US Open 2024: Adam Scott survives late stumble to lead the Australians at Pinehurst – Australian Golf Digest

by Admin
June 14, 2024

[PHOTO: Andrew Redington/Getty Images]

Having waited until the final moments to confirm his 92nd consecutive major start at what is the 1,000th USGA championship, Adam Scott showed why he has been a fixture, leading the Aussie charge at the US Open after the opening day at Pinehurst No.2.

Signing for an even-par round of 70, Scott is tied for 16th, five strokes behind the leading pair Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay, who equalled 2014 champion Martin Kaymer’s course record of five-under 65.

Scott’s fellow major winners from Queensland, Jason Day and Cameron Smith, are the next best of his compatriots in a share of 34th after one-over 71s, with Min Woo Lee two shots further adrift alongside Kiwi Ryan Fox at three-over. Jason Scrivener at four-over and Cam Davis at seven-over round out the Australian contingent.

Playing in the late afternoon, when scores were expected to be higher as the Donald Ross design became firmer with greens rolling between 13 and 14 on the Stimpmeter, Scott authored a late mix of birdies and a double-bogey having felt rejuvenated after finally confirming his place in the field.

“I think generally I played quite well. But I didn’t hit that many shots close when I hit the green, so I was grinding hard,” Scott said.

“I didn’t really have many makeable birdie chances. I hit a couple good shots close and made them, and that helps.

“I think just generally, you should be happy if you shoot even par at a US Open, from my experience.”

Making a steady start with six straight pars from the 10th tee, his first hole of the day, Scott stumbled with back-to-back bogeys at the 16th and 17th, before flighting a beautiful wedge to four feet from 104 metres at 18 to set up his first birdie of the day.

The 43-year-old’s next birdie came in more dramatic fashion when he rolled in an 82-foot putt from off the front edge of the fourth green, before another close approach at the seventh took him to one-under-par for the day and inside the top 10.

Missing the eighth green left, Scott watched on as his approach putt rolled back down one of Pinehurst’s famed swales almost to his feet and would head to the par-3 ninth over par after taking a double-bogey 6.

Once again striking a pure iron from the tee of his last hole, Scott rolled in his fourth birdie of the day from 21 feet to return to even and be well placed at a venue where he has previously finished tied for 28th in 2005 and equal ninth in 2014.

“It’s the same for everyone, but I hit a pretty good shot into eight, and it’s very fine lines here on the greens, and I got a bounce to the left and it went into the worst spot you could miss it and made a double,” he said.

“I felt like I was kind of willing that one in on nine because I felt like I really deserved to shoot even-par. I didn’t know why that one shot feels so much better than shooting over par, but it feels like a small victory to say you’ve shot par at a US Open.”

Smith similarly closed his first round with a birdie from outside 20 feet at the ninth, the Queenslander also ending his front nine with his only other birdie of the day at the par-4 18th after a wedge that was all over the flag.

Starting his round from the first hole, it was a tale of two nines for Day. He made the turn without a birdie to his name and three-over the card before birdies at the 10th and 12th got him moving in the right direction until a bogey at the 14th slowed his momentum.

The former world No.1 bounced back by finding the bottom of the cup from 46 feet and almost the entire width of the 16th green for birdie.

Like Scott, Lee made double-bogey at the eighth, having only been able to move his second shot a matter of metres, with his steady play across the rest of the round another sign of the West Australian’s comfort at the US Open.

Fox similarly had a double on his card of 73, while Scrivener’s lone bright spot came with birdie at the par-5 10th during his first major in almost two years.

Australasian scores
T-16 Adam Scott Even
T-34 Jason Day +1
T-34 Cam Smith +1
T-65 Min Woo Lee +3
T-65 Ryan Fox +3
T-86 Jason Scrivener +4
T-132 Cam Davis +7

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