Tag: Dustin Johnson

Phil, JT among 10 notable golfers who missed cut at 2023 British Open

Take a look at the notables heading home early.

HOYLAKE, England — It’s a silly game, isn’t?

If you had Brian Harman running away with the Claret Jug and four top-20-ranked pros heading home on Friday, well, congratulations.

Royal Liverpool is living up to the hype as a tough, old-school links layout that has stood the test of time. Defending champion Cameron Smith closed with an eagle to jump to 2-over 144 and move to the right side of the cutline — which came at 3-over 145 —  and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler needed to produce a sublime bunker shot at 18 to make birdie and make the cut on the number (extending his streak of consecutive made cuts on Tour to 22, the third-longest active streak).

All told, these 12 players made the cut in all four majors this season: Patrick Cantlay, Tommy Fleetwood, Ryan Fox, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland, Brooks Koepka, Hideki Matsuyama, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, Xander Schauffele, Scheffler and Smith.

Half the fun is over, but half the fun is still to come. The bad weather, which is expected over the weekend, should make whoever is destined to be the Champion Golfer of the Year to have earned the moniker in spades.

Open Championship 2023: Leaderboard, tee times, hole-by-hole

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The field has been trimmed to the top 70 and ties, with 76 players advancing to the weekend and within 13 strokes of the lead. Let’s take a closer look at some of the notables who were sent packing from the 151st British Open.

There are 16 LIV golfers at 2023 British Open. Is this the last time we care?

Perhaps the 2023 Open will be the final time there will be a clear distinction between two sets of competitors.

Perhaps the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool will be the final time there will be a clear distinction between two sets of competitors: those who are in the LIV Golf League and those who are not.

There will be 16 members of LIV Golf in the field this week when the Open begins on Thursday. That’s nearly one-quarter of the entire LIV Golf membership and barring any withdrawals, will tie for the second-most LIV players in one of the four major championships this year.

There were 18 LIV players who qualified for the Masters but two withdrew, Kevin Na and Louis Oosthuizen. The PGA Championship had 17 LIV players and the U.S. Open had 15.

Leading the LIV pack will be four past champions, defending champion Cameron Smith, Phil Mickelson, Louis Oosthuizen and Henrik Stenson.

Friday update: To read about the LIV golfers who made the cut at Royal Liverpool, click here.

By the time the 2024 Masters hits the calendar, it’s hopeful that the tentative peace and pending agreement between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (which bankrolls LIV) will have been finalized and its players allowed back on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.

Open Championship 2023: Leaderboard, scores, news, tee times, more

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Until then, LIV players are still barred from playing on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour and have only been able to play on the same course with them in the majors.

Here are the LIV players who qualified for the Open Championship:

2023 Open Championship odds, event history and picks to win

All eyes are on Hoylake for the 151st Open.

For the first time since 2014, all eyes are on Hoylake.

The best players in the world have made their way to Royal Liverpool for the 2023 Open Championship, the final men’s major of the year.

Cam Smith, after his come-from-behind victory at the Old Course last season, enters the week as the defending champion. He admitted Monday that he was a bit emotional returning the Claret Jug.

The man he chased down at St. Andrews, Rory McIlroy, won the title of Champion Golfer of the Year nine years ago when the Open last came to this historic venue.

Both players won the last event they played in: Smith at LIV Golf London, and McIlroy at the Genesis Scottish Open.

Open Championship 2023: Leaderboard, scores, news, tee times, more

Golf course

Royal Liverpool | Par 71 | 7,383 yards

Royal Liverpool Golf Club
A view of the green on the par-4 1st hole for the 2023 Open Championship (plays as the 17th hole for the club routing) at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England. (Photo: David Cannon/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

Championship history

Betting preview

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How players in 2023 British Open field fared in 2014 at Royal Liverpool

Of the 44 players who are back at Royal Liverpool nine years later, 29 made the cut back in 2014.

Given his stellar season and history at Royal Liverpool, Rory McIlroy enters the 2023 British Open surrounded by quite a bit of interest.

After all, the Northern Irishman won one of his four major championships at the 2014 Open that was held on Merseyside at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England, not to mention he’s fresh off a win last weekend at the Genesis Scottish Open.

But McIlroy isn’t the only player in this week’s field with a little history at Royal Liverpool. A total of 44 players who teed it up in 2014 are back in Liverpool nine years later, and of those players, 29 made the cut.

Here’s how players in the 2023 British Open field fared in 2014 at Royal Liverpool.

PHOTOS: 2023 British Open practice rounds

Player 2014 finish Score
Rory McIlroy 1 -17
Rickie Fowler T2 -15
Adam Scott T5 -12
Charl Schwartzel T7 -11
Graeme McDowell T9 -10
Shane Lowry T9 -10
Dustin Johnson T12 -9
Francesco Molinari T15 -8
Chris Kirk T19 -6
Keegan Bradley T19 -6
Justin Rose T23 -5
Phil Mickelson T23 -5
Brian Harman T26 -4
Byeong-Hun An T26 -4
Darren Clarke T26 -4
Branden Grace T36 -2
Jordan Spieth T36 -2
Louis Oosthuizen T36 -2
Brendon Todd T39 -1
Gary Woodland T39 -1
Henrik Stenson T39 -1
Hideki Matsuyama T39 -1
Marc Warren T39 -1
Stewart Cink T47 E
Zach Johnson T47 E
Jason Day T58 3
Thorbjorn Olesen T64 4
Brooks Koepka T67 5
Hiroshi Iwata Cut 3
Billy Horschel Cut 4
Danny Willett Cut 4
Harris English Cut 4
John Daly Cut 4
Patrick Reed Cut 5
Scott Stallings Cut 5
Tommy Fleetwood Cut 6
Ernie Els Cut 8
Pablo Larrazabal Cut 8
Padraig Harrington Cut 8
Tyrrell Hatton Cut 8
Russell Henley Cut 11
Matthew Southgate Cut 12
Joost Luiten Cut 13

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Cameron Smith wins for second time at LIV Golf London; Patrick Reed leads 4Aces to team title

Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces claimed another team title at Centurion Club.

Popular names dominated the leaderboard at LIV Golf London as Cameron Smith claimed the individual title while Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces claimed the team title Sunday.

The 29-year-old Aussie claimed his second win since joining the Greg Norman led and Saudi Arabia-backed circuit, this time by just a single shot at 15 under over his Ripper GC teammate Marc Leishman and Patrick Reed of the 4Aces. Smith made bogey on the par-5 18th to sign for a 3-under 68, opening the door for Reed (65) who failed to take advantage and made par. Leishman (66) made birdie to tie Reed at 14 under with Louis Oosthuizen (68) in fourth at 12 under and Johnson (67) rounding out the top five at 10 under.

Photos: LIV Golf London at Centurion Club

Smith’s late bogey doomed Ripper to second at 33 under, one shot behind the 4Aces who claimed the win at 34 under. Oosthuizen and his Stinger GC finished third at 29 under.

The league returns to action next month with LIV Golf Greenbrier, Aug. 4-6, at the Old White at The Greenbrier.

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LIV Golf captains dish on whether they’ll return to PGA Tour if Saudi partnership is passed

“I just can’t envision a better scenario for me as a player than playing out here on LIV,” said Phil Mickelson.

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Details are still few and far between with regard to the proposed deal signed by the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to create a new global golf entity, even after the framework agreement leaked earlier this week.

One of the biggest questions is how LIV Golf players will be brought back into the fold on Tour. Will there be suspensions? Fines? For how long and how much? On top of that, do players even want to return to the Tour?

Depends who you ask.

“I’ve been pretty happy with my decision to be here at LIV. I’ve enjoyed it. I’m not going to speak for everybody else, but I would say everybody is pretty excited, and everybody is pretty happy with where they’re at right now,” said Brooks Koepka ahead of this week’s LIV Golf Andalucia event in Spain. “It’s tough to look into the future and say — I don’t have any control over what other guys do, but I know I’m happy where I’m at right now, and just take it one day at a time.”

Koepka has long been rumored as a player who has fancied a return to the Tour. Dustin Johnson left without much fuss and would seemingly fit back in with relative ease. That said, Johnson is pretty happy with his smaller schedule and larger paydays.

“I’m excited for the future. I think with this agreement, the only thing that’s going to happen is LIV is going to get even better than what it is now, which it’s already great,” said Johnson. “I’m happy exactly where I am, and I’m definitely not looking to play more golf than I’m playing now, that’s for sure.”

“If everything goes according to plan like we expect it to be, I will not be playing much at all on the PGA Tour because I don’t plan on playing 30 events a year,” echoed Sergio Garcia. “That’s not something that is in my mind at the moment. Obviously as things settle and we know exactly where we all stand, then we can make decisions. But I wouldn’t think so. Not at the moment, I guess.”

Players are smart to not close off a return to the Tour. Who knows what the schedule could look like over the next few years if the deal is passed by the PGA Tour board and allowed by the U.S. government.

“We don’t really feel the need to publicly posture our position,” explained Phil Mickelson, who has never been shy to share his opinion, no matter the subject. “There’s really no need for us to talk about things publicly but to just let it play out.”

But will fans see Lefty back out on Tour, or maybe even on the Champions tour? Don’t hold your breathe.

“Rather than saying yes or no, I know that from a player experience, all of the difficulties and challenges and things that take a lot of excessive energy and output throughout the week have been fixed at LIV,” said Mickelson. “So the player experience here is incredible.”

“I just can’t envision a better scenario for me as a player than playing out here on LIV.”

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How each LIV Golf player fared at the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club

The trend of LIV golfers contending at majors continued at the 2023 U.S. Open.

LOS ANGELES — The trend of LIV Golf players contending at majors continued this week at the 2023 U.S. Open.

Fifteen players who took their talents to the upstart circuit led by Greg Norman and financially backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund were in the 156-player field, and 10 made the weekend cut. Cam Smith and Dustin Johnson were both within striking distance of the leaders on the weekend, and both earned top-10 finishes.

Earlier this year three LIV players finished in the top six at the Masters, and of the 16 players who competed at the 2023 PGA Championship, 11 made the weekend cut.

Check out how each of the LIV Golf League players fared this week at the 2023 U.S. Open.

MORE: U.S. Open leaderboard

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Best final round pairings to watch Sunday at the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club

Sunday’s finale in Beverly Hills features some must-watch pairings.

LOS ANGELES — As soon as your Father’s Day plans are over, find a television, change the channel to the 2023 U.S. Open and enjoy the show.

Or better yet, watch with your dad because neither one of you will want to miss this finish.

After 54 holes at the famed Los Angeles Country Club the leaderboard is loaded with PGA Tour and LIV Golf stars, as well as compelling would-be first-time major winners. Co-leaders at 10 under, Wyndham Clark and Rickie Fowler are in the latter category. Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy is solo third a shot back at 9 under, with 2022 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler three back in fourth at 7 under. Then there’s the likes of Harris English, Dustin Johnson and Xander Schauffele all idling within reach.

And what comes with a packed leaderboard? A handful of must-watch pairings. Here are the groups you won’t want to miss during Sunday’s final round of the 2023 U.S. Open.

U.S. OPEN: Leaderboard | How to watch | Sunday tee times

Twitter had fun with a few player arrivals on Saturday at 2023 U.S. Open, including Dustin Johnson walking in with The Great One

Saturday at the U.S. Open is off to a great start.

The third round of the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club is underway and the leaders have arrived at the golf course.

The early noise is coming from Tom Kim, who posted a 6-under 29 on the front nine and birdied the par-4 10th to get to 7 under on his day. He may need a few more, but the golf course is only getting tougher as it dries out so he should be right in the mix Sunday if continues to play well.

Twitter had some fun with a few player entrances Saturday, including Sam Bennett arriving to the course with a freshly-shaven look.

U.S. OPEN: Leaderboard | How to watch

Here are some of the best entrances from players before the third round of the U.S. Open.

Five things from the first round of 2023 U.S. Open: Dustin Johnson goes low, Rory McIlroy’s rocking start

It’s the first time in U.S. Open history that no player shot 80 or higher in the first round.

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LOS ANGELES – The leaderboard at the 123rd U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club looks more as if it was the Bob Hope Desert Classic down the road in Palm Springs.

Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele set the pace, each shooting record-breaking 8-under 62s to share the first-round lead.

The only other PGA Tour event with multiple 62s this season? The Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

“Seeing Rickie and Xander take it deep out there, it’s like, well, this isn’t your typical U.S. Open mindset of like I’m just playing for par,” said Harris English, who shot 67. “I mean, you got to make some birdie to keep in line with those guys.”

Typically, 2-under 68 might lead the opening round but at the 123rd U.S. Open it is six back and isn’t even in the top 10 (T-13). The six scores of 65 or lower Thursday were the most in a single round in U.S. Open history.

It wasn’t just the leaders who went low. This marks the first time in U.S. Open history that no player shot 80 or higher in the first round. It was the lowest first-round scoring average (71.38) by a U.S. Open field all-time – by nearly a full shot, shattering the record of 72.29 at Baltusrol in 1993.

“This is probably the easiest that it could have played today,” English said. “I’m sure when we see those scores, a couple 8 unders, they’re not going to like it too much. But, yeah, it was probably the shortest it could play today. No crazy, crazy pins. So I think it can only get harder from here.”

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