Scott just makes it in to U.S. Open
Former World No. 1 had one stroke to spare
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Adam Scott spent five weeks trying to secure his spot in the world ranking to get into the U.S. Open. The last resort was his first 36-hole sectional qualifier, and the former Masters champion and world No. 1 made it Monday with one stroke to spare.
Scott kept alive his 17-year streak playing in all the majors with a twoputt from 30 feet for par on his final hole at The Lakes Golf and Country Club. And even-par 72 for a 6-under 138 total was just enough for him to avoid a 10-man playoff for the final spot.
“It’s a nice streak to keep going, but it will be better if I win the U.S. Open,” Scott said. “I am playing all these majors to win them, not just to show up, so I’d like to make the most of this opportunity.”
The U.S. Open is June 14-17 at Shinnecock Hills.
Scott will be competing in his 68th consecutive major, a streak that began after he missed the 2001 U.S. Open. Scott was scheduled to play a qualifier that year, but decided against it.
This time, it was 36 holes or bust. The top 60 in the world after next week get into the U.S. Open, but the 37-yearold Australian had already decided that he wasn’t playing the FedEx St. Jude Classic this week in Memphis, Tennessee.
“I wanted a week off,” he said after opening with a 66 at Brookside in the morning.
The longest day of golf featured 11 sectional qualifiers across eight time zones, from England to California, with 869 players trying to earn 71 spots. The USGA held back six spots for those who crack the top 60 in the world next week.
Shane Lowry of Ireland, who has yet to finish better than a tie for 14th all year, found his game on a beautiful day in central Ohio with rounds of 68-67 to share medalist honors with Sungjae Im of South Korea, who leads the Web.com Tour money list.
As usual, Brookside and The Lakes had the majority of PGA Tour players, some of them wearing shorts in a setting that hardly looked like a PGA Tour event. It sure didn’t feel like one, either, at least not to Keegan Bradley. The former PGA champion made it to his seventh straight U.S. Open, and it was a grind. He had to qualify for the second straight year.
“It reminded me of tour school. There’s no joy,” Bradley said with a smile that showed his relief. “It’s humbling to come here.”
Russell Knox figured he would be sitting out this U.S. Open when he was 3 under for the tournament, three shots below the projected cutoff, and had five holes to play. He made birdie putts of 30 feet, 18 feet and 4 feet, saved par from the bunker with a 6-foot putt and then birdied the 18th from 20 feet to make it by two.
Michael Putnam nearly didn’t make it to The Lakes after he opened with a 1-over 73 at Brookside. He figured he would give it nine more holes, and then he wound up with a 64 to make it with room to spare.
Among those who failed to qualify were Vijay Singh and 19-year-old Joaquin Niemann, who contended last week at the Memorial.
The other qualifier with mostly PGA Tour players was near Memphis, Tennessee, and 51-year-old Steve Stricker earned one of the 11 spots. Stricker shot 65 and tied for second with Mackenzie Hughes of Canada. The medalist was Sam Burns, who didn’t have much stress after opening with a 62.
In Florida, Luis Gagne of Costa Rica led the three qualifiers from The Bear’s Club with rounds of 68-70, two shots ahead of PGA Tour player Richy Werenski. The other spot went to Tyler Strafaci, who won a six-man playoff for the last spot. The playoff included Christian DiMarco, the son of Chris DiMarco. Also missing out was Andy Zhang, who first played the U.S. Open in 2012 at Olympic Club as a 14-year-old. Gustavo Morantes, who played for UNM, missed the cut, as he finished 4-over.
In Texas, A pair of LSU golfers, Jacob Bergeron and former U.S. Junior Amateur champion Philip Barbaree, shared medalist honors at Shadow Hawk Golf Club. The other spot went to Chris Naegel, who finished one shot behind. Chandler Smith-Stetson, an Albuquerque Academy alumnus, misssed the cut. He shot 13 over.