2015 U.S. Open

[Jack Lambert]

This is the first big tournament televised by Fox. I like the choices of Greg Norman, Corey Pavin and Tom Weiskopf. Joe Buck seems to be Fox Sports' go-to guy for everything, but there's always been something about him that strikes me as a bit odd.

All the "diversity" of course is devoted to the Magical Race even though, 20 years into the "Tiger era" in which they were supposed to take over the sport, blacks are as best I can tell nowhere to be found in the top 1,000 male and female players. Curt Menafee is the studio anchor -- a job that increasingly can only be held by black males and white females no matter the sport -- while Charles Davis is the reporter interviewing players after their rounds.

If there is going to be "diversity," logic would dictate it would be in the form of Asians, who dominate the women's tour and are increasingly visible on the men's tour. But no, as always there is a certain group that must always be over-represented to an extreme degree.

I agree. Most of the announcers have pretty good; I like the inclusion of those guys you mentioned, especially Norman as well. Not much movement on the leaderboard for the morning crew; Brendan Grace is at -4, as is Spieth, but it looks like he can join the two overnight leaders, Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson, with a birdie on his closing hole (#9). Ben Martin is also a co-leader now at -5.

Rory and Phil have just teed off.

It looks like Jason Day just hurt himself slipping on the ninth hole.

 

[Matra2]

I just watched a few hours of it on Fox. I agree their coverage is a nice change. However I could've done without the Curt Menefee essay on the end of Tiger's greatness. Surely they are not going to try to turn Menefee into the Fox version of Bob Costas? That is, the experienced sports expert with deep thoughts that we all need to hear.:icon_rolleyes: Menefee isn't even good at his main job hosting the NFL. He's a totally generic presenter who sticks to the script/teleprompter rarely ever giving an opinion.

Joe Buck is doing a much better job than the clownish Chris Berman. Buck has been suitably understated. I hope he stays that way. A lot of the US networks and the hosts/commentators seem to genuinely believe we tune in for them rather than the sports action.

 

[Don Wassall]

I don't watch Menefee on Fox's pre-game NFL coverage, but he's been pretty bad trying to handle golf, bumbling a lot of names and otherwise appearing to be out of his element. He certainly speaks English much better than a lot of the black buffoons on ESPN and especially the NFL Network, but comes across as an AA hire nonetheless.

 

[Carolina Speed]

The first two rounds of The U.S. Open have been very competitive and entertaining. I've enjoyed watching the players have to navigate through the course and have to be creative in their shot making. With that said, I believe the best player in the world right now, Jordan Spieth, is yet again in position to win. Along with Patrick Reed, Spieth is at -5, they're T-1.

I think The U.S. Open is Spieth's to lose, but I can see Reed winning his first Major also. Both Reed and Spieth are long enough for this course and as we know Spieth is a great putter. Reed is also underrated in length and putting. He misses some easy ones, but makes some clutch putts when he needs to.

I wouldn't mind Dustin Johnson -4, winning, but I don't think he's a good enough putter and he doesn't seem as motivated as Reed and Spieth. I love Reed and Spieth's passion, although I would prefer Reed cut out the on course cursing after hitting a bad shot.

Anyway, looking forward to the rest of the U.S Open. I like the fact that it is on the west coast also. I'm going to play a round with my sons on Sunday. It's their treat. It's Father's Day. Then I'll have time to see the rest tournament when we're finished.

 

[Jack Lambert]

The first two rounds of The U.S. Open have been very competitive and entertaining. I've enjoyed watching the players have to navigate through the course and have to be creative in their shot making. With that said, I believe the best player in the world right now, Jordan Spieth, is yet again in position to win. Along with Patrick Reed, Spieth is at -5, they're T-1.

I think The U.S. Open is Spieth's to lose, but I can see Reed winning his first Major also. Both Reed and Spieth are long enough for this course and as we know Spieth is a great putter. Reed is also underrated in length and putting. He misses some easy ones, but makes some clutch putts when he needs to.

I wouldn't mind Dustin Johnson -4, winning, but I don't think he's a good enough putter and he doesn't seem as motivated as Reed and Spieth. I love Reed and Spieth's passion, although I would prefer Reed cut out the on course cursing after hitting a bad shot.

Anyway, looking forward to the rest of the U.S Open. I like the fact that it is on the west coast also. I'm going to play a round with my sons on Sunday. It's their treat. It's Father's Day. Then I'll have time to see the rest tournament when we're finished.

I agree! The first couple of days have been pretty fun. I think it will be Spieth at this point; he's already won a major and will be very composed down the stretch. However, the golf course is playing a lot harder in the afternoon, which makes me think at least one of the players in the earlier wave will take advantage and shoot a score to get himself into contention for Sunday. Who? You're guess is as good as mine.

 

[Carolina Speed]

I agree! The first couple of days have been pretty fun. I think it will be Spieth at this point; he's already won a major and will be very composed down the stretch. However, the golf course is playing a lot harder in the afternoon, which makes me think at least one of the players in the earlier wave will take advantage and shoot a score to get himself into contention for Sunday. Who? You're guess is as good as mine.

Spieth drains a 37 footer on number 2 to go to -6 and a 2 shot lead!

 

[Carolina Speed]

Spieth drains a 37 footer on number 2 to go to -6 and a 2 shot lead!

A 40 footer on number 3 to go to -7, WOW!!

 

[Don Wassall]

Spieth drains a 37 footer on number 2 to go to -6 and a 2 shot lead!

And right after that great putt some rain moves in and DirecTV's satellite signal immediately goes down, again. :censored:

 

[Carolina Speed]

And right after that great putt some rain moves in and DirecTV's satellite signal immediately goes down, again. :censored:

Well, I guess you missed his 40 footer on 3! He's now -7! 3 shot lead!

 

[Don Wassall]

It's back, for now anyway. There's a flood warning until 10 o'clock so looks like a deluge is coming.

The course is playing very tough today, lots of bogies while birdies are fairly rare so far.

 

[Carolina Speed]

It's back, for now anyway. There's a flood warning until 10 o'clock so looks like a deluge is coming.

The course is playing very tough today, lots of bogies while birdies are fairly rare so far.

Yes, after 2 birdies, Spieth bogeys 2 in a row. Back to -5.

 

[Jack Lambert]

Yes, after 2 birdies, Spieth bogeys 2 in a row. Back to -5.

Spieth back to -3 now. Johnson leads at -6, but will drop at least a shot now. Grace drops back to -3 as well.

 

[Jack Lambert]

Spieth, Johnson, Day, and Grace all tied at -4 for the final round tomorrow. Johnson and Day will be the final group, while Spieth and Grace will be 2nd to the last pairing. After the round was over, Curt Menefee declared that every American will be wanting Day, the first player of Filipino heritage on tour (who did have a great performance today) to win the U.S. Open tomorrow. I guess having two very popular and talented American players tied for the lead won't be a rooting interest for Americans. From everybody I know, they are pretty much backing Spieth and/or Johnson tomorrow. I've liked FOX's coverage, with the exception of Menefee, who seems really out of place.



I hope Spieth can pull it out tomorrow, but I'd be happy with Johnson winning it.

 

[Don Wassall]

It was an incredibly gutsy performance by Jason Day. He's half White half Filipino but mostly comes across as an assimilated Aussie. He had a tough upbringing but has made himself into one of the five or ten best golfers in the world. He always conducts himself well and if he can pull off the victory it would be one for the ages considering what he's battling. I can root for him as easily as I can GGG the great boxer.

That said I'll of course be rooting for Spieth first and Johnson second. If Grace wins it would be a tremendous upset if he can pull it off and become the next in a seeming never ending line of great South African golfers.

 

[Jack Lambert]

It was an incredibly gutsy performance by Jason Day. He's half White half Filipino but mostly comes across as an assimilated Aussie. He had a tough upbringing but has made himself into one of the five or ten best golfers in the world. He always conducts himself well and if he can pull off the victory it would be one for the ages considering what he's battling. I can root for him as easily as I can GGG the great boxer.

That said I'll of course be rooting for Spieth first and Johnson second. If Grace wins it would be a tremendous upset if he can pull it off and become the next in a seeming never ending line of great South African golfers.

I apologize if my last post (which was aimed at Menefee) came off as mean spirited. If Spieth or Johnson can't pull it off, I wouldn't mind seeing Day win it. He's definitely a class act as well.

 

[Don Wassall]

I apologize if my last post (which was aimed at Menefee) came off as mean spirited. If Spieth or Johnson can't pull it off, I wouldn't mind seeing Day win it. He's definitely a class act as well.

Not at all. I just wanted to give props to Day, who has shown courage, grit and talent that is very admirable.

 

[Jack Lambert]

Rory making a charge today!! 5 under through 12 holes to get within three of the lead!! Spieth bogeys the first hole to drop off to -3.

 

[Jack Lambert]

What a putt!!! Rory drains a 72 foot downhill swinging putt for birdie!! Within 2 now at -2!!

 

[Quiet Speed]

Aw no. Nothing against Jason Day, but is Fox really going to follow on camera his every footstep?

 

[Don Wassall]

McIlroy's putting has been a tad off, just missing many putts otherwise he'd have a sizeable lead. Six under through 14 holes so far today is phenomenal.

Spieth's driving has been sub-par so far.

 

[foreverfree]

How's the course look, other than resembling your typical British course?

While you chew on that, read some of the comments about Chambers Bay on http://www.wsj.com/articles/is-this-tournament-too-open-to-change-1434758609 before it goes behind the paywall...

ixnay

 

[Jack Lambert]

McIlroy's putting has been a tad off, just missing many putts otherwise he'd have a sizeable lead. Six under through 14 holes so far today is phenomenal.

Spieth's driving has been sub-par so far.

Unfortunately, that shaky putting caught up with him again, and after missing a (relatively) straight 7-10 foot birdie putt on 14, he dropped shots on 16 and 17.

Aw no. Nothing against Jason Day, but is Fox really going to follow on camera his every footstep?

I've noticed FOX has had a tendency to linger on a lot of golfers this week for some reason. They did that with Day and Johnson yesterday, following them on what seemed like the entire four minute walk from green to fairway. It's really my only complaint about their actual on course presentation.

 

[Jack Lambert]

Congrats to Spieth, but I feel so bad for Johnson right now. I wouldn't want to see anybody go through that. Gotta give credit to Jordan for a great bounce back hole on 18.

 

[Don Wassall]

That was the most entertaining, up and down last hour of golf I can remember. And 21 year old Jordan Spieth has won the first two majors of the year.

So many plot lines going on, just an amazing final round.

 

[Matra2]

Who knew golf could be so exciting? All the guys who were in the running are likeable. The future of golf looks bright.