with Team Louis. (continue reading…)
Charl thinking to himself: Dang it, I was supposed to be putting this on my best friend Louis...
Bubba Watson held up his hand, gesturing for the crowd to hold the applause on the 10th green in the sudden death playoff. He had a tap-in for par and the win, but well, as we learned last week, it’s not over until the final putt drops in the cup. The big-hitting lefty cautiously and gently stroked it in and then the celebration and the tears commenced. (continue reading…)
Andrew Redington/Getty Images
AUGUSTA, Ga. — In the blinding mid-afternoon sun, Adam Scott was busy finding himself answering more of the same questions. He had just finished doing his weekly session with the media, when he was intercepted coming out of the back door by a familiar friend in the Australian media. The request was for a little bit of alone time for the usual inquiries: What happened in the final round of The Masters last year and how is he going to correct it this year.
Scott crouches while holding what looks like a javelin.
It appears that Adam Scott has chosen this week to launch his annual fortnight-long hot streak. The Aussie, who began his round on the tenth, blazed his way to the first tee in 32 shots before adding an eagle to an already impressive card. At six-under through ten holes, he holds a two-shot lead over in-form oldsters Steve Stricker and Thomas Bjorn. (continue reading…)
Thørbjorn Olesen, obviously.
As expected, the 36-hole leader of the Abu Dhabi Championship is 22 years of age and the possessor of a world-beating long game. He doesn’t, however, go by the name of Rory McIlroy. (continue reading…)
Recent TweetsLive Chat
