Running Blog For The Open Championship Round 3
500AM Coverage just started on USA but the rear of the Field started a little over an hour ago. None of them have a prayer in Hell of course nor do any of these groups for the next 2 1/2 hours. I figure the +3’s being 10 back are theoretically still in it. Realistically though I believe the winner is near certain to come from the +1’s or better meaning we are down to 17 players max. So before we pay any real mind to the action let’s do our daily history lesson.
After Bryson DeChambeau’s win at Pinehurst there was some talk about Americans closing in on a record which has strangely been ignored this week. Because DeChambeau’s win represented the sixth consecutive win in a Major by a DIFFERENT American player. The longest streak best I can tell aside from now was seven in a row in 1975 and 1976:
1975
USOpen Lou Graham
British Tom Watson
PGA Jack Nicklaus
1976
Masters Raymond Floyd
USOpen Jerry Pate
British Johnny Miller
PGA Dave Stockton
Now—if you take out the qualifier DIFFERENT American, the most consecutive Major wins is THIRTEEN over roughly that same period and looks like this:
1974
PGA Lee Trevino
1975
Masters Jack Nicklaus
USOpen Lou Graham
British Tom Watson
PGA Jack Nicklaus
1976
Masters Raymond Floyd
USOpen Jerry Pate
British Johnny Miller
PGA Dave Stockton
1977
Masters Tom Watson
US Open Hubert Green
British Tom Watson
PGA Lanny Wadkins
Gary Player ended the streak at Augusta in 1978 winning by 1 stroke over three Americans (Watson, Green, and Rod Hunseth).
The current American run looks like this:
2023
PGA Brooks Koepka
USOpen Wyndham Clark
British Brian Harman
2024
Masters Scottie Scheffler
PGA Xander Schauffele
USOpen Bryson DeChambeau
Matching the seven different players in a row is very much alive with none other than Billy Horschel in 4th at -2 and Patrick Cantlay in 7th at -1 or more remotely the tandem of Dustin Johnson/Collin Morikawa in 13th at +1. It will take extraordinary play over the next two days and good fortune but it’s in reach. Should they falter continuing on the path to 13 in a row (which granted, seems inconceivable) by any American is possible with Scottie Scheffler in 4th at -2, Xander Schauffele in 7th at -1 or Brooks Koepka in 13th at +1.
530AM If you saw the recap yesterday you know Daniel Brown’s first round lead, while ultimately meaningless, has seldom been so unlikely relative to his very low world ranking. I figured he would shoot 80 yesterday and frankly had he played late he probably would have. Now he is getting into even deeper waters. Three men have won in their Major debut—Francis Ouimet (1913 USOpen), Ben Curtis (2003 British), and Keegan Bradley (2011 PGA). That’s 3 out of 469 Majors… Brown can be had at around +2000 right now which seems absurdly low.
600AM I was mocking Scheffler’s putting yesterday but as it turned out he was miles better than he was on Thursday. He had 25 putts vs 30 on Thursday, gaining 2 strokes on the Field. He now sits at 41st for the Tournament in putting while the leaders, Brown and Lowry, are 1-2. Lowry is also outplaying Scheffler, albeit fractionally, with his irons as well. With 5 strokes to make up Scottie will have to summon his best golf the next two days, especially on the greens.
640AM This will be before the memory of many but once upon a time there was the feeling that if Jose Maria Olazabal could win one Major he could win a half dozen or more. It didn’t work out that way for a variety of reasons but that same sense dangles over Xander Schauffele. To be the first PGA/British winner in the same year since Rory McIlroy in 2014 his putter needs to come alive also. Only Daniel Brown has been better off the tee among the contenders.
720 AM The guy I’ll be rooting for the hardest today will be 37 year old Billy Horschel. Horschel is a player I lampooned for many years for being one of those guys in the top 10 who never won anything of consequence. That characterization was not unfair as he has only two top 10’s in Majors over forty two starts plus he’s never made a Ryder Cup team. He did win the Tour Championship in 2014 and The Memorial in 2022 but I tend to rate players solely on Majors which is probably short sighted. Anyway his game fell apart last year as happens with a lot of guys with the nadir coming at Jack’s Memorial as defending Champion. Desperate to validate his win from the prior year despite a swing that had abandoned him he shot an opening round 84 that left him in tears at the presser. A lot of guys, and I mean A LOT, wouldn’t and haven’t been able to answer the bell after that. He kept his head down and slowly worked himself back, finally winning an opposite field event in the Dominican the same week as The Heritage after The Masters. A T8 followed at Valhalla and here he is, right in the cauldron. Imagine devoting your whole life to golf and getting a Major in the Autumn of your career. I doubt a win would mean more to any other player.
840AM All the +3’s are out and it will soon be time to pay attention. What you need to know is the wind is negligible today and not forecasted to pick up much. They keep talking about rain but I’ve checked several weather sites and I don’t know where it’s coming from, heavy anyway. For the first time all week, going really low is out there with the front nine especially gettable as is normal. There are 54 players either finished or on the course. Only 20 are over par with the remainder Even or better. Sungjae Im has already turned in a 5 under 66. Adam Scott is there as well through 14 and Justin Thomas of all people is scorching it at -5 through 9.
859AM Thriston Lawrence, a 27 year old South African that plays on the DP Tour who I never heard of, has birdied 1,3,4,5, and 6 to climb all the way into a tie for 4th place. These morning guys would love to see a rain apocalypse this afternoon.
920AM Si Woo Kim just aced the 17th, the longest par 3 on the course and the first hole in one there ever in Open competition.
923AM Lawrence makes another birdie on 8 and he has a chance to make the turn in 29 with a birdie on 9.
928AM If Justin Thomas had shot 40 on the front yesterday instead of 45 he would be tied for the lead.
1007AM Lawrence showing no sign of slowing down, now 7 under through 11, including the only birdie on 11 all day, and only 3 back. Started the day 10 behind at +3. Rain starting to pick up…
1049AM Lowry and Brown have teed off (both poorly) so we have everyone either finished or in play. Should be a very interesting afternoon.
1118AM American Russell Henley is the latest to reach 6 under for the day. All the way to a tie for 4th. Lotta holes left too. These leaders, particularly Lowry, have quite the scenario in front of them. Many multiples of how this evening could look.
1124AM As Tirico just said, Americans have owned the Championships here like no other course in the rota. I wouldn’t bet on it but my hunch is one of them will come through somehow. That’s your signal to load up on somebody else.
1128AM Horschel out there in shirtsleeves, the only one I’ve seen like that all day. I get it, I hate the bulk of a sweater or rain jacket too but it is not warm out there at all and pouring in places on the course.
1142AM Several guys have gotten to 6 under for the round—JT, Im, Scott, Lawrence, Henley, Burns—only Lawrence made it to 7 and he couldn’t stay there. You never know but if the rain continues that will be the low round of the day, 65.
1205PM To further the point made earlier the course is playing today like it normally does. Look at any scorecard of the guys who went low and they came out scorching but couldn’t keep it going on the back. There is definitely a storyline where Lowry backs up later.
1222PM Don’t hold me to this but I don’t think Scheffler has missed a green. He’s made one putt. The saga continues.
1231PM Meanwhile, deep in the weeds two guys who were on the periphery of contention were Brooks Koepka and Corey Conners. Both have played themselves out of it at 3 and 5 over through 10 holes for the day respectively. What a debacle of a Major season for Koepka.
1248PM Lowry doubles the Postage Stamp after finding the Coffin Bunker. Honestly I thought his course management there, ensuring he got out of there in one, was very good. Coulda been a triple or worse. Game on though and tied for the lead—BILLY HORSCHEL!
116PM Other players in the mix with a good Moving Day besides Koepka and Conners that have spit the bit include Patrick Cantlay +4 (Check out my surprised face) and Collin Morikawa who is Even on the day. Dustin Johnson has been just OK at -1.
130PM Dan Brown makes a 12 footer for par at 11, the toughest hole on the course, and this guy just will not go away. It’s incredible actually. Lowry bogies (very lucky it wasn’t a double or worse) and three are tied for the lead at -5.
143PM The current top 10 has five Major wins among three players. And unheralded Dan Brown is the solo leader after yet another bogey by Lowry who is not leaking but hemorrhaging oil. Unless Brown or Horschel get to 7 or 8 somehow tomorrow could be an all timer.
205PM I’m going to regret this but Billy Horschel is playing some fucking golf. Feels like his time. Gun to my head I would pick he or Schauffele right now.
215PM In the final group who did you have falling apart Lowry or Brown? Incredible. When Lowry got to 8 I felt a rout coming on. He yanked that tee shot into the Coffin and I’m not sure he’s hit a good full shot since.
224PM Remember back in April when I told you putting prowess at Augusta isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be? You see that Scheffler guy? He’s won there twice.
237PM Horschel with an all galaxy up and down out of a plugged lie near the face of a pot bunker. I feared bogey and he nearly jarred it. What was it Ben Crenshaw said at the Ryder Cup at Brookline that year? “I’m a big believer in fate.”
251PM Scheffler finishes with an even par round, tied for 8th and for the moment 4 back. I hate to belabor the point and I’m not at all saying he’s out of it but he’ll never make enough putts.
310PM Horschel finally finds an up and down he can’t convert on 18. Finishes with a 69 and is 4 under for the Tournament. He will be in the final group tomorrow, likely with Brown. Justin Rose makes par and he’s 1 back of Billy.
325PM After three heroic days, Brown finally cracks on hole 54 with a double bogey. His driver, best in the field for the first two days, betrayed him. Billy Horschel will have the sole lead to sleep on and I think will play with Sam Burns tomorrow. Lowry makes his 5th bogey on the back for a disastrous 77 and 4 back. Nine players within 3 of the lead. I expect an epic Sunday.
345PM Any LIV clowns even playing this week? Not so you’d notice. Here are their abysmal results:
Dustin Johnson +2 T15
74 69 72
Jon Rahm +2 T15
73 70 72
Laurie Canter +2 T15
71 74 70
John Catlin +2 T15
76 70 69
Dean Burmester +3 T25
71 69 76
Joaquin Niemann +5 T40
71 71 76
Adrian Meronk +5 T40
73 72 73
Abraham Ancer +5 T40
73 75 70
Phil Mickelson +6 T51
73 74 72
Brooks Koepka +8 T62
70 73 78
Andy Ogletree +13 T78
75 72 79
Tyrrell Hatton +8 MC
73 77
Sam Horsfield +8 MC
75 75
Henrik Stenson +8 MC
77 73
Louis Oosthuizen +8 MC
78 72
Bryson DeChambeau +9 MC
76 75
Cameron Smith +12 MC
80 74
David Puig +13 T136
80 75
One more day of meaningful golf in 2024. Join me in the morning at JWSkelton7 on Twitter.