Is CalPERS set to have a Bob Citron moment?

• June 17, 2023

Within two weeks we’ll have one of the most important numbers of the year: The funding level of the California Public Employees Retirement System, the nation’s largest public pension fund.

It serves 2.2 million members and pays out monthly to 669,876 retirees.

On June 30, 2022 it was only 72% funded, down from 81.2% a year earlier.

It’s desperately trying to raise that percentage to make sure it doesn’t head down toward Chicago’s eight pension funds which, combined, are only 34% funded.

The June 12 Financial Times reported CalPERS “is planning a multibillion-dollar push into international venture capital as the $442 billion fund tilts toward riskier asset classes in a hunt for higher returns after a ‘lost decade.’”

It would increase venture capital funding by $5 billion to $57 billion, or 13% of investments.

That’s not risky, John Moorlach told me. He became well known in the financial world, and later in many public-finance textbooks, when he predicted Orange County’s 1994 bankruptcy, during a failed election bid to replace Treasurer-Tax Collector Bob Citron. After Citron resigned, Moorlach was appointed to replace him. He later also served as a county supervisor and as state senator; in which later post I was his press secretary.

But what’s risky, he said, was a decision in 2021 in which CalPERS’ board, as described by Smart Asset, “approved an investment policy change on November 15 to use borrowed money and alternative assets to reach its investment-return target.”

Moorlach called that CalPERS’ Bob Citron Moment because that’s what Roulette Wheel Bob did: borrow to invest. If private persons or companies do it, that’s their business. But when public funds do it, the taxpayers are on the hook. That’s because of what’s called the California Rule, under which courts have ruled all collective-bargaining agreements with unions on pensions must be fully funded.

Moorlach pointed to a Nov. 17, 2021 comment on the CalPERS decision by investment guru Garret Jones: “‘Necessary’ returns are becoming increasingly more difficult to produce. When ‘safe money’ pensions are forced to take on risk to meet their objectives, the writing is on the wall. Just imagine what will happen when a ‘never ending bull market’ is no longer there . . . and when stocks, bonds and real estate decline in unison.”

Who knows, maybe it will turn out well. Moorlach compared it to “going to Vegas.” A friend of mine recently won $3,000 there.

I’m joking. That’s what logicians call the Gambler’s Fallacy, in which you expect a recent bout of good luck to continue.

The FT article also pointed out CalPERS “lost about $77 million on its investments in Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, both of which collapsed earlier this year.” Not a lot in this huge fund, but an indication of a failure to do due diligence.

Another problem is Senate Bill 252, by state Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach. It passed the Senate, 23-10, on May 25.

In the bill’s language, it would ban “making new investments or renewing existing investments of public employee retirement funds in a fossil fuel company,” by July 1, 2030.

But as an editorial from this newspaper’s editorial board in February noted, CalPERS invests only $9.3 billion in fossil fuels, while the global oil and gas market is $4.3 trillion.

The Saudis and Russians and other major oil producers only will laugh at this legislation, which won’t do anything to the fossil fuel industry but could end up hurting California’s pension system.

And when CalPERS divested from tobacco funds in 2001, according to Wilshire Associates, it lost $3.6 billion by 2018.

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But publicly funded pensions should be about one thing: Paying out pensions to retirees at the least cost to taxpayers. Anything else is ideological grandstanding.

Moorlach pointed out CalPERS’ expectations its fund will return 6.8% a year are unrealistic.

Instead, CalPERS should be holding 3.75% government bonds, which is what public pension funds started out doing years ago, making them much safer.

But then it would have to get more funding from state and local governments – meaning the taxpayers.

That gambling with the taxpayers’ money to gain unrealistic returns was the problem with Citron. He was returning 10% a year.

It was “free” money for local governments. They could increase salaries ad libitum. Until they lost it all.

John Seiler is on the SCNG Editorial Board. He previously worked as press secretary for Sen. John Moorlach. His email: writejohnseiler@gmail.com

​ Orange County Register 

The risk of extinction from the AI robots

• June 17, 2023

Haven’t done the AI thing. Haven’t got the ChatGPT app, apparently the most popular in history. Because now we’re supposed to let the whole evil network of artificial intelligence around the world listen in? Haven’t done one of those fun columns where you instruct the 0s and the 1s to write a column in the style of yours truly, and it does so, and you throw up your hands and say, Why bother?

I really haven’t worried about the thing taking my job. My dad sent me an AI poem and said now us poets are sunk, going forward. But it was a terrible poem. Not to worry.

On the writing front, I’m basically taking the attitude “Fresh Air” host Terry Gross takes. She asked ChatGPT to write lyrics about the end of a love affair to the tune of “America the Beautiful,” and let’s just say the robot is no Cole Porter.

I do realize that lots of technical writing jobs are at risk, where great prose, or verse, is not the point. And in the visual arts, yikes. Terrible time to be a graphic artist, for instance, when as Terry’s AI expert interviewee says, you can tell the thing to come up with a composite photo of a teddy bear riding a skateboard in Times Square, and it does so in seconds.

There’s a whole profession down the drain.

Furtherly depressing, my wife showed me an example of someone asking the program to paint a watercolor in the style of Anders Zorn and it did so, tout de suite. Pretty well, too.

OK, it’s bad. But “risk of extinction of the human race” bad?

That’s what a group of tech industry leaders, including some of the people who invented AI, called out as a little problem we are facing late last month. An existential threat to humanity. On a par with something greater than COVID, and the H-bomb.

“Mitigating the risk of extinction from A.I. should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks, such as pandemics and nuclear war,” reads a one-sentence statement released by the Center for AI Safety, a nonprofit organization. “The open letter was signed by more than 350 executives, researchers and engineers working in A.I.,” The New York Times reported.

Rats. There goes the neighborhood.

I’m still hoping for some kind of HAL solution. You know, one minute the computer in “2001” has killed the other astronauts, and our man Dave is still out on a space walk. “Open the pod bay doors, HAL,” orders Dave. “I’m sorry Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that,” answers HAL. Dave: “What’s the problem?” HAL: “I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.”

My point is, Dave gets back inside. He pulls HAL’s plugs. “Dave, my mind is going. I can feel it.” Then HAL begins singing the old saw: “Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do. I’m half crazy, all for the love of you.”

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Then, somewhere out beyond Jupiter, Dave ages, dies, is reborn as some kind of space baby.

Not a problem, right?

And yet. “I think if this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong,” Sam Altman, chief executive of a firm called OpenAI, someone who knows a lot more about the robots than I do, told a Senate subcommittee. “We want to work with the government to prevent that from happening.”

So here’s the deal. Blue-collar workers have dealt with the threat and the fact of automation taking their jobs for decades. Now the robot chickens have come home to roost for white-collar workers, the kind of people who use 50-cent words like “existential.” The way we chill about it is to acknowledge that having to work less — as both anarchists and Marxists have long sought — is not necessarily a bad thing. Let the robots do the heavy intellectual lifting. Then the humans can go surfing. If they let us.

Larry Wilson is on the Southern California News Group editorial board. lwilson@scng.com.

​ Orange County Register 

When signing a lease, watch out for these ‘gotcha’ clauses

• June 17, 2023

Akin to having 50-yard line seats to the Super Bowl, very few people have experienced selling a company and crafting a lease with the buyer on a building that you own.

As you’ll recall, last week I delved into clauses and terms that you – as the owner of the real estate – should consider.

Today’s subject is a bit broader. Many of you have leased commercial real estate or know someone who has.

Certain paragraphs in commercial leases are non-starters and should be carefully avoided, or at a minimum, carry a complete understanding of the impact. I’ve often called these “gotcha” clauses because they can be like a blitzing linebacker who strikes from the blind side. You don’t see them coming until it’s too late to avoid the carnage.

So, we’re going to continue dissecting those common “gotchas” that are often hiding in the fine print of your commercial lease agreement. And continuing our football theme, let’s dive right back in, shall we?

First, there’s the infamous “pass-through” provision. This is like a surprise onside kick. It’s completely legal, but it’s a play you aren’t anticipating until you’re handed an invoice for a share of the property tax increase, a costly building repair or other operating expenses that the landlord has conveniently decided to pass on to you. Always have your special teams ready for this one.

Second, we’ve got the deceptive “relocation” clause. You’re enjoying a solid drive down the field, your business is building momentum, and out of nowhere, you’re forced to laterally move to a different suite in the building. This allows the landlord to relocate you at their whim, leaving you to handle the ensuing confusion, relocation expenses and the challenge of keeping your business in play.

Third, there’s the sneaky “escalation” clause. You think you’ve locked down your budget with steady rent, but then you find your rent increasing faster than a wide receiver on a deep route. The clause allows for yearly rent increases, leaving you scrambling to adjust your financial playbook.

Now, let me introduce two more linebackers you need to watch out for.

The “automatic renewal” is one such contender. This, often hidden deep in the lease, will automatically renew your lease for a predefined period unless you give notice within a specific timeframe. Missing the notification window can be just like a missed field goal at the final whistle – a minor oversight, but with major consequences.

Finally, beware of the “use” clause. This clause restricts how you can use the leased property, and any violations could lead to penalties or even eviction. It’s like stepping out of bounds when you’re sprinting toward the end zone – an action that may seem harmless but can abruptly stop your progress and cost you the game.

These “gotchas” might sound intimidating, but fear not. Like any savvy coach, you can prepare your strategy.

Read and understand each clause in your lease. Engage a skilled real estate attorney or an experienced commercial real estate broker to help you outsmart these challenges. Spot these blitzing linebackers before they sack you.

Next week, I’ll share some offensive plays to help you mitigate the “gotcha” impact. After all, the best defense is a good offense. Stick with me, and I’ll ensure you’re not only playing the game but also taking home the victory. Stay tuned!

Allen C. Buchanan, SIOR, is a principal with Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services in Orange. He can be reached at abuchanan@lee-associates.com or 714.564.7104.

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​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers lose in 11 innings, spoiling Emmet Sheehan’s debut

• June 17, 2023

LOS ANGELES ― Ross Stripling wasn’t in the ballpark for Friday night’s game between the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. He was tuning in from Arizona, where he is on the Giants’ injured list rehabbing a back injury, noting the coincidences.

On April 8, 2016, Stripling made his major league debut for the Dodgers in San Francisco. Dave Roberts, then in his first year as the Dodgers’ manager, removed Stripling in the eighth inning, after the right-hander issued a walk on his 100th pitch of the game. He hadn’t allowed any hits.

Reliever Chris Hatcher then allowed a two-run home run, ending the Dodgers’ no-hit bid and tying the game, which the Dodgers lost in 10 innings.

The main difference between Stripling’s performance in his debut and that of Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan on Friday night? Friday’s game was at Dodger Stadium, where the announced crowd of 49,074 was cheering for Sheehan.

Sheehan threw six innings without allowing a hit in his major league debut, but the Dodgers lost the opener of a three-game series with the Giants, 7-5, in 11 innings.

“What Emmet did tonight, I thought, was the highlight of the night,” Roberts said. “Give the Giants credit: they fought back. This one … it never feels good to lose.”

With Sheehan out of the game, San Francisco scored two runs in the seventh inning and three in the eighth to take a 5-4 lead. The Dodgers scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings, only to cough up a pair of runs with Alex Vesia (0-4) on the mound in the 11th.

They had a chance to score in the bottom of the 11th, but Michael Busch was held up by third base coach Dino Ebel at the last second trying to score on an overthrow on the infield. Mookie Betts, the trailing runner, didn’t see Busch stop and got caught in a rundown. Busch was ultimately tagged out as Betts took third. The next batter, Freddie Freeman, struck out to end the game.

“I just thought wrong, saw the play wrong,” Betts said. “As it was unfolding – just bad timing. We haven’t been playing great. Well, we’ve been playing all right, but things just haven’t really fallen our way. Just another one of those things that kicked us while we’re down. I just have to be smarter in that situation.”

The Dodgers’ bullpen tossed six scoreless innings in a victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday but regressed to the mean Friday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits over five innings. Dodger starters are 25-17 with a 4.24 ERA this season, while their relievers are 14-14 with a 4.79 ERA.

The ending obscured another promising debut from a Dodger rookie.

Sheehan, their third starting pitcher to make his debut this year, skipped straight from Double-A Tulsa to the big leagues at age 23. His father, George, and mother, Maureen, were among a large contingent of family and friends in attendance.

Sheehan threw 89 pitches, 51 for strikes. His four-seam fastball touched 98 mph, and his two secondary pitches – a changeup and slider – did not yield any hard contact. He issued two walks, struck out three, and got a whopping 13 outs in the air.

“I was just trying to make it the same game as it is in Double-A – which it is,” Sheehan said. “I was definitely a little overwhelmed but to get it out of the way is a huge weight off my shoulders.”

In the process, Sheehan became the second pitcher since Stripling to complete at least six innings in his major league debut without allowing a hit. On occasion, he got help from his defense.

Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas made a sliding backhand stop on a hard ground ball headed to left field in the third inning, then threw to second base for a forceout to preserve the no-hitter. Freeman leaped into the net protecting the first row of seats behind first base to catch a foul pop-up.

Sheehan’s final pitch yielded a screaming line drive headed toward the right-field line off the bat of Joc Pederson, but Betts dove headlong to make the catch, bringing the crowd to its feet.

Brusdar Graterol took over to begin the seventh inning and allowed a single to the first batter he faced, Thairo Estrada. Wilmer Flores followed with a home run to bring the Giants within 4-2. In the span of minutes, the drama of the no-hitter vanished.

Victor Gonzalez relieved Graterol in the eighth inning and allowed a walk and two singles while recording one out. The latter, a single by Pederson, snuck under the glove of Rojas and into left field, scoring two runs.

Tayler Scott relieved Gonzalez and did his job, retiring Estrada on a fly ball to center field. But Austin Slater had no trouble tagging up and scoring from third base, tying the score at 4-all.

The Dodgers intentionally walked Michael Conforto to load the bases for Casey Schmitt, who also poked a ground ball toward Rojas’ backhand. The throw to first base was late, Schmitt was safe, and Pederson scored the go-ahead run from third.

Leading 5-4, the Giants called on hard-throwing closer Camilo Doval to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning. With one out, Doval allowed back-to-back singles by Rojas and Betts to put runners on first and third. Doval then started Freeman off with a 101-mph fastball. Freeman whipped the ball into shallow right field, scoring Rojas from third base.

Tied 5-5, Betts made the second out of the inning at third base on the front end of a double-steal, before Doval struck out J.D. Martinez to end the inning.

The Dodgers’ position players took a hit. David Peralta left the game with a left hamstring strain. Chris Taylor left the game with right knee pain and will get an MRI on Saturday. Neither will play Saturday, Roberts said.

Roberts also said the Dodgers will recall a relief pitcher prior to Saturday’s game to give their bullpen a breather.

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First MLB strikeout for Emmet Sheehan is in the books! pic.twitter.com/W6pn8QuK7K

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 17, 2023

“Special moment he’ll remember forever… He delivered, it was fun to watch.” Dave Roberts speaks on Emmet Sheehan’s big MLB debut. pic.twitter.com/xWeqiEerD1

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 17, 2023

Emmet Sheehan speaks with @kirsten_watson about his mindset on the mound during his debut and the defense behind him. pic.twitter.com/RbMWwgPVR1

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 17, 2023

Giant four-run inning for the lead. pic.twitter.com/1Te1RZOZya

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 17, 2023

WOW, FREDDIE. pic.twitter.com/ZzhQT0GPOr

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 17, 2023

Mookie with the unbelievable catch pic.twitter.com/NZu24g9Ghj

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 17, 2023

TIE GAME! pic.twitter.com/9IcaSb50g0

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 17, 2023

“I was wrong.” Mookie Betts takes full responsibility for his bad call to steal late in the game which cost the #Dodgers the game. pic.twitter.com/6iPh6vW2o3

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 17, 2023

​ Orange County Register 

Mater Dei quarterback Elijah Brown relishes Elite 11 camp as college decision nears

• June 17, 2023

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REDONDO BEACH — Cameras of all sizes and scope, along with their nimble operators, dotted the sidelines, huddles and end zones Friday at the Elite 11 Finals, the annual camp that draws many of the top high school quarterbacks in the nation.

The targets for the skills competition were neatly arranged on a side field at Redondo Union High. Dozens of talented, skill players from across the country joined the quarterbacks for precisely-timed 7-on-7 sessions. Statistics were kept and shared within minutes on social media, and an MVP was selected.

Amid it all, Orange County’s winningest quarterback the past three seasons did what he does best. Mater Dei’s Elijah Brown smoothly absorbed the experience and calmly found values that don’t register on a stat sheet or a skills competition but make a difference.

“It’s been great just to see how some of these guys act,” he said of his fellow Elite 11 campers. “They’re cool people as well. Sometimes I think a lot of people get caught up in the football aspect of things and (forget) we’re just kids at the end of the day.”

Brown’s roommate at the camp was Dylan Raiola from Pinnacle High in Arizona, a Georgia commit. He also hung out with Isaac Wilson, a Utah commit and the brother of New York Jets QB Zach Wilson.

CJ Carr from Saline High in Michigan, a Notre Dame commit, playfully called the uncommitted Brown “Stanford” as Brown assisted in tallying points during the skills competition.

Brown later smiled about the nickname, pointing out that others called him “UCLA.”

The players likely knew that Brown (6-2, 200) has narrowed his college choices to Stanford and UCLA, and that his announcement is expected on Sunday.

“I’m blessed to have both these offers,” said Brown, who carries a grade-point average just above 4.0.

Brown’s experience with his fellow QBs matched with what the camp’s leaders noticed this week. The Class of 2024 was full of character.

“You guys are the nicest, smartest, most talented, humble, respectful group we have ever had in 25 years,” Andy Bark, the Elite 11 co-founder with Bob Johnson, told the players.

Brown also soaked in the lessons from the camp counselors, some of which stretched beyond the field.

“We definitely had a lot of meetings on different aspects of life,” he said, “leadership, connections with our bodies and mind. That kind of stuff was great.”

Those subjects are in Brown’s wheelhouse. He has leaned on leadership and poise, along with his accuracy, to lead Mater Dei to a 29-1 record, a CIF-SS Division 1 title and state championship.

Other quarterbacks showed stronger arms Friday. Some threw more TDs. And Carlsbad’s Julian Sayin, an Alabama commit, took home the MVP award.

Yes, Brown flashed his accuracy in the skills competition. He posted a score of 46 points, which challenged Carr, who scored 50 one turn earlier and finished third overall.

But most of all, Brown remained cool and calculated. He stayed committed to winning in the fall and securing redemption for losing to St. John Bosco in the CIF-SS Division 1 final last season.

“We’re going to be loaded,” he said of Mater Dei’s upcoming season. “We were all juniors last year, so this is our senior year. We felt it was kind of our fault (last season) and we’re coming back even stronger.”

LOOK OUT FOR BROWN’S BROTHER

Brown’s brother Ezrah will be an eighth grader in the fall and plays plays quarterback.

“He’s doing good,” Brown said. “He’s growing like crazy. He’s about my height now.”

MISSION VIEJO’S TRAVIS ANDERSON COMMITS

Mission Viejo safety Travis Anderson, a skill position participant, committed to Boise State on Friday.

Anderson is the second Mission Viejo senior to commit to a college, joining offensive lineman Mark Schroller (UCLA).

MISSION VIEJO’S TREYVON TOLMAIRE SHINES

Mission Viejo cornerback Treyvon Tolmaire played well in the 7-on-7 sessions.

“I just like going against the country’s best, trying to see where I am amongst everybody else,” he said. “Just trying to prove everybody wrong and prove a lot of people right at the same time.”

Tolmaire holds a wide range of offers, from Michigan, UNLV, Air Force and Navy to Princeton, Dartmouth and Northern Arizona. Fordham was his latest offer.

Please send football news to Dan Albano at dalbano@scng.com or @ocvarsityguy on Twitter

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​ Orange County Register 

Short-handed Sparks fall back to .500 with loss to Lynx

• June 17, 2023

LOS ANGELES — A depleted Sparks team blew a 12-point first-half lead and lost to the Minnesota Lynx, 77-72, on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.

Jordin Canada led the Sparks with a career-high 22 points to go with five assists, and Dearica Hamby added 14 points and nine rebounds.

Nneka Ogwumike, the Sparks’ leading scorer this season, struggled to find a rhythm, scoring just eight points on 2-for-9 shooting from the field to go with five rebounds and seven assists.

Napheesa Collier had 25 points on 9-for-13 shooting and six rebounds to pace the Lynx, who had rallied to beat the Sparks, 91-86, on Sunday in Minnesota. Kayla McBride added 16 points and five rebounds.

“Some of the same stuff that bothered us in Minnesota continued to bother us and that’s the frustrating part,” Sparks coach Curt Miller said. “We tried to get a few things corrected and the same few things bothered us again.”

This time, the Lynx went on a 10-2 run to take a 63-57 lead early in the fourth quarter. With just under 50 seconds left, Ogwumike made a layup to bring the Sparks within two points at 74-72.

On the ensuing possession, Lynx forward Dorka Juhász was fouled on a layup attempt, but she made just one of two free throws. Ogwumike missed a two-point jumper with 23.5 seconds left and Minnesota iced the win with free throws.

The Sparks came into Friday night’s game with a litany of injuries. Four players were ruled out, which forced the Sparks to sign guard Destanni Henderson to an emergency hardship contract on Friday morning.

Despite the injuries, Miller said there were no excuses heading into the rematch with the Lynx.

“What we talked about is no one’s gonna feel sorry for us, we’re not the only ones in this league right now with a lengthy injury list and an injury report,” Miller said.

The Sparks’ first half was highlighted by an exceptional hustle play in the second quarter.

With just over four minutes left in the half, Canada stole a pass near midcourt, but she missed the ensuing layup and fell to the court in the process.

As the shot came off the basket, it took a high bounce and was headed out of bounds before the seated Canada pushed herself off the floor with her left hand and, while falling backward, used her right hand to reach and tip the ball to Ogwumike. Ogumike quickly wrapped a no-look pass around a Minnesota defender to Hamby, who converted the layup that had the arena buzzing.

Incredible hockey assist from Jordin Canada pic.twitter.com/uRhtGuUFg4

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) June 17, 2023

The Sparks led 43-34 going into the halftime break.

The Sparks came out of the halftime break flat, allowing Minnesota to go on a 16-9 run to start the third quarter. The Sparks allowed the Lynx to shoot 62.5% from the field in the third quarter and went into the fourth trailing, 58-57.

Miller attributed the team’s second-half struggles to breakdowns on the defensive end.

“We just had breakdowns tonight … at times we did not execute the coverages that we were in,” Miller said.

With the thin backcourt, Canada played all 40 minutes. Miller said he felt like the way the Lynx chose to defend Canada was “insulting,” but Canada said she does not have anything to prove.

“As you can see with the boxscore, I’ve had some good games against them. … So I don’t really feel like I was insulted,” Canada said. “I don’t really care what other teams do against me or how they decide to guard me. I’m very comfortable, confident in my abilities.”

The Sparks (5-5) continue their homestand against the Connecticut Sun (8-3) on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Minnesota (3-7) plays at Las Vegas on Sunday before returning to Los Angeles for a third matchup with the Sparks on Tuesday night.

Hamby said the team must move on and get ready for another tough matchup against the Sun.

“We gotta get up in the morning and focus on Connecticut,” Hamby said. “There’s no time to sulk and be down about this game. We just have to keep going.”

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​ Orange County Register 

Alexander: With U.S. Open lead, Rickie Fowler’s struggles seem to be behind him

• June 17, 2023

LOS ANGELES — Did we all forget about Rickie Fowler? Maybe he’s jogging some memories this weekend.

He came bursting onto the golf scene more than a decade ago, the dynamic amateur from Murrieta who became a collegiate star at Oklahoma State and then was anointed as the Next Big Thing on the PGA Tour, a mixture of youthful flamboyance and old-school skills, and a willing – if, OK, sometimes leaden – pitchman in TV commercials.

This might be hard to believe, but Rickie is 34 years old, married with a 1-year-old daughter, and still looking for his first victory in a major in his 47th try over 13 years.

Could this be his moment?

Fowler savaged the L.A. Country Club’s North Course on Day 1 of the 123rd U.S. Open on Thursday, becoming the first player in Open history to shoot a 62 (Xander Schauffele, a couple of groups later, became the second).

They had the advantage of teeing off early Thursday. On Friday, with some fiendish pin placements on the part of the USGA along with sunnier, windier conditions that made the course more challenging for those with afternoon tee times, Fowler started his round with three straight birdies, moving to 11-under, then played rope-a-dope with the course for the rest of the round and still came out of it with a 68 that gave him a share of the event’s 36-hole record and a one-stroke lead at 10-under. Wyndham Clark is alone in second place and Schauffele and Rory McIlroy are both two strokes back.

Rickie’s ledger for the day: Eight birdies, six bogeys, three pars. It was quite the roller-coaster, and in a sense, this might have been an even more impressive round than the 62. He stared down adversity and responded positively rather than allowing it to distract him, a sign of maturity.

“Felt like the greens might have been a little slower,” he said. “And then there was areas where they were putting pins in a little bit more slope or pitch, so (I was) going up some pretty steep areas. It was tough to get yourself to hit it hard enough, and then you obviously don’t want to blow it by and have something that’s downhill, a slider. We’ll try and clean some of that up.”

Fowler has had big moments in the spotlight before, just not recently.

In 2014 he had top-five finishes in all four majors, including ties for second at the U.S. Open and British Open, a tie for third at the PGA and a tie for fifth at the Masters. In 2018 he finished second at Augusta to Patrick Reed, one shot behind, after making a late charge.

But the last few years have been difficult. His last tour victory was the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open. He slipped from 19th in the PGA Tour’s FedEx rankings in 2019 to 94th, 134th and 133rd the last three years, and a guy who was at one point No. 4 in the Official World Golf Rankings had plunged to 103rd by the end of 2022.

He changed caddies, splitting with Joe Skovron after a dozen years together and hiring Ricky Romano, a former University of Houston player who, like Rickie, attended Murrieta Valley High. He also split with his swing coach, John Tillery, and enlisted legendary instructor Butch Harmon to work with him again.

Notably, Fowler mentioned both Tillery and Skovron among the people who had helped keep him going through the struggles, along with his wife Allison and daughter Maya, as well as family, friends and fellow players like Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.

“Knowing that everything other than golf was great, it was tough because golf was kind of the only thing that was not in place,” Fowler said. “Yeah, it was a grind, but to be back in here talking to you guys for a couple days, it feels great. This is where I want to be. It’s nice to be back in here.”

He is 45th in the world rankings this week, and among the signs that his career is on the upswing again: 17 events this season, two missed cuts, six top-10 finishes, 12 top-25 finishes and No. 25 in the FedEx standings.

And lest you think golf fans had forgotten about him, the roar after he birdied 17 to go back to 10-under on Friday should have disabused anyone of that notion. Or the “Rickie! Rickie!” shouts from the autograph signing area after he came out of his interview session.

Just because you’re on a roll doesn’t guarantee anything, of course.

“It can get taken away very quickly,” he said. “Anyone that plays this game at all (knows), you never know.”

But, asked what his overriding emotion has been after coming out on the other side of those struggles, he said:

“Definitely appreciation, gratitude, knowing it’s a very humbling sport. Yeah, and there is some relief that three years is behind us, but, like I said, appreciate the good times because you never know when things are going to go south.”

He feels he’s in a better spot now, maybe because of those struggles and also because he has the wisdom that comes with maturity to better be able to handle them.

“I really haven’t, I feel like, played to my capabilities yet,” he said. “Knowing what I’ve been able to salvage and still get some solid finishes and putting myself in contention, I just feel like I’m getting older, so I’m more mature.

“I do feel like I’m in a better position with my game now than I was back then … I have a better understanding of everything. I know more about my swing, myself, my mental approach, and I would say having a family now and a great support group around us, I just feel like I have a lot more going for me than I did then.”

The next two days represent his opportunity to demonstrate that to the golf world.

jalexander@scng.com

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U.S. Open: Rory McIlroy hopes look into past helps yield a title this weekend

• June 17, 2023

LOS ANGELES — As part of his preparation for this week’s U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, four-time major champion Rory McIlroy went on YouTube and looked back at his 2014 British Open win at Hoylake.

As he watched McIlroy said he couldn’t believe many irons and 3-woods he hit off the tee in winning that tournament and it reminded him that part of his success has been his ability to play smart, knowing when to press and when to play safe and not be too aggressive when it’s not needed.

“I’ve gone through periods over the last few years where I haven’t been patient enough and I’ve taken on too much,” McIlroy said after shooting a 3-under-par 67 in the second round on Friday. “But I think we’ve had some tests recently where you have to display patience, and hopefully those few experiences recently will help me this weekend.”

McIlroy figures to need plenty of patience over the next two days if he hopes to be the one hoisting the trophy on Sunday. Sitting at 8 under through 36 holes, McIlroy finds himself in a great position, just two strokes behind Rickie Fowler. The Murrieta native backed up his record-setting first-round 62 with a 2-under 68 on Friday, leaving him alone atop the leaderboard at 10-under 130. Sitting between Fowler and McIlroy is Wyndham Clark who posted a 3-under 67 on Friday to leave him at 9 under. First-round co-leader Xander Schauffele posted an even-par 70, leaving him tied for third with McIlroy.

Not to be overlooked was Dustin Johnson, the two-time major champion who made a quadruple-bogey 8 on his second hole with six bad shots, one penalty and a tap-in. The man with golf’s shortest memory rebounded quickly and still shot 70, leaving him four shots behind and very much in the mix going into the weekend.

Through the first two days, McIlroy has done the majority of his damage on the front nine. McIlroy is 10 under on the front nine through 36 holes and 2 over on the back nine.

“The front nine gives you some scoring opportunities and some wedges in your hand, a couple of par-5s, (driveable) sixth hole,” McIlroy said. “Yeah, the back nine is just a lot tougher. Those last three holes, 16, 17, 18, are playing tough even if it is pretty benign conditions out there. It feels like a sort of golf course where you try to make your score on the front and then try to hang on on the back.”

This is the first major of the year in which McIlroy has played well enough over the first two days to give himself a legitimate chance to chase down the title over the final 36 holes. Among those at or near the top of the leaderboard, McIlroy has by far the strongest championship pedigree. This is the sixth time he has been 8 under or lower going into the weekend at a major, and he won three of those previous five. He believes that experience will be crucial for him over the coming days.

“Every major championship and every venue is different. You just have to play what the course gives you,” McIlroy said. “I feel like I’m hitting the ball well. I’ve hit it well off the tee. I felt like coming into this week that was going to be a key for me – if I could put the ball in play. You can play from there and create some scoring opportunities. That’s really my game plan over the next couple days. Put the ball in play off the tee, and I think I’ll be just fine from there.”

While McIlroy is trying to regain his major magic, the 29-year-old Clark is looking to break through for his first major. Earlier this year, the former University of Oregon standout broke through for his maiden PGA Tour title with a four-stroke victory over Schauffele and an elite field at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C. The win moved the Colorado native inside the top 60 of the Official World Golf Ranking and earned him a third U.S. Open start.

Despite being a highly decorated amateur player, Clark hasn’t had great success since turning pro, so before the start of this season he made some significant changes that he believes have had a positive effect on his performance.

His first change was to his equipment, where he made an adjustment to the lie angles of his clubs. He adjusted his irons 3 degrees upright from being relatively flat to more upright and since has struck the ball more consistently.

But the biggest change was to take ownership of his golf swing, basically becoming his own swing coach with a little assistance from his caddie.

“Myself and my caddie pretty much monitor my golf swing,” Clark said. “I don’t have a swing coach. That’s helped me own my swing and own my game. And so, when I’m out there, if it doesn’t feel right, I at least know what to do. I think in the past I was too reliant on someone telling me what to do that I didn’t own it. So, I would just say those are probably the three main differences.”

The formula has worked well through the first two rounds this week, with Clark having posted rounds of 64-67, earning him a spot in the final group on Saturday. Part of his preparation was to play a practice round with longtime friend P.J. Fielding, who is a member at LACC.

Fielding and Clark have played several pro-scratch tournaments together and when Clark comes to Los Angeles they hang out. Clark asked him if he would caddie for him during a practice round and he agreed to share his insights on the course.

“He had some really good insights on putts and speeds of putts and also how the fairways when they get really firm, they do this and you’ve got to be here and lines off the tee,” Clark said. “That 18 holes was the equivalent of probably playing 27 to 36 because I was able to – he was telling me how certain putts – how they break, how this one is faster than this, this plays this way. If you’re here, you want to go – he was spot on. So, when I left that practice round on Tuesday, I felt like I could have come here and not even played a practice round. I felt like it was that in-depth.”

Before each round, Clark gives himself three mini-goals to help keep himself a little more focused. He said his first goal was to enjoy playing at a beautiful golf course.

“Second was to be cocky out there and third was remind myself of the first two,” Clark said. “Those were honestly my three goals, and I thought if I could do that and keep myself in the best mindset, that the golf would take care of itself.”

He said the up and down he made on 14 helped him accomplish his goal of feeling cocky because it was a tough shot, and it allowed him to make birdie.

“As the front nine, I started leaking a little bit of oil and was grinding to make pars and even made a bogey,” he said. “I kept reminding myself, hey, let’s get back to that cocky player, and I hit a great shot on six. Unfortunately, I didn’t make the putt. Then a really good up and down on seven and a birdie on eight, so I kind of brought that cockiness back.”

It’s been nine years since McIlroy won his last major. It’s a statistic that no one needs to remind him of. The 34-year-old from Northern Ireland is more than aware of his ongoing title drought.

“No one wants me to win another major more than I do,” McIlroy said. “The desire is obviously there. I’ve been trying and I’ve come close over the past nine years or whatever it is, and I keep coming back. I feel like I’ve showed a lot of resilience in my career, a lot of ups and downs, and I keep coming back. And whether that means that I get rewarded or I get punched in the gut or whatever it is, I’ll always keep coming back.”

McIlroy didn’t envision such low scoring, including his opening 65, which he attributed to cloud cover, condensation and receptive greens.

“The conditions now, it’s a little brighter, sunnier, a little bit of breeze. It’s got the potential to get a little firmer and faster over the next couple days, which will make the scores go up a little bit,” McIlroy said. “We’ll see what it’s like at the end of the week.

“Yes, the course has played maybe a little easier than everyone thought it would, but wouldn’t be surprised on Saturday, Sunday to see it bite back,” McIlroy said. “It should be tough. It should be just as much of a mental grind out there as a physical one.”

Harris English also shot 30 on the front nine to finish off his 66, leaving him at 7-under 133.

“They can get them as firm and fast as they want and put those pins in some tough spots. It’s going to be fun,” English said. “The rough is still going to be penal. I think everybody is going to get the U.S. Open they’ve been wanting to see.”

The low round Friday belonged to Min Woo Lee, whose 65 left him tied with Johnson at 6-under 134.

Scottie Scheffler was among those five behind.

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