Ernie’s US Open Review

21 Jun

Obviously we have to start this week’s report with massive congrats to Dustin Johnson on winning his first Major Championship.

We’re near neighbours in Florida; he’s a good buddy of mine and a phenomenally talented player. DJ really deserves this victory and I thought he showed great composure, especially after the conversation he had with the USGA rules official on the 12th tee. That can’t have been easy for him and yet to be able to keep it together, and take care of business down that tough closing stretch the way he did, was a seriously impressive effort. He’ll take huge confidence and satisfaction from that.

Of course, winning the US Open at Oakmont was how I opened my Major account 22 years ago and it was nice to be back for my third US Open there. The USGA and the greens staff at Oakmont have to be congratulated on the conditioning and set-up of the course, which was absolutely superb in every way.

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As the scoring illustrated, this is as tough a golf course as you could ever see and even the torrential downpours on Thursday couldn’t really blunt its teeth! Inevitably, you’re going to have ups and downs in any US Open test and a key part of that challenge is how successfully, or not, you keep the big numbers off your card. I made a couple of minor errors during that marathon Friday, where I played 35 holes as a result of the weather delays, and that cost me two double-bogeys and a triple-bogey. That right there is the difference between missing the cut and being on the fringes of contention going into the final 36 holes. As always, the margins can be very fine in Major Championships.

Overall, though, I thought I played some really good golf in those first two rounds, hitting a lot of quality shots and giving myself a bunch of opportunities. As I said, apart from a few mistakes I felt like my game was right where it needed to be and I like what I’m working on with David Leadbetter (pictured below) right now. The swing feels really comfortable, even if it’s not showing-up in my results in recent weeks. That will come.

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I’ll certainly be going into this week’s Quicken Loans National at Congressional CC with a positive mindset. It is another Major Championship course and I’m relishing the opportunity to come back and compete at this historic club. I love these traditional old courses up in the North East and I’ve been blessed to win quite a few times in this part of the US. Whenever I compile a list of my favourite courses, Congressional is always right up there.

Casting my mind back to a top-10 finish here in the 2005 Booz Allen Classic, the course was much the same as it had been in 1997 when I won my second US Open. However, by the time we returned for the 2011 US Open – and again at the 2014 Quicken Loans National – it was a very different course. While it’s natural that I’d have some fondness for the old layout, I must say I like what they’ve done here. As many of you will know, the key change is the old par-3 18th hole is now the 10th and it’s longer than before. That means the old 17th hole, where I hit one of the best shots of my career in the final round in 1997, is now the new 18th only again it’s significantly longer. It’s a strong finishing hole. As I said, I’m looking forward to the whole experience of being back at Congressional.

Now, just a quick mention for this year’s Big Easy Sunshine Tour, established five years ago to give a platform to young guys wanting to take the next step up to full Tour status. It’s a great format and I commend everyone on the Sunshine Tour for its continued success. Congrats to Craig Hinton on winning the latest tournament in the series at a wonderful venue, Glendower Golf Club, which also hosts the SA Open next year. You can click here for more details on the Big Easy Sunshine Tour schedule, which culminates in the season-ending Tour Championship in September at our very own Els Club Copperleaf. You’ll maybe recall that the European Tour was there in 2013 and 2014 for the Tshwane Open. It’s a wonderful golf course.

Finally, a quick congrats to the Springboks for a storming comeback win in their latest test against Ireland at the weekend. You had me on the edge of my seat boys! Good luck in the final and deciding test in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

Okay, that’s it for now. Follow me on Twitter @TheBig_Easy.

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