The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Spieth enjoys watching brief after final flourish Former champion soaking up atmosphere at Erin Hills
Former champion Jordan Spieth was among the interested spectators as the US Open headed for a thrilling climax at Erin Hills, Wisconsin, last night.
Despite winds gusting up to 25mph which forced tournament officials to change the pin position on the par-3 13th, Spieth showed what was still possible with a closing 69.
Previous rounds of 73, 71 and 76 meant the 23-yearold was finished on oneover-par 289 before the final few groups teed off but that allowed him to make plans to watch good friends Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler take on the likes of England’s Tommy Fleetwood for the year’s second major.
“It will be exciting,” said Spieth, who has spent the
“I thought it was a fantastic round of golf, given what we were dealing with”
annual spring break holiday with Thomas and Fowler the last two years.
Spieth had struggled on the greens all week at Erin Hills and both of his bogeys yesterday came from three-putting, but the former world number one was pleased not to have “thrown in the towel”.
“I thought it was a fantastic round of golf, given what we were dealing with to start the day,” the 23year-old said.
“This (wind) is light and variable compared to the beginning of the day but that’s what you get for playing a poor first few rounds.
“I struck the ball the same way I have been. I think I hit 17 greens today which was just awesome in these conditions.
“Then my expectations were lowered on the greens given the conditions. I think that was the difference.
“I was able to get to a few under by just accepting the fact that the putt might miss instead of having to have it be perfect. That’s what I’ve been working on but maybe a day like today is all it needed to just kind of calm down.”
Fleetwood, who was hoping to become the third English winner since 1924 after Tony Jacklin (1970) and Justin Rose (2013), began the day in a tie for second with Thomas and Brooks Koepka, a shot behind surprise leader Brian Harman.
Thomas equalled the lowest score in major championship history with a stunning 63 on Saturday, a nine-under-par round which was also the lowest in relation to par in a US Open.
Harman, playing in his first major since missing the cut in all four in 2015, was attempting to become the first left-hander to win the title in a week which saw six-time runner-up Phil Mickelson opt to attend his daughter’s highschool graduation rather than compete.
The world number 50 was also hoping to become the fourth player in succession to convert a 54hole lead into victory after Henrik Stenson and Jimmy Walker in the last two majors of 2016 and Sergio Garcia in April’s Masters.