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U.S. Open notes: Sam Bennett showing off his major form again

June 17, 2023

LOS ANGELES — Another major, another weekend in contention for defending United States amateur champion SamBennett. The former Texas A&M standout posted his second straight round in the 60s on Friday (67-68), leaving him at 5 under and in prime contention to challenge for the U.S. Open title this weekend at Los Angeles Country Club.

Bennett’s strong play over the first 36 holes at LACC is very similar to what he did in April with his spectacular play in the Masters. After 36 holes at Augusta, Bennett was third, becoming the first amateur to shoot two rounds in the 60s since 1961. While he struggled a bit over the final 36 holes.

Bennett finished in a tie for 16th, the best amateur finish at the Masters since Ryan Moore in 2005. Bennett, who turned professional in May and will compete full-time on the Korn Ferry Tour next season, said through the first two rounds played solid from tee to green.

“Drove the ball in play and then hit a lot of quality iron shots and got a lot of looks,” Bennett said. “Made some good saves from par. I’m leaving a few out there on the greens, but yeah, I’m just ball-striking this course to death.”

Asked about how he’s been able to step up his game to compete with the world’s best golfers. Bennett was philosophical.

“It’s just golf. Yeah, there’s people out here and the courses are tough, but you do the same thing to try to always try to focus on,” Bennett said. “Just tee it in play, which I tend to drive it well. I mean, it’s tough. It’s getting tough out there. The greens are getting a little more bouncy and a little faster, but I just love the challenge.”

ACES WILD

For the second straight day, the short par-3 15th hole was the site of a hole-in-one, this one by defending U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick used a sand wedge to score the ace, which is his first hole-in-one as a professional and he is the first defending champion to return and make a hole-in-one as well.

“As soon as I hit it, I felt like it was a good number and a good distance, so I knew it was going to be in and around the hole,” Fitzpatrick said. “I didn’t expect it to go in, but, yeah, it was a pleasant surprise. My hand was a bit sore afterward, I’ll be honest, after all the high-fiving. But it was good.”

KOEPKA NOT LOVING LACC LAYOUT

Brooks Koepka has well-deserved recognition for thriving under extremely difficult conditions, conditions usually found in a U.S. Open. So, it’s no surprise that the two-time U.S. Open winner isn’t exactly thrilled with the low scores that have been shot at LACC through two rounds.

Asked what he thought the winning score at a U.S. Open should be, Koepka responded with “It should be around par.”

“I’m not a huge fan of this place. I’m not a huge fan of blind tee shots, and then I think there’s just some spots that no matter what you hit, the ball just ends up in the same spot,” Koepka said. “I think it would be more fun to play on just like a regular round than it would be a U.S. Open. I mean, there’s, what, two 8s (8-under par) yesterday. That doesn’t happen.”

Sitting at even par, Koepka was asked what it would take for him to get into contention over the next two days.

“I obviously have got to play two good rounds, so that’s something I have to do. But definitely would like to be further up from where I’m at. But it all depends on what happens today, whether the wind picks up, so who knows what those guys are going to get to.”

DJ’s QUAD

Dustin Johnson’s even-par 70 might not seem like a great score until you realize he accomplished that after making a quadruple bogey on the par-4 second hole. Johnson knocked his tee shot into a fairway bunker, blasted out into the rough and then hit his next shot into a hazard, leading to the eight.

“Chunked my bunker shot and then chunked the next one. Skulled the next one,” he said. “Everything that you could do wrong, I did wrong.”

He was asked if it is hard not to let a round unravel after having such a horrible time on a hole.

“Sometimes it is but today it wasn’t, though,” Johnson said. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in the game and what I’m doing right now. It was nice obviously to come back and birdie the next hole. That definitely helped a little bit.”

Johnson, who tied for 48th at the Masters and 55th at the PGA Championship, is at 6 under for the tournament.

“I really feel like I’m swinging it really well, driving it good,” he said, “so looking forward to this weekend.”

BIRDIES AND BOGEYS

Rickie Fowler’s 10 birdies in the first round were the most birdies ever made in a single round in U.S. Open history. … Former UCLA standout and 1995 U.S. Open champion Corey Pavin took in the action at LACC over the last few days. Pavin said being around a U.S. Open brought back memories of his win in 1995 but he added he was happy not to be playing this week. … Masters champion Fred Couples showed up on Friday to catch some of the second-round action. Couples was seated right behind the first tee box for much of the day.

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Orange County Register