The Victorian, who finished runner-up at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship just weeks ago, went bogey-free on day one, carding seven birdies to shoot 63 and grab a share of the lead with Japan’s Hiroyuki Fujita at seven-under.
We’re guessing that no matter how Gary plays, these friends will be enjoying a couple beers or glasses of wine – or whatever guys in their 70s drink – afterwards.
The only thing that will make this story better is if this bloke goes to follow Mark Calcavecchia at some point in the championship and realises it’s the guy from the sneaker shop.
One of eight Australians in the field, Goggin’s chances are buoyed by his recent play at home on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, including a third-place finish behind Order of Merit champion Kazuma Kobori at the Webex Players Series Victoria.
Clad in a clean black t-shirt, a pair of jeans and one notable piece of bling, DeChambeau was seen jumping the queue at a Nashville club with the US Open trophy as his VIP pass.
To the untrained eye, it looked like McIlroy had missed a “gimme” with a US Open trophy on the line. Rahm, who was watching on the couch like the rest of us after withdrawing early in the week due to injury, believes it was anything but.
DeChambeau became the 23rd player to win multiple US Open titles, and he is the seventh player in the past 40 years to win America’s national championship twice within a five-year span.