Tour News

5 Things We Learned from Day 1 at the U.S. Open

Published

10 years ago

Jun 16, 2016

Another Northeastern U.S. Open in June, another rain delay. Whether it’s Bethpage or Oakmont, the USGA can’t catch a break on events played in the original 13 colonies in June. Today’s delay was massive, with only nine golfers finishing play. However, we did learn a few things from Day 1 of the 2016 U.S. Open

It takes a lot of work to make a U.S. Open happen

If you thought that the clubs that host major championships have a system in place and simply flip a switch, think again. Things happen all over the course at dawn’s early light that boggle the mind. From properly turning mowers that shave closer than your razor, to spray-painting holes to give them that extra shine and shimmer, greenskeepers and superintendents from around the region work in harmony to ensure that Oakmont is ready for the world’s best.

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Scottie Scheffler is the happiest guy in Pennsylvania

The University of Texas stalwart made three birdies against two bogies, and is the clubhouse leader at 1-under par. As one of those nine golfers with a signed scorecard, Scheffler earned the right to watch the NBA Finals tonight, sleep in late on Friday, and organize his second day better than most. With his sister on the bag (and playing hooky from an internship, no less), Sheffler’s comfort level was palpable and he scrambled (missing one-third of his greens) like a veteran. Playing in his first U.S. Open, the 2013 U.S. Junior champion avoided the big number that snagged his fellow competitors. With so much time to ponder his first-round achievement, might Scheffler have too much time to contemplate what he faces? History says, “Yes.”

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Contestants need to make changes on the fly

Imagine planning the run-up shot during your three practice rounds, then waking up Thursday to find softer, wetter greens that not only hold an approach, but allow you to spin it like a regular Tour event. That was Oakmont on Day 1, as Jordan Spieth and a host of others discovered. Shots that were bounced in with wedges from Monday through Wednesday reacted differently on Thursday. On the 17th, Spieth’s approach landed beyond the hole, but sucked back below the hole…and then off the green, into a fronting bunker. Soft Oakmont greens are still lightning-quick, setting up an apparent contradiction to further befuddle the game’s best exponents.

Andrew Landry won’t win, but one of these guys might

Andrew Landry (the guy on the cover image of this story) was the Day 1 story, standing 5-under at one point before bogies on Nos. 7 and 8 (his 16th and 17th of the day) dropped him to 3-under before the final rain delay. No one expects the former University of Arkansas golfer and one-time Web.com champion to hang around through Sunday evening. Hot on his heels is a handful of golfers with experience to contend. At 2-under are Bubba Watson (4 holes to play) and Danny Lee (5 hole left.) At 1-under is long-suffering Lee Westwood, often a contender but never a major champion. At even par are three of the hottest, young golfers in the professional game: Daniel Berger, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Shane Lowry. When the rest of the field finally gets on course on Friday, though, the plot line should change again.

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If they’re not careful, these guys will be down the road

Sure, it’s early. Sure, they have holes left to play (and birdie) in their first round. However, Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Luke Donald, Bern Wiesberger, Paul Casey and Danny Willett currently sit at 38th spot or worse. Unless they make a move pronto, they could be watching from the den on Sunday. So many good golfers (Jason Day, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Charl Schwartzel, and the list runs long) have yet to tee off that it seems silly to think that numbers that high will be around for the weekend.

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Ronald Montesano

Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

10 Comments

Ronald Montesano

Jun 17, 2016 at 6:19 pm

To my Facebook comment-writers up top~

JoshBecky White~Not sure if I’m writing to Josh or to Becky (or White), but I’ll assume all three, or two, of you-My criticism is relevant to you, since you took time to write to me. Again, I’m not criticizing Andrew Landry as a golfer. That’s the part that should be quite clear. At no point in the article did I say anything negative about his round, his golf swing, his personality. Also, let’s say I did follow him and did know him…would that make my criticism relevant?

Justin Ball~Thinking the same thing about Ricardo. I think that loss to Matsuyama took the wind out of his sails this year. If he had won in reg or playoff at Phoenix, he would have had two big, early-season wins and would have been riding high, coming in to Augusta. That driver over the green revealed that A) he is a poor decision-maker or B) he doesn’t have go-to shots under pressure. I think he needs to go minus-two tomorrow in round two to make the cut. If he can go minus-five, he plays himself into contention.

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Mark

Jun 17, 2016 at 12:55 am

*Makes cover photo of Landry*

*Writes paragraph to bash him*

lol you WRX writers are too much.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jun 17, 2016 at 6:00 am
  
  Thanks for your input, Mark. From my perspective, it’s not a bash. I haven’t called him names, questioned his skill set, or insulted his pet. The USGA tells us that only one guy will win the tournament and history and statistics say it won’t be a guy like Andrew Landry. For that matter, it may not even be a guy like Jason Day.
  
  However, if Andrew Landry does pull through as champion USA golfer of 2016, you can bet that I will lead on Sunday evening with a reference back to my wretched skill as prognosticator.
  
  Thank you very much for reading. We hope that you continue to read and to comment.
  
  RM
  
  Reply Report comment
  - El
    
    Jun 17, 2016 at 9:05 am
    
    The same thing was said about Francis Ouimet when he beat Harry Vardon and Ted Ray for the US Open.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Ronald Montesano
      
      Jun 17, 2016 at 6:14 pm
      
      Which same thing?
      
      I love a Ouimet story, but I also know that Landry, if he’s fortunate and good, might best hope for a Mike Donald story.
      
      Reply Report comment
Milo

Jun 16, 2016 at 9:59 pm

I’m rooting for him!!!!

Reply Report comment
golfman

Jun 16, 2016 at 9:43 pm

Agreed, such a pathetic lack of respect to the player.

Poor Form golfwrx.

Hope he wins.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jun 16, 2016 at 10:17 pm
  
  Assume you mean Landry. I consider it a lack of faith in the ability of an untested golfer to stay on form. One of his birdies, from about 40 feet away, slammed into the flagstick and dropped; otherwise, it would have gone 25 feet past and he would have made bogey.
  
  If he remains on form and challenges, it will certainly make a great story for all to read.
  
  RM
  
  Reply Report comment
  - El
    
    Jun 17, 2016 at 9:07 am
    
    According to the people on the Golf Channel, Landry is one of the best iron players on tour, not the longest off the tee but deadly with a short iron in his hands.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Ronald Montesano
      
      Jun 17, 2016 at 6:12 pm
      
      El,
      
      Here is his bio: http://www.pgatour.com/players/player.33410.html
      
      There are great iron players on tour, and there are great iron players under pressure on tour, and there are great iron players under pressure in a major while playing with Dustin Johnson at Oakmont on Saturday in the final grouping. I hope that Landry is the later; I suspect he isn’t just yet.
      
      Reply Report comment

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

The tournament’s location, just outside Philadelphia, and its status as a major championship mean GolfWRXers are in for a treat: WITBs from a strong field, custom gear celebrating the PGA Championship, and the rich culture of the City of Brotherly Love — we have noted a relative absence of cheesesteak-themed items thus far this week, but most of the rest of the usual suspects are well represented.

Check out links to all our photos below.