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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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.

[email protected]

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​ Orange County Register 

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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Patrick Sandoval ends personal losing streak, keeps Angels winning

• June 17, 2023

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As Patrick Sandoval has endured a disappointing start to his season, one of the issues he faced was that the new pitch timer didn’t always allow him to get the pitch call that he wanted.

So he eliminated that problem by using PitchCom to call his own pitches for the first time, on his way to a seven-inning performance in the Angels’ 3-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night, snapping his five-game losing streak.

“There were a couple times,” when Sandoval felt rushed or didn’t have time to get to the pitch he wanted, he said. “I wanted to eliminate that completely. I think it helped a lot.”

Angels starters Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Anderson also call their own games, and Sandoval said he will continue doing it.

Sandoval brought a 4.52 ERA into Friday’s start, which was a disappointment after he had a 3.17 ERA over the previous two seasons combined. Over his previous five starts, he had a 6.08 ERA and the Angels had lost every game.

His previous outing was one of the Angels’ two losses in their previous 12 games, a hot streak that brought their record to 40-32. The Angels are now tied with both the Houston Astros and New York Yankees for a wild-card spot, and they are just 3½ games behind the Texas Rangers in the American League West.

If the Angels are going to keep up this pace, they’ll need to see the Sandoval they have come to expect.

“It’s huge,” Manager Phil Nevin said. “For where we want to go, Sandy’s a big key to this whole deal. I love the way he commanded the ball today.”

Although this outing requires the disclaimer that the Royals (18-51) are one of the worst offensive teams in the majors and have now lost 10 straight, Sandoval nonetheless did what he needed to do.

He gave up four hits and he walked four, striking out six. In the first and fifth innings, he allowed the first two batters to reach before getting a double play.

By pitching seven innings, Sandoval was able to give most of the Angels’ overworked bullpen the night off. Rookie right-hander Sam Bachman handled the final two innings, picking up his first major league save.

Sandoval and Bachman didn’t have much cushion because the Angels did little with their nine hits and five walks. They were 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

Brandon Drury drove in two of the runs with a single in the first and a double in the sixth. Matt Thaiss drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh. Ohtani doubled and drew two walks, while Mike Trout singled and walked.

The Angels also had two potential big innings scuttled by outs on the bases early in the game.

In the first, they had runners at first and third with one out when Drury took off from first on the 3-and-2 pitch to Thaiss. Thaiss took a third strike and Drury was thrown out. In the third, Mickey Moniak took off from second too early when he was running on a pitch, and he was easily tagged out going to third.

“Wasn’t our best game offensively,” Nevin said. “We made some mistakes on the bases, left some out there if you will. But overall, I thought Sandy was great, kept us in that one, and really gave our bullpen a rest.”

Sandoval also helped prevent what Nevin acknowledged could have been a spot for a letdown after the emotions of winning a series in Texas against the first-place Rangers.

“I gotta be honest with you, it was in the back of my mind,” Nevin said. “It’s an easy let-up game today. Just different atmospheres. I’m not taking anything away from (the Royals). This is major leagues. You’ve got to win them all, but  where we came from the last couple series. You know you can have a letdown game sometimes. This is one of those that probably sticks out for you. But I thought we answered well.”

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Emmet Sheehan is latest rookie starter to join Dodgers’ youth movement

• June 17, 2023

LOS ANGELES ― Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wondered aloud when the team last had as many young arms in their starting rotation as they did on Friday, when Emmet Sheehan was promoted from Double-A Tulsa to start against the San Francisco Giants.

The answer: 2016, Roberts’ first season as manager, when Julio Urías, Ross Stripling, Brock Stewart and Jose DeLeon all got their first major league call-ups. Kenta Maeda – technically a rookie at age 27 – led that year’s staff in innings and starts.

Sheehan, 23, became the Dodgers’ third rookie starter to make his major league debut since the beginning of this season, joining 24-year-olds Gavin Stone and Bobby Miller. And while the blonde-haired right-hander never made a start at Triple-A prior to his debut, the Dodgers felt better about promoting Sheehan than deploying a bullpen game against the Giants one day after an 11-inning victory over the Chicago White Sox.

“Not to take anything away from Triple-A, but I would argue the Double-A talent is just like Triple-A now,” Roberts said. “Organizations are promoting a lot more younger players these days. Certainly, the Triple-A player is more advanced experience-wise. Our Double-A staff this year was as talented as any staff around in baseball.”

Sheehan was 4-1 in 12 games (10 starts) this season with a 1.86 ERA. The Dodgers’ sixth-round draft pick in 2021 out of Boston College, he struck out 88 batters and walked 23 in 53⅓ innings.

The Dodgers promoted Michael Grove directly from Double-A Tulsa to make his major league debut in 2022. Coincidentally, Grove was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room for Sheehan on the active roster.

“I think you learn different things at each level,” Grove said. “Obviously every pitching coach is different. The message is the same, but guys have different ways they go about it. Double-A, I feel like, is more about developing your arsenal. Triple-A is more learning how to pitch, I would say. … Against the best hitters in the world, you have to have good stuff and know how to pitch.”

If Sheehan clears that bar, his time in the rotation could last beyond one start. Roberts said “it looks like” he will get at least two turns through the rotation no matter what, setting the stage for Sheehan to start again next week against the Angels or the Houston Astros.

Injuries to Urías and Dustin May have forced the Dodgers to scramble to fill two of their five rotation spots this month. On Thursday, Roberts said the Dodgers planned to throw a bullpen game at the Giants. Along with Sheehan’s potential, the element of surprise could not be ignored.

In April 2016, Stripling made his debut in San Francisco and took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Giants.

“This is an opportunity for young guys to show they can pitch at this level,” Roberts said. “We’re trying to find innings and win ball games right now. It’s more of, who can help us right now and develop on the fly?”

MUNCY LANDS ON INJURED LIST

The hamstring injury that knocked Max Muncy out of the Dodgers’ series against the Chicago White Sox will keep him out of the lineup for another week. Muncy was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Tuesday and Michael Busch was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Muncy can be activated as early as next Friday’s game against the Astros. Roberts said Muncy is able to hit, but the third baseman has been unable to run at full speed since suffering the injury on Sunday.

Chris Taylor started at third base against the Giants and will share time at the position with Busch going forward. Busch is batting .211 (4 for 19) in seven games with the Dodgers and .313 in 45 games with Oklahoma City.

UP NEXT

San Francisco Giants (LHP Alex Wood, 1-1, 4.80 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Bobby Miller, 3-0, 0.78  ERA), Saturday, 6 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM

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