Scottie Scheffler's explanation for his unusual difficulties during the US Open competition.
Golfin' Through the Ups and Downs: Scottie Scheffler's U.S. Open Struggles
The UK's no. 1 ranked golfer, Scottie Scheffler, couldn't manage a victory at the 2022 U.S. Open in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. Despite entering as the clear favorite, Scheffler finished in a tie for 7th place after a disappointing 4-over par on Sunday.
Regarded as a prodigy of bogey avoidance, Scheffler rocked 17 bogeys and a double in the tournament — more than in any PGA Tour event throughout his career. Despite creating opportunities with some good shots and putts, Scheffler felt the course was tough and that a few more putts dropping might have changed the outcome.
In comparison, Tyrrell Hatton, who settled for tied 4th after consecutive bogeys on the final two holes, was left lamenting his performance. A poor break near a bunker on the 17th hole halted his momentum, leading to a disappointing close.
Among the handful of Met Area local players, standout Cameron Young, a New York native, continued to captivate the crowd early on with birdies on nos. 1 and 2, leading to a 1-over par. Although he struggled to maintain the momentum, Young still managed a respectable 3-over par to finish tied for 4th.
Fresh faces in the tournament such as Ryan McCormick from Middletown, New Jersey, and James Nicholas from Scarsdale battled hard but ultimately finished 14-over and 19-over par, respectively. Local boys Chris Gotterup from Fair Haven, New Jersey, and Max Greyserman from Short Hills managed 8-over par finishes.
Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy shone brighter on Sunday, recording the lowest rounds of the day at 3-under-par 67. Despite struggling throughout the tournament, Rahm carded birdies on his final three holes to finish 4-over, while McIlroy closed with a 7-over, ending an impressive streak of four consecutive US Opens played under par.
The third consecutive US Open at Oakmont saw yet another 54-hole leader fail to claim the title. Previous examples include Shane Lowry's four-shot lead lost to Dustin Johnson in 2016 and Aaron Baddeley's 2-shot lead dissolving into an 80 in 2007. This time around, Sam Burns clung to a one-shot lead heading into the final round but faltered with a 78, finishing 4-over for the week.
Justin Hastings, the youngest amateur in the field, was the only one to make the cut and ultimately finished as the low amateur with a 15-over par score. The Cayman Islands native earned his spot in the Masters, U.S. Open, and British Open fields after winning the Latin America Amateur Championship in January. Hastings plans to turn professional following the British Open in July.
Canadian Corey Conners withdrew from the tournament due to a wrist injury before his final round was due to begin, marking the end of his seventh US Open appearance. The 33-year-old was scheduled to tee off alongside Ryan Fox of New Zealand at 10:20 am.
On Sunday, the par-3 8th hole played at an unprecedented length of 302 yards, making it the longest par-3 in US Open history. Rahm shared his thoughts on the hole, stating, "Luckily, it was downwind. I'll just say that. How do you approach that? You most likely pull the head cover off one of the clubs and then hope it goes straight. Today, I chose to hit a 5-wood. I think a 3-wood I could have landed it closer to pin high."
Following his struggles at the U.S. Open, Scottie Scheffler might have found solace in focusing on other areas of the world, such as golf tournaments happening across the continents. Meanwhile, Tyrrell Hatton, who mirrored Scheffler's achievements in the tournament, might have wished for a chance to redeem himself in sports events featuring the sport he loves and excels in, like golf tournaments.
