Adam Scott surged up the 'board, firing a four-under 66

Many players walked off their last hole at Aronimink Golf Club in the first round of the AT&T National and felt like they had just grinded through the first round of the US Open.

“I didn’t do anything crazy on the greens. I just played them solid,” said Joe Ogilivie after posting a three-under 67, a shot off the lead. “This course is set up like a U.S. Open. The fairways are a little bit wider, but it’s definitely playing similar — except for this year’s U.S. Open.” (continue reading…)

Cantlay

NEWTON SQUARE, Pa. — Does anyone remember how they spent the summer between their freshman and sophomore years in college? I hardly do because it obviously wasn’t memorable (but I think I worked on my golf game and had a part-time job). In ten years I doubt Patrick Cantlay, a rising sophomore at UCLA, will have the same problem. (continue reading…)

Here’s this from Darren Rovell’s Twitter: “4 hours left to bid on @McIlroyRory‘s US Open scorecard. Bidding now at $2,000.” So if you have a spare $2,000 or $3,000 saved up for a rainy day, go bid on it, but hurry, time’s running out! You have until 8pm!

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Goodbye Tiger, Hello Rory?

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — When Tiger Woods was 21, he won the ’97 Masters by a ridiculous margin of 12 shots. With Tiger injured and Rory McIlroy winning the US Open in Tiger-esque style, several have claimed the Tiger Era is over and it’s now the Rory Era. At Tiger’s press conference on Tuesday at AT&T National, he praised Rory for his incredible win at Congressional. (continue reading…)

Cantlay earned Low Amateur honors at the US Open last week

The last amateur to win a PGA Tour event was Phil Mickelson at the 1991 Northern Telecom Open. UCLA rising sophomore Patrick Cantlay wasn’t even born yet.

While there’s still quite a lot of golf to be played, check out the leaderboard at the Travelers Championship. Cantlay, 19, shot a course record, ten-under 60 at TPC River Highlands during the second round to take a four-stroke lead at the rain-delayed event. (continue reading…)

You’ve probably already seen this by now, but I’m posting it for posterity. Great shot by SI’s Fred Vuich of Rory McIlroy teeing off No. 10 on Sunday at Congressional. Since McIlroy’s impressive eight-stroke victory, much of the media, including SI, is calling it the beginning to “Golf’s New Era.” (continue reading…)

Almost Garrigus'd! Okay, 20 yards short.

I’ll start with the highlights — there weren’t many from my round on Monday at Congressional Country Club. I ended with the best drive I’d hit all day and almost knocked it into the walkway on the 18th (a la Robert Garrigus). I was standing close to the 150-yard marker and hit a 7-iron with my typical draw to the front of the green. “Roll!” I yelled. Yeah, that wasn’t happening.

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This is A-MA-ZING.

Witness Rory McIlroy, who had just won the Under-10 World Championship in Florida, chipping during an appearance on the Kelly Show in ’99. The young Rory told presenter Gerry Kelly (who could have been a little less affectionate, but maybe it’s a cultural thing?) that he chipped balls through the kitchen door into his mum’s washing machine as part of his training. (continue reading…)

Though it may come as little surprise to hear it, Rory McIlroy’s US Open victory succeeded in breaking scoring records of all shapes and sizes. To help place his achievement in some sort of historical context, here’s a hand-picked selection of the most striking comparisons to be made.

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Admit it: You got a little misty-eyed

What a difference two months makes, huh? He told us he’d gotten over the massive disappointment at the Masters, but many didn’t believe. I did. I had a feeling he’d be OK. I’m thrilled he was able to shut up the naysayers at the very next major. I remember pundits implied that his final nine meltdown at Augusta could scar him for the rest of his career. Wrong. He has too much natural talent. He’s just that good. His optimistic outlook on life doesn’t hurt, either.

I was lucky enough to walk the last nine holes of Rory McIlroy’s decisive eight-shot victory at the US Open. I followed him the back nine during the third round, as well. By Saturday evening, I was pretty much convinced he had learned and moved on from prior experiences. It seems amazing that he had managed to mature tremendously in such a short period of time, but I guess nothing should cease to amaze me with that kid at this point. (continue reading…)