Among the 22,000 spectators anticipated for Thursday’s first round at the U.S. Open, however, will be two teenagers from Australia you’ve never heard of: promising amateur golfers Joseph Buttress and Jeffrey Guan.
They are journeymen, and you will hear about their journeys this week because they qualify as feel-good stories. But they’re also something more, because in a past week and year when everything in the game of golf has seemingly had a dollar sign attached, they are stories that are priceless.
This marks the sixth time since 1999 the championship has been played on a course that’s never previously hosted a US Open, joining Pinehurst No.2 (1999), Bethpage’s Black Course (2002), Torrey Pines’ South Course (2008), Chambers Bay (2015) and Erin Hills (2017).
There’s rough off the tee. There’s rough around the greens. There’s rough coming out of your ears and eyes. Is it “Abandon Hope All Ye’ Who Enter Here” levels? Not quite, but it looks like a stern test and that is exactly the point.
So what’s in store for this year at LACC? Tee-times have just been announced, with players competing in threesomes off the first and 10th tees during the first and second rounds this Thursday and Friday.
Matt Fitzpatrick has an on-course demeanor seemingly made for the big games. Whether he’s calm because he’s filled with confidence or he’s confident because he’s so calm, the young man has proven he can deliver in the clutch.
Star Aussie amateur and Stanford University player Karl Vilips has bolstered the Australian contingent at next week’s US Open after making it through gruelling 36-hole final qualifying, earning his major championship debut.
The USGA announced overnight it had accepted a record 2,107, breaking the previous mark of 1,874 set a year ago and eclipsing the 2,000 threshold for the first time.
Gooch’s situation highlights the growing pressure on the Official World Golf Ranking to remain relevant when it comes to qualifying for the men’s Majors.
Australian Golf Digest
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