Kisner heading challenge of ‘frat house’ Americans
United States and South Africa dominate day one Spieth and friends play back garden football
So much for United States golfers not possessing the camaraderie. Maybe we can finally lay that famous Ryder Cup cliche to bed now that Kevin Kisner is the latest member of America’s “frat house” to have garnered inspiration from his major-winning buddies to highlight the Starred and Striped dominance.
Will the 147th Open champion hail their sixth major win in succession for the first time in 36 years? The opening signs are certainly promising/concerning, depending on which side of the Atlantic one’s heart lies.
Kisner shot a five-under 66 to assume control, while one behind is countryman Tony Finau as well as two South Africans in Erik van Rooyen and Zander Lombard. Of the big names, Rory Mcilroy and Tiger Woods inevitably stood out after a two-under 69 and a 71 respectively.
Yet on a day when the Carnoustie of this burnt vintage confirmed that it is not “Car-nasty”, but also not exactly the “Car-nicey” some were expecting, Kisner leads the way. And you can be assured that the congratulations would have been very vocal and highly familiar when he eventually returned to his digs.
The Open’s self-named “Frat House” was first put together in 2015 when Zach Johnson won at St Andrews. Last year Jordan Spieth made it two out of three for the famous multi-millionaired fellow US residents. Three out of four anyone?
Kisner (right) is one of seven in the two rented homes situated next to each other in this small Angus town. The others are Johnson, Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Jason Dufner, Justin Thomas and Jimmy Walker. There happen to be eight major championships among that lot, but Kisner – together with Fowler – does not contribute to that haul. He is determined to change that.
Granted, it is early doors with early scores, but the 34-year-old’s challenge should not be underestimated, regardless of the leaderboard being so crunched, with 49 within five of the pace. Undoubtedly, Kisner is the least known of the housemates, but he is rated.
A two-time winner, Kisner is in the top 20 on the Ryder Cup standings and fancied by many to receive a wild card. If it came down to popularity he would already be booked on the jet to Paris. The South Carolinian, who lives just across the border from the Augusta National, is a golfing street fighter and what he lacks in physique and driving distance, he makes up for in tenacity and know-how.
Whether you are a long-hitter or short-hitter, and whether you are being bold or cautions, this scorched Carnoustie still requires you to hold your nerve and after an eagle, four birdies and a bogey, Kisner definitely achieved that.
Afterwards, he entertained the media with his anecdotes about the “frat house” and their games of “soccer” in the back garden.
“Jordan is absolutely our best player – until he sends it over the goal and four houses across, and we’ve got to go knock on neighbours’ doors to get the ball back,’ Kisner said. “Hey, they’ll probably let me eat first tonight now. Being with them is not intimidating at all. I mean, we’re out there playing soccer at night and hanging out. It’s really cool just to hear what they have to say. Everybody’s sitting around at night scratching their head on what club to hit off of every tee.”
Roll your eyes if you must, but do not disbelieve that the US are on a roll, or that it has nothing to do with their “togetherness” and internal rivalry and motivation. Thomas and Johnson are on two under, while Ryan Moore, the Seattle man who recorded the winning point at the last Ryder Cup, is on three under alongside another American in Brendan Steele and another South African in Brandon Stone.
For the English – who are praying for their first Open win in 26 years – the resurgent Danny Willett and Matthew Southgate (no relation) are on two under, but Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood, the main St George hopes coming in to this major, have ground to make up on one over.
Rose lost his cool in his morning’s 72 endeavours, snapping at a photographer he claimed was too hasty with the trigger, but any frustration is almost understandable on this links. It promises so much and entices you in, particularly when the ball is travelling such extreme distances.
The question was, and will remain, whether to use the brawn more than the brain and although it is a mixed bag up there on top, the fact that Dustin Johnson bashed his way to a 76 – the worst opening score in Open by a world No1 in more than 30 years – perhaps showed that this links requires a more subtle game plan.
But then, Spieth suddenly went awry on this torrid finish when seemingly in total control – the defending champion dropping four shots in the last four holes for a 72 – and Sergio Garcia went through with the old “Jean van de Velde” by splashing a shot from a burn on his unsettled path to a 75.
True, Carnoustie, because of the lack of wind and the wispy rough, is nowhere as tough as 1999 or 2007, but it still has teeth.
That is why Mcilroy was so content to shoot his round containing three birdies and just the one bogey. Afterwards, he railed against Butch Harmon, the renowned coach, who claimed he had a “robotic” putting swing, but otherwise there was only positivity. He knows he can boom and, when required, find a passage out of the hay.
Woods will be rather more circumspect and this differential in game plan is what is making this championship so intriguing. The 42-year-old’s reception on the first tee – at 3.21pm, of all times – was one of the loudest ever heard in an Open and was more reminiscent of a Ryder Cup.
Woods appeared very comfortable despite wearing tape on a sore neck and is clearly relishing the challenge. Mcilroy, Europe and the rest of the world have their work cut out to stop the Americans. And to cancel another “frat party”.