Wolff outfoxes field at Open
Matthew Wolff might be too young to realise he’s supposed to hit fairways to have a chance to win the US Open. Or maybe he’s so good it doesn’t matter.
Wolff hit only two fairways yesterday and still matched the lowest score ever at Winged Foot in a major, a five-under 65 that gave the 21-year-old Californian a two-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau going into the final round.
Whether it was the first cut or the nasty rough, Wolff kept giving those hips one last swivel before blasting away and giving himself birdie chances. He made enough of them to seize control, and then let so many others crumble.
Patrick Reed, tied for the lead at the turn, couldn’t find the fairway and paid dearly with a 43 on the back nine. Reed had a three-shot lead after two holes. He walked off the 18th green with a 77 and was eight shots behind.
Collin Morikawa won the PGA Championship last month in his first try at age 23. Wolff is playing his first US Open at age 21. Is he next?
‘‘I’m probably going to be a little antsy. It’s the US Open, and I have a lead,’’ Wolff said. ‘‘I’m going to try to keep my nerves as calm as they can be. I put myself in a really good spot. I did everything that I could do up until this point, and tomorrow I’m going to go out there, I promise you I’m going to try my best.’’
He was at five-under 205. Not since Francis Ouimet in 1913 – also the last time the US Open was played in September – has a player won in his debut.
DeChambeau could have gone the same route as Reed, missing left and right, gouging his way out of the grass. But after opening with two bogeys, he kept scrambling away – 15 straight holes with nothing worse than par. He rallied with two late birdies until missing a short par putt on the 18th for a 70.
He will be in the final group for the first time in a major.
The US Open began with 21 players under par. There were six going into the weekend. Now it’s three, with Louis Oosthuizen efficiently putting together a 68 to finish at one-under 209.
Hideki Matsuyama (70), Xander Schauffele (70) and Harris English (72) were at even-par 210. Another shot back was Rory McIlroy, who posted his 68 some three hours before the leaders finished.
‘‘It doesn’t take much around here . . . and all of a sudden you’re right in the thick of things,’’
McIlroy said. ‘‘No matter where I am at the end of the day, I feel like I’ve got a pretty good shot.’’
It all depends on Wolff, an NCAA champion at Oklahoma State who won on the PGA Tour in his third event as a pro last summer in the 3M Open in Minnesota.