Chip-Ins & Chunks is a new feature I’m starting here at Front9Back9.com to highlight the best and the worst from the past weekend in golf. Tell me what you think below or let us know on Twitter @Front9Back9.
Chip-Ins – The Good
Justin Rose Wins the U.S. Open
Need I say more? With an even-par final round, it was enough to hold off the rest of the field for the Englishman to take home his first major championship. Did I mention he was one of my picks in my Foursome of Favorites leading up to this week?
Phil Mickelson Comes up Short – Again
I could not dare put Phil in my Chunks section for the week. When you fly from Memphis to Philly to San Diego to Philly just to be with your daughter for her 8th grade graduation, then you’re a great dad. I sure was pulling for Phil to take home his first U.S. Open but sometimes it’s just not meant to be.
Merion Golf Club
Depending on who you ask, (Zach Johnson) Merion held up to it’s billing this weekend. I could not get over how sweet that course looked on TV and wishing I could find a member to invite me. It ate the pros lunch but that’s what the U.S. Open is suppose to do to players – test their skills.
Chunks – The Bad
Tiger Woods Fails – Again
Ask Tiger and he will tell you it’s back to the drawing board. But to everyone else, we’re curious what’s going on. In his last two tournaments, he is 21-over par. Yes you read that right. Twenty-one over par in his last eight rounds of golf. I personally believe he’s injured again and soon will get more information about time off.
Rory McIlroy Continues to Struggle
Rory will tell you it’s not the clubs and his game is coming around. I wonder if it really is the clubs he is struggling with. It’s either that or he needs to get rid of Caroline and focus on golf. But if I was a twenty-something millionaire golfer I’d try to get with that as well…
Zach Johnson Being Un-Johnson Like
When I read Zach Johnson’s criticisms of Merion Golf Club I thought it was odd to hear something like that from him. I then looked at what he shot the first two days and I realized it was probably more frustration. After a 74-77-MC, I too would be pissed.
Raven Golf Course says
Rose was due, and his play down the stretch was a sight to behold. Phil….well, he pulled another Phil. Probably his last best chance at the open, at his age. Merion proved golf needs more than length, and the little old lady of championship golf came up big. Hope she makes it back into the rotation!
Dustin says
Hey Ryan. Great Idea with your new “Chip’s and Chunk’s” weekly feature – fun to read.
I too, (like many others around the world) was pulling for Phil to win his first US Open Championship.
He is playing in a league of his own, hope he can keep it up.
We will be hosting the 2015 US Open here in the Seattle area. It’s a links style course and with Phil’s new found love for links courses, maybe he can join – Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen in the “Career Grand Slam Club”. That’s assuming he doesn’t win next year at Pinehurst.
Troy Vayanos says
Yes it was another of the 30’s age bracket that finally broke through for their first major. First Adam Scott and now Justin Rose and then Jason Dufner at the PGA.
Be interesting to see if there is more in 2014?