2018 US OPEN: Shinnecock Hills in N.Y.

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Tony Finau birdies the 18th for a round of 66 today. I'd be surprised to see any scores this low from the leaders teeing off now.

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Fleetwood puts his approach to the first hole in birdieland. Rickie Fowler double bogeys. Charley Hoffman does not get out of the greenside bunker on one.

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Final pairing of Dustin Johnson and Scott Piercy on the first tee here. Piercy is even par and DJ is 4 under par.

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Fleetwood's birdie attempt slides by. Hoffman makes his bogey.

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Piercy's approach to the first pin hits short and rolls back off the green. Now DJ's turn. The pin position today is in the front. He puts his ball 10 feet past the hole with a downhill putt for birdie.

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Piercy putts it out of the fringe up to within six inches for a gimme par. DJ's birdie attempt is actually about 13 feet downhill here. Wow...turns just at the last second and trickles past the hole. Now up the slope for the par. Both players par the first hole.

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Leishman birdies the 5th hole. Phil finishes with par for his highest career round in an Open at 81.

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DJ in trouble on two here....will probably make at best a bogey on this tough par 3. Piercy in trouble too.....neither hit the green and both in bad lies.

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Phil was assessed a 2 stroke penalty for hitting a moving ball.....that was the situation after he putted and then hurried over to putt it again out of frustration. He carded a 10 on that hole, LOL.

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Piercy and DJ not in yet....both have testers left for bogey on the 2nd hole.

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DJ 3-putts for his first double bogey of the week and his first 3-putt of the week.....early in this round today. Piercy misses his too and is still out. His putting is the strength of his game. So both players make a double bogie at the 2nd hole to bring the field closer. The lead was 4, now the lead is 2.

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Rose at even par, and 4 players at +1. DJ in the lead at 2 under par.

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Piercy doesn't make the fairway.....in the intemediate rough off the tee on 3. DJ smokes it down the fairway.

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Looks like everybody is going south right now on the course as the conditions become slicker and firmer and a little windier.

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DJ drops another shot to par at #4.....now he stands at -1 and his lead has evaporated to just 1 shot that quickly. Rose and Stenson are at even par, and now DJ puts it in the tall heather off the 5th tee.....he's going south very quickly all of a sudden.

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Koepka pars 7 to stay at +1. #7 is a difficult par 3. Fleetwood saves par at the par 5 fifth hole. Rose putting for birdie at the 6th hole.....it's a 45 footer. He leaves it within 2 feet for a great putt.

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Stenson makes a great long putt for par at 6 to remain even par like his playing partner Justin rose. Poulter at +2 now.

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DJ and Piercy on the par 5 green in regulation despite their troubles off the tee. DJ has a 22 footer for birdie. Wow....that one almost dropped. DJ taps in for par. This par 5 plays about 645 into the wind today. Piercy has a 17 footer for birdie.....and he sinks it to go back to +2.

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Stenson makes par and the par 3 7th. Poulter having trouble again on the 8th hole. Rose for par on the 7th now. He pars it too.....that's a sand save. Rose and Stenson have not bogied today yet. Both are at even par.

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Fleetwood slides it by on his par putt on 6.....and Poulter misses his bogey putt on 8.

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The wind is up and gusting to 22 mph now.....no more steady breeze this afternoon. DJ misses the green from the middle of the fairway.

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Not sure the USGA did its job in making this venue a fair test of golf for all the golfers. It seems they didn't consider the elements quite enough and the penalties are too severe in every respect.....even the wind having effects on the putting on these very dry and slick greens. The greens are just too hard and fast to hold good shots that should not penalize the players hitting them. Even if all the players have to play the same course, I think the USGA has taken away from the tournament action instead of adding to it with this setup. The course itself and its location makes this course a difficult test in itself......less probably would have been better this week.

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If the top players in the world are complaining and many missing the cutline.....then something is definitely not right. It's certainly not the final field the USGA envisioned and not the kind of play they envisioned either. It's not good for the sport and does not make good TV coverage either. Or good ratings for the fans at the course. Who wants to see the entire field struggling??? The early teetimes today did have a definitive huge advantage over this afternoon.....which means the setup is wrong when the wind blows. It's not just the wind blowing that makes the difference.....it's how the greens cannot handle the elements and still remain fair and playable. A little less would have been better in this case.

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You know it's wrong when any ball that hits the green and stays on gets a cheer, LOL. How can the players even think about going for the pin??? It messes up their thinking, their rhythm, their confidence, and their execution......that's not a winning combination for the USGA or for the network coverage....or for the sponsors.

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Last time they held the US Open here they had similar problems and did not learn enough from that experience. It was too severe just like this time around. This golf course just does not require much added to it to make it a great venue to hold a major, but they messed with it too much.....again.

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Now the network announcers are trying to cover up the obvious and make excuses for the setup and those responsible for this setup.

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I suspect they will be watering the course heavily after today's round to get it softer for tomorrow's final round.

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"Dustin Johnson just has no feel for the speed of these greens". Really??? Could you??? Who does out there??? Only on the short ones. And just look at how many players are missing the short ones. It's damn near impossible to play this course right now to any confidence whatsoever. The wind and rough is enough penalty....why make the greens unplayable too???

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I wonder how Justin Thomas is doing today? Oh....he's at only +9 and just birdied 17 with a very short wiggling putt that just fell in. He raises his hands in joy!! Now's he's only 8 over par.....4 over for the round.

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DJ birdies and jumps back into a tie for the lead at +1 now. Koepka and Stenson are also at +1 tied for the lead.

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Rose and Daniel Berger are at +3.

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Stenson bogeys and Rose pars......DJ is in the lead by himself now.

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Unbelievable monster long putt by Koepka to stay in a share of the lead with Dustin Johnson.....the putt of the day and a fantastic par save.

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"They cut the grass too short".....David Fay, past president of the USGA for many years.

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Koepka deserves a big steak tonight.....and a big fat baked potatoe too, LOL.

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Thomas finishes at +8......4 over on his round today.

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DJ pars the 12th......I think every golfer wants to just par in and survive today. That's not positive thinking.....but it tends to creep in when the course is so brutal.

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Koepka gets robbed on that approach to 15.....you just have to see it to believe it. It rolls off the green as it trickles away from the pin......just totally ridiculous.

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This entire round is totally ridiculous.......there's just nothing else to say about this setup and the greens.

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Koepka makes bogey on what should have been a very makeable birdie attempt with that great approach shot.

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Furyk finishes with a nice par save at 18 for a round of 72 and +6 for the tournament. He's hanging around for tomorrow's final round.

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Back at 13, DJ has a very fast 33 footer for birdie. He's got to be careful with this one. It runs off an extra foot for a two footer left for par.

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Rose puts a close one up there in birdie range, but Stenson hits his in a greenside bunker. DJ makes his par on 13 to remain in the lead at +1.

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Rickie Fowler is +15 now for this tournament.....he began the day at +2.

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I guess Spieth, Tiger, Day, McIlroy and the others are kinda glad they didn't make the cut after seeing what's happening today.

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There's gonna be some worn out golfers tonight.....mentally and physically drained.

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In this kind of scenario.....it becomes very important to keep your mental outlook as positive as possible. Rose makes a birdie on 15 to stay within one of the lead.....he's not going away, for sure.

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Now Stenson for bogey.....he really needs this one. Stenson bogeys it to go to +4 now. Rose and Koepka are at +2.

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Berger and Finau played this morning and are at +3 in the clubhouse.....each shooting a 66 today.

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Koepka has a 34 footer uphill for birdie....it slides by on the left. He should par this 15th hole and stay tied with Rose one shot out of the lead.

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So DJ is in the lead at +1, Koepka and Rose at +2, Berger and Finau finished at +3, and then Stenson and a few others at +4.

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Koepka was addressing his par putt and said it moved. He remarked it and now makes his par. He informed his playing partner Poulter beforehand.

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DJ pars the 14th and remains at +1. Hoffman at +5 on the 15th now for birdie....guess what? It slides by and keeps trickling another 8 feet.

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Now if he pars this one....it will feel like a birdie.....but he misses it uphill. Hoffman drops another shot to par.

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DJ flies it way right into the tall fescue off the tee.....he's in trouble of dropping a shot or two here.

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Koepka 3 putts 16 for a bogey. Now he falls to +3.

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Rose has 28 footer for birdie on 16....but it's not even close as it breaks hard right halfway to the hole.

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DJ hacks it out backwards onto the fairway just to get it back in play on #15. Stenson's birdie bid on 16 slides by. Now DJ hits the green on his 3rd shot on 15. Rose for par at 16 now......it doesn't break.....so he bogeys it with a 3 putt.

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Heck....maybe Berger and Finau will be in the lead after this fiasco going on now out there.

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Let's recap......DJ at +1 now, but looking at bogey. Koepka and Rose joins Berger and Finau at +3, and Stenson at +4.

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Piercy for birdie at 16 and it trickles and trickles and trickles off the green......no fault of Piercy who happens to be a very good putter.

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Now DJ's putt for par....it just misses falling in from the top side.....so he eats a bogey to go to +2. Piercy was +6, but now he may not even bogey it.

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Roe for birdie at 17.....it stops just right of the hole.....a solid par for Justin Rose to remain at +3.

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Now Koepka at 18 on a severe downhiller for birdie.....He must just touch it. There it goes about 10 feet past...and he just touched it.

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Stenson saves par on 17 to remain at +4. Koepka for par on 18 uphill and he saves par with a great par. He's at 3 over tied with Berger and Finau in the clubhouse and Rose still with one hole left.

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DJ on the par 5 16th tee now.....627 yds against the wind. He's leading at +2.

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Poulter pars 18 to finish at +7. Rose and Stenson teeing off on 18 now.

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Berger and Finau both have picked up 11 shots on the leader today.....and the rest of the field too. They are ecstatic to be sitting in a tie for 2nd place now in the clubhouse. Not in their wildest dreams, I'm sure.

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Stenson's ball hits on the 18th green and rolls backward off the green 30 yrds. Now here goes Rose and he's above the hole like Koepka was.

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Hoffman at 17 out of the sand for a nice sand save for par. It's a tap-in. DJ on the par 5 lays up for his 3rd shot against that wind on this loong par 5.

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Now with his 3rd shot DJ will have to be careful.....he's 135 out and needs to control the spin. It settles in the middle of the green and he will not have an easy putt for birdie.

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Stenson chips it up short of the pin and will have a longish par putt uphill. Rose's putt if above the hill and is like Koepka's.....we'll see if he can control the speed better.....or touch it easier. Nah.....worse than Koepka's and still not stopped yet.

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DJ for birdie on 16.....a long way off at 35 feet and he comes up inches short in the mouth of the hole. He settles for par, but I'm sure he's really happy about that. Rose misses his par on 18 and will move into third place with a 4 over score. Stenson bogeys also and moves to +5 for the tournament.

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DJ at the 150 yd par 3 17th with a pitching wedge hits it short of the pin for an uphill putt for birdie.

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I'm tuning into the Golf Channel tonight to hear the commentary on today's round and fiasco.

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Hoffman hole high on 18 now. He sits at +7 and 5 back. Scott Piercy is at +8 for par on 17. He gets a tap in bogey for +9 now.

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Now Dustin Johnson on 17 for an uphill birdie try.....about 19 feet up the slope. He leaves it 4 inches short but taps in for par and remains the leader at +2. He's 6 over on his round today.

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Hoffman for birdie on 18.....but to no avail....he still has some work left for par.

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DJ and Piercy on the 18th teebox now. DJ has parred it both days.

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14 fairways for DJ today....not too bad. Fleetwood makes par and so does Hoffman at the 18th. I'm sure they are happy to be done.

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Hoffman and Fleetwood shoot a 7 over today.

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If DJ bogeys this hole.....Berger and Finau will be tied for the lead.....unbelievably.

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Both Piercy and DJ are in the fairway here. Piercy hits it hole high to the right. Long is no good on this hole.....you have to keep it short or hole high. DJ's shot hits short of the pin and runs right past it. He will be putting downhill, but not as severely as Koepka and Rose.

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DJ just needs to let it feed down to the hole and get his par. Piercy will be putting from the right.

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Piercy's putt is about a 25 footer breaking left.....he runs it past the hole about 3 feet.

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DJ will have a downhiller about 17 feet.....he really needs to be careful with this one and just touch it.

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He played it 4 inches outside right and it never broke until it passed the hole. Now he's outside of Piercy and putting again for par. This one is uphill about 7 feet for par. He catches a piece of the hole and 3 putts for bogey to fall into a tie with Berger, Finau, and Koepka. Piercy makes his par to finish at +9.

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So Finau and Berger will be in the final group tomorrow, and DJ and his good friend Koepka will be paired in the next to last group tomorrow.

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Now the discussions begin about the unfairness of the afternoon pairings compared to the morning teetimes......it was just waaay too unequal.

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Well....with some softer greens tomorrow, the course should play more fair and it's wide open for many players to win it.

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There's alot of highly disappointed players in this tournament now......and none want to be interviewed.

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Mud on your face!!! You ruined what was going to be one of the greatest fields in golf in at least twenty years>>>>you dummies!!!!

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I must admit that Brandel Chamblee and I are of the same opinion about what has occurred at this year's US Open in Shinnecock Hills. We are also of the same opinion about the difference in the way the PGA and USGA try to setup courses. The USGA thinks par should be almost unreachable, and the PGA thinks par should be the norm. Par should not be almost unreachable for the best golfers on the planet.....you idiots!!! It's bad for the game, for TV coverage and your sponsors, and for all of those connected with this oldest and most revered sport. Actually......it should fall somewhere between what typically the PGA does and what the USGA seeks.....especially for the US Open.

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Sometimes those in charge.....NO, let's rephrase that!! MOST of the time, those in charge of these kind of decisions in any sporting event tend to use bad judgement.....why is that??? Because those in charge do not belong in that position.....they cannot think logically and will not listen to others. They love their position of authority and want to make a statement......remember what happened in baseball a few years back??? What about in football with the NFL Players Association??? Same kind of idiocy going on here. DUMMIES FOR GOLF......They must not have read this book, LOL......it should be required reading for USGA officials.

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BTW......they forced Phil Mickelson into doing something he would not normally EVER in his wildest dreams even contemplate doing.....and on his birthday in front of the entire golfing world!!! That was just a reflection to the entire golfing world of how every other professional golfer really felt out there not only yesterday afternoon, but this entire week. Just so happens Phil had the presence of mind and balls to make a statement back.....even on his birthday!! He knew exactly what he was doing and the statement he was making, and not ashamed to do it in front of the entire golfing community......considering all circumstances. He knew the rules and knew what the repercussions might be......Good for you, Phil......a standing ovation from all the golfers on the course and from all that missed the cut.....LOL.

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I just love listening to these past professionals and "talking heads" trying to smooze the golfing world and protect their position as an authority on the game. WE don't need your help to understand what really happened this week......not most of us. In other words......most real golfers are not DUMMIES about this game and its history. The public at large probably are......I guess that's your audience, Huh?

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The real book should be GOLF FOR DUMMIES, not DUMMIES FOR GOLF. So even if they read the book, they read the wrong one.....LOL. DUMMIES, indeed!!!

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According to the National Golf Foundation, the average 18-hole score for the average golfer is about 100....more than bogey golf per hole. This statistic has not changed for several decades. Of course, we are talking about millions here to get this average.....and all of those past their prime that still enjoy playing this game late in life. But most really never understood that GOLF has an oxymoron. Golf spelled backwards is golf's oxymoron......flog. "Honey.....I'm going flogging today". "Okay, Dear.....have a wonderful day."

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Yesterday the very best players on the planet were "flogging" their way thru the round.....go figure.

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We should not discount what Berger and Finau did early in the day yesterday.....shooting 66 was still a very, very great round of golf. But that's only 2 golfers out of the entire field. I think only 3 golfers shot under par yesterday, and the average score was over par by 6 strokes.....what's wrong with this picture??? Even they would admit it would have been impossible to shoot 66 under the conditions after a 10 am teetime.

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They have watered down this course substantially for today and put in conservative pin placements to make this beast of a course more playable. I'm almost certain this will make today's play much fairer when the final groups finally tee off later today.

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Of course.....it's a little late in the tournament now because the damage has already been done to the field. Does Rickie Fowler and Phil Mickelson really have a chance to make up those strokes with an early tee time today??? Or any of the players at +12 or more??? Nah.....not playing this beast of a course. The damage has been done. Will perhaps 10 or more players shoot under par today??? Probably somewhere in that range......and even more only a few strokes over par.....hopefully. Yesterday that was clearly not a manageable situation for these professionals.

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Will this year's US Open champion emerge from an early teetime on the final day??? EVERYBODY is hoping this does not happen....except those playing with early teetimes, LOL.

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The course will be markedly softer for those teeing off early today, for sure. But those golfers will still have to negotiate this course, the high rough, the wind, and the layout of this beast. There may be a few really good rounds posted by lunch, but the number of strokes to make up will be tough. The later teetimes will have it much better today....even with the wind drying out the greens.....the pin placements will be easier for those groups today. A softer surface for the approach shots and easier pin placements should allow the leaders a better opportunity than yesterday's setup.

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Maybe a really good score will emerge from a player in the middle of the pack today......this is very possible. 3 over par is the leading score, so a player 6 strokes back should be in contention for the title. That equates to players starting today at +9 or lower......maybe even +10.

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But if a player in one of the final groups shoots a couple of strokes under par today, then it will be tough for any player at +8 starting out today to win.

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There are just not that many players left with a score of +8 or better starting out today. So today will be about most players trying to improve their paycheck, not winning the title.

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BTW>>>>Happy Father's Day to all of the Dads out there. And even if you are not a real Dad, you may be "Daddy" to somebody, LOL. So Happy Daddy's Day!! :clap::):wave::2thumbsup:taunt:

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I hope everybody is enjoying reading my commentary.....even if you don't agree. At least it makes for good reading to pass the time, Huh?

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I seriously doubt that Berger or Finau will repeat again with such a low score today. I don't doubt and won't be surprised if DJ or Koepka or Fleetwood, Stenson, Poulter, or one of the leaders from one of the later groups teeing off today wins it. It will be a free-for-all out there. BTW.....for those interested.....Stricker stands at +11 today. Look out for Wild Jim Furyk, though....he really has a very good chance today, IMHO. He stands at +6 right now.

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If there is a threat from a golfer at +8 to steal this tournament from the leaders.....I will pick Justin Thomas to do it. He's not #2 in the World for nothing....he has the game to do it. If he gets on a roll....he could go low.....like a 63. Par is 70, so 63 could be a do-able number for him....or maybe even a 65. But 65 probably won't be low enough if you stand at +8 against the leaders at +3 to +6.

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I'm thinking +l or even par will be the winning number today.....or in a playoff.

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Remember this year's change.....a playoff today will not be an 18-holer like in the past......it will be decided using a Sudden Death scenario.

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I think Jimmy Walker from Boerne stands at +14. Patrick Reed from Houston is definitely a player to watch out for.....he has the game too.....and he stands at +6.

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Looks like Fleetwood from England ballooned to a +9 yesterday.....my mistake. He's really not a contender in my mind today. Justin Rose at +4 is most definitely one of my picks to win this tournament....and he's from England also.

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Other notable players at +8 that have an outside chance are Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffele, Zack Johnson, and Webb Simpson. Gary Woodland also sits a +8. Ian Poulter and Charley Hoffman are at +7.

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Looks like Mickelson and Fowler are paired today. Fowler is at +12 after that birdie on the par 3.....he started at +15 today.

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it's 9:30 here, but 10:30 in New York.....so the tournament is well underway now with the early teetimes already teeing off on the back 9. Fowler and Mickelson are teeing off on #10 right now.

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Fowler and Mickelson both barely missed their birdies on #10. Matsuyama is starting out with a few birdies on his front 9 today. Rickie shot a 31 on the front 9.

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The 11th hole is a steep uphill par 3 at 159 yds today......waaaay uphill. Fowler puts it in birdieland but Phil's shot hits too close to the left side and bounds off the green.

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Fowler misses his birdie and taps in for par. Mickelson has a downhiller that runs past the hole after catching the lip. He bogies this hole to go to +15 now.

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Lots of birdies dropping here in the early going to help offset those bogeys.

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5 under par 65 would be a great score to post for Fowler.....but he'll still be at +10 for the tournament because of yesterday's nightmare fiasco. It's a real shame.....

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Shameful for the USGA.....not Fowler.

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When a player's confidence and competitive edge is lost on a course that's not allowing for fair play......you get a result like Rickie had yesterday.

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Mickelson did shoot a 32 on the front today.....that's 3 under par. He's one over so far on the back, but under par for the day. He and Rickie both parred the 12th.

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In fact, that bogey on the 11th for Mickelson was the first bogey for either player so far today.

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Fowler is in birdieville again, but Mickelson is hitting out of the heavy rough and comes up just short in the greenside bunker.

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Phil hits it close out of the sand. Matsuyama shoots a 31 on the front also. Fowler looking at 8 feet uphill for birdie on the 13th now. BOOM.....drops right in the middle. Now Phil for his par....downhill and touchy. YEP....he throws his hands up to celebrate that sand save.....he's having a good time, folks. This is the hole he made the hiccup 10 on yesterday....LOL. :clap:

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Sam Burns rims the cup for an eagle try on the par 5 fifth hole, but will settle for a birdie. He's a 21 y.o. off the Web.com tour that qualified.

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Both Fowler and Mickelson ended up in the heavy rough off the tee on this very difficult par 4 14th hole. Neither hits it on the green.

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Brandt Snedecker teeing off on the first hole now.....he's playing with Jhonnatan Vegas. Both are at +11 to start the day.

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Looks like Fowler and Mickelson will have their work cut out for them to par this 14th hole. Both need to get it up and down for a par. Mickelson downhill 16 feet for par and lips the cup....he bogeys it. Fowler uphill 7 feet for a par now......uphill is the way to go. NOPE....it turns left too much and he bogeys also.....his first of the round. Now he's back at +12.

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Stricker hits one within 2 feet on the par-3 2nd hole. He's at +11 for the tournament.

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Fowler and Mickelson on the par 4 15th teebox now.....both hit the fairway no problem.

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Fowler's got about 120 to the pins and hits it within 12 feet. Mickelson lands his further right about 20 feet away.

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Stricker gets his birdie on #2. Mickelson makes that long birdie putt on 14, but I got a phone call and missed Fowler's putt for birdie.

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Now Mickelson makes another long birdie on the 15th hole. Fowler misses his birdie and remains at +12 for the tournament.

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Stricker's approach shot on the 4th hole hits high on the flagstick.....but bounds away about 16 feet.

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Fowler is consistently hitting greens in regulation, but not converting on the birdie attempts like Phil has. And Rickie has had more opportunities at birdie than Phil.

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Phil in the sand on this par 3 17th hole and hits it fat out of the trap only halfway to the hole. He's 28 feet and his putt comes up short. He will settle for a bogey here. Fowler misses his birdie from 22 feet and taps in for a par.

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Fowler(+12) and Mickelson teeing off on the 18th. Mickelson finds the heavy rough.

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Fowler hits it within 2 feet of the pin on his approach shot at the 18th.....a tap in birdie, for sure. Even d0tc0m could make this one....LOL.

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My son brought some donuts over for me this morning......Yum Yum and shame on me, hahaha.

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Mickelson for par leaves it on the lip.....he shoots 69. Now Fowler and a 65 on the day......in the middle. He finishes at +11. Mickelson finished at +16.

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It's 1:23 ET and the later tee times are just getting started. Some +9 groups are already on the course.

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The golf course is being more receptive today, but still a tough test for the players like a US Open should be. But there are birdies to be had out there compared to yesterday's later tee times.

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Paul Casey(+9) hits one within 5 feet on the first hole.

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Stricker on the 6th hole is 2 under for the day at +9 and has another birdie opportunity coming up.

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Casey gets his birdie on the first hole and gets it to +8.....he has an outside chance. Fleetwood is just ahead of him and is at +8 too.

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Justin Thomas on the first tee now at +8 for the tournament.

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Fleetwood gets another birdie to fall at #3......look out for him to go low also.

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The groups teeing off now are the ones that could contend for the championship.

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Fitzpatrick from England is a young phenom playing with Justin Thomas that could also put up a low number. His shot to the pin on #1 is in birdie range....about 5 feet.

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Fitzpatrick converts his birdie bid on #1 to go to +7 now. A good start for this young talent.

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Hole #2 is a monster par 3......254 yds uphill.....the longest par 3 in Open history. Thomas and Fitzpatrick both missed the green. Any player that birdies this hole today should be awarded a Father's Day Cupcake.....LOL.

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DeChambeau just leaves his birdie bid on the edge at #1. Fitz chips up into the wind close to the pin on #2. Thomas' putt lips the hole for par.....he bogeys.

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Schauffele birdies at #1. Casey gets another birdie.

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Jack Nicklaus says the most important tee shot of the day happens on the first tee.....just to let you know.

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Webb Simpson makes birdie at the first hole......he's a putting phenom and won this year's PGA Championship.

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Zack Johnson birdies the first hole too. Now Xander Schauffele birdies the monster par 3 2nd hole too.....he goes birdie birdie to start. He earns a cupcake, LOL....or maybe two.

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Lots of birdies falling out there today......definitely a low score will be posted late today. The winning score could drop below par today afterall.

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Xander Schauffele is already on the first page of the leaderboard at +6 with only two holes played.

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Matsuyama finishes with a 66 for a +10 total. Charley Hoffman misses birdie on the first hole.

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Russell Knox birdies 5 to go to +7. Fleetwood hits the pin and will get another birdie. He's at +6 now. Getting 6 more birdies without a bogey is not gonna be easy on this course.....just sayin'.

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There are only two par 5's on this course, and one of them is 647 yards into the wind.....so eagles are rare here.

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Justin Thomas gets his first birdie of the day.....he's at +7 now early on. Fleetwood gets his 4th birdie of the day at #7 to go to +5.

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Now Webb Simpson birdies again at #3 to go to +6 with lots of holes left.

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Closing the gap on the front 9 to the leaders is the key to contending for the championship on the back 9.

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I've been watching this action.....it really is anybody's championship and will be a shoot-out to the final hole for at least 3 or 4 of these players. Whoever has the hottest putter today will most probably win it.

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Koepka goes to even par, DJ two behind him......along with Fleetwood and Patrick Reed at +2. The closest next player is Stenson at +5, but anything can happen here with so many holes left. Fleetwood is up ahead and has cleared the most holes of the group.

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Fleetwood is on 16 for another birdie try here.....he didn't hit it hard enough and leaves it just short.

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Reed is on #7 for a downhill birdie breaking left.....and he does it again. Reed goes to +1 and is one behind Koepka.

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Koepka in the trampled rough on #4 hits his approach to just short of the front of the green surface. Meanwhile, DJ's shot is hole high to the right of the pin.

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Daniel Berger's mile long putt for eagle ends up right next to the cup. He'll go to +4. Now Finau's eagle attempt is right on line but 4 inches short. His birdie gets him to +5.

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Koepka's pitch from the front of the green comes up way too short.....he has work for par.

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Fleetwood pars 17 and has one hole left. Koepka bogeys at #6 but DJ is looking at an uphill breaking birdie from 14 feet. NOPE.....slides by on the low side and has work left for a par.

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Fleetwood on the tee at 18 now.....hits a good one in the fairway. DJ makes his par at #6.

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Patrick Reed is on the green in regulation on the eighth......tied for the lead with Koepka. DJ and Koepka are on the 7th teebox on the par 3.

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DJ's ball is way right and misses the green. Koepka hits a beauty about 10 feet right of the pin....if that far.

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A chance for history for Fleetwood here today at 18.....he hits a fantastic shot just a few feet short of the pin.

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DJ's pitch almost goes in the hole with that sand wedge......he'll par it no problem. Koepka for birdie on 7 and the outright lead.....ouch. it goes too far past the hle. Reed misses his birdie too. Koepka saves par.

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Here's Fleetwood for the first 62 in US Open history on 18. It's uphill and just touches the left side of the cup.....he taps in for par and shoots a 63. He was 8 feet away. He finishes at +2 and is leader in the clubhouse. There's your low score posted folks.

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DJ's short tap in for par rims the cup and he drops a stroke here with that bogey.

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Reed and Koepka are tied for the lead at +1 and one grouping apart. DJ falls to +3. Lots of holes left......except for Fleetwood in the clubhouse at +2. He can take it easy now and just watch the action unfold. I still think even par will win this championship today.

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Koepka just over the pin at 8 and Reed on the putting surface safely on 9. DJ also with a good shot to the 8th pin.

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Berger is in the last group at +5....don't forget about him. Reed's putt is short and will be a tester on the 9th.

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DJ for birdie from 12 feet and it falls in. Now he's at +2. Koepka about 9 feet for birdie now. It rims the cup and spins out.....the pace was a little quick. He taps it in for par. Reed makes bogey as he misses that short par attempt. Reed falls back in a tie with DJ at +2.

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DJ smokes his drive on the 9th hole. Reed uses a long iron from the tee on 10. Koepka on 9 finds the fairway too, but behind DJ's long bomb.

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+1, +2, +2, +2, and then some +5's is what is going on right now on the course.

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DJ on the 9th green in good shape. Now Koepka hits his right behind DJ's. Reed's approach is hole high left....you don't want to go long on #10 green.

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Finau birdies 8 to get it to +5 now. Berger is at +5 also.....along with Fitzpatrick.

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Koepka for birdie at the 9th up the hill leaves it short in the mouth. Reed has a 26 footer that hops offline. He taps in his par putt. Now DJ had a nice look at Koepka's putt. He's really checking this one out. Up the hill for a share of the lead.....Oh so close, but no cigar. He taps in for par.

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Reed on the par 3 11th tee.....159 yds uphill but he hits it long and over the green. It hit on the downslope and went way over.

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Koepka and DJ on the 10th teebox now hitting irons also like Reed did. You can't miss this fairway.

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Reed's chip shot on 11 bounces up the hill and hits off the pin as it careens sideways......a big break for him actually.....it was going hard and would have ended up across the green.

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Reed should be happy to walk off this green with a bogey.....but he still has a par putt left. Oh wow.....just misses his par putt....and bogeys it.

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Brooks Koepka up to bat now.....about 165 way up the hill and leaves it 5 feet right of the pin.....a great shot. DJ's shot is way left and not a very good shot for him. Tony Finau makes birdie and goes to +4 now in the last group.

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Reed finds the thick rough off the fairway on the 12th. Finau blasted his iron off the 10th tee now.

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DJ has a 35 footer left to right across this green on the 10th.

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Wow....he leaves it just short for a tap in.....I call that a really good putt. Now Koepka for birdie about 7 feet....in the middle to go back to even par for a 2 stroke lead.

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Reed in trouble on the 12th now.....he's 3 over for the tournament and doesn't need any more trouble right now.

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Stenson on the 11th for par....he's at +7 and makes the par.

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Koepka hits his shot on the par 3 11th over the green where Reed hit it.....with a pitching wedge!! Now DJ.....in the middle of the green.

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Reed on the 12th is having all kinds of trouble. Fitzpatrick makes birdie at 18 and finishes at +8. Reed's 4th shot from off the green slides by.....he's still not done.

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Koepka has the same shot as Reed did and bounces it up like Reed did, but it misses the stick and goes across the green into the bunker on this short par 3 hole. Reed makes bogey on the 12th. Koepka still out on 11 hitting out of the bunker now.

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Not a great sand play....but he's safe with a bogey putt left.....it was a very deep bunker.

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Now Berger birdies to go to +4. DJ on 11 for his birdie try. It's uphill 34 feet....a long birdie try. Again he leaves it short....never had a chance. Finau makes his par save to stay at +4.

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Now Koepka makes a great putt to save bogey on the par 3 and only loses one stroke. DJ has work to save par now. NOPE.....missed right with a bad read or a pull. He bogeys it too....a huge miss for DJ there.

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Fleetwood's score in the clubhouse is looking pretty good now that Koepka bogeyed. These players are beginning to feel the pressure. Berger and Finau appear to be playing better now.....both on the putting surface and birdie opportunities on the 11th.

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Rose birdies the 12th to go to +5 now.....a horse race to the finish. Meanwhile.....Fleetwood is sitting in the catbird seat watching the action.

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Koepka still leads at +1 after that bogey.....but DJ is +3 now with his blunder bogey. Finau and Berger are both at +4, but both have birdie putts a hole behind.

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Finau makes his long birdie putt on 11 to go to +3 now. Koepka misses the greeen is goes over it. DJ just past the pin on the 12th. Berger for birdie now at 11 and leaves it next to the cup for par.

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Reed barely misses his birdie at 13 and stays at +4 for the tournament.

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Schauffele for birdie at 18.....leaves it short.....he will tap in and finish at +6 for the tournament.

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Koepka makes a great shot out of the heavy rough to get it close to the pin on 12. He has a chance now to make his par. DJ looking at a 16 footer for birdie here. He's currently two back of Koepka at +3. His putt is slightly right of the lip.....it's another short tap in. Brooks has a 6 footer left for par and he makes it to save par. That was a great up and down for the par save. Koepka remains in the lead at +1.

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Now Stenson birdies at 13 to go to +6. Justin Rose for birdie on 13 now....a quick one.....and it slides by.

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Reed drove it in the bunker on 13 and his approach comes up short of the green. Koepka on the tee at 13 now. He whacks it down the fairway with his long iron.

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DJ does the same thing on 13....two good drives for these guys. Back on 12 Finau and Berger are next to each other on the green with longish birdie tries.

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Webb Simpson finishes with a par on 18 to end his day at +7.

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Finau misses his 27 footer for birdie. DJ on the surface at 13 but its still trickling and gathering speed.....there it goes back to the front of the green. Koepka over the pin with a beauty.

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Berger's birdie try on 12 goes wide. Reed on 14 for par.....he's still at +4.

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Finau misses his short par putt on 12 to drop a stroke back to +4 now. Berger's par putt will keep him at +4.

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DJ's ball ended up rolling completely off the green about two feet...so he's got an uphill attempt here for birdie....using his putter. A very good lag putt within a foot.

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A 10 footer for birdie here for Brooks Koepka....way off to the right and too hard. That was an important putt for Brooks to make. Now he has his work cut out for par. DJ saves par....he was further out than I thought. Now Brooks needs this par save.....and he gets it to remain at +1 in the lead and defending his title from last year.

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Looks like things are getting kinda dicey out there for everybody.....except for Fleetwood in the clubhouse.

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Koepka on the 14th tee finds the heavy heather off the fairway. DJ is safely on the fairway in a divot.

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Reed is trying to find a few birdies on his way in. Berger is hanging in at +4. Koepka is in trouble at +1. DJ is lurking at +3. Fleetwood is watching at +2. What other drama could you ask for on a Sunday US Open finish???

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Looking like a playoff in the works??? Maybe.....we'll see how it turns out.

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DJ's ball ends up way at at the back of the green. Now Koepka out of the thick stuff leaves it in the middle of the fairway for his 3rd upcoming. At 13 Berger rings it out on his birdie attempt. Reed sinks one for birdie on 14.....his 6th of the day.

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Koepka hits a low one-hopper off the collar to the short pin placement and it stops just past the hole....an excellent approach to this pin. DJ will be lucky to get his mile long putt that close on his birdie try.

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DJ's putt is uphill the first half, then levels off, and straight downhill the last half. It's a 73 footer.....here goes. He leaves it short and right about 6 feet for par. A big putt coming up now for Koepka....downhill left to right about 10 feet.....and he sinks it. Another clutch save for Koepka. Now DJ is about 7 feet out with a similar line.

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His make break a little more......Nah....he flubbed it and never gave it a good stroke. DJ bogeys another short one.

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Stenson for birdie on 15 now.....straight up the hill 20 feet. Slides by and he will have a tap in for par.

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Koepka on the 15th tee finds the fairway. Reed is at +3 and still in it. DJ is at +4 now and his tee shot is picture perfect and long.

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Stenson is at +5, Berger is at +4, and Finau is at +5. But Koepka remains in the lead at +1. Fleetwood is watching in the clubhouse at +2.

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Reed on 16 hits a bad one well short from only 125 out. Finau almost holes it out on his approach.....that will be an easy birdie.

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Koepka hits his approach way off to the left on 15. Reed has a long look for birdie on 16 right up the hill. It's 44 feet long. This is not really a putt you expect to make. He leaves it short for a tap in par. Koepka from 40 feet for birdie now. A nice putt to within two feet. Berger pars 14 and Finau birdies it.

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DJ with an almost must make for birdie here on 15....he's within 8 feet of this hole.

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Wow....finally!!! DJ makes a much needed birdie on the 15th to drop back to +3. Koepka taps his par in to remain at +1. Finau at +3 also, Berger at +4.

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Reed on the teebox at the par 3 17th now.....182 yds with a 9 iron. He comes up short but has given himself a chance for birdie.

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DJ and Koepka on the par 5 16th tee now. They both could use a birdie on this hole.

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Two equally distant tee shots like two peas in a pod for DJ and Koepka......the buddies.

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Reed is running out of real estate and Finau is lurking....both at +3. DJ is at +3 too, but he's capable of birdie on any hole with his game. Koepka is playing like a true champion at +1, and needs a birdie for some breathing room coming in.

[regaleagle]

Here's Reed's 26 foot downhill birdie putt....it's right and one foot out....he taps in his par and must birdie the 18th now to have a chance.

[regaleagle]

DJ and Koepka will be hitting their 3rd shots to the 16th par 5 green. DJ is about 130 yds out. His shot comes up about 15 feet short. Now Koepka....he's all over the pin with an awesome shot!!!

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Reed hits the fairway on 18.....only 5 birdies on 18 all day. Finau makes par on 15 and remains at +3.

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Looks like DJ has about 20 feet for birdie here on 16, the par 5. He really needs this one. Koepka's putt is within 5 or 6 feet.

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Here's DJ's putt......NOPE.....outside right the whole way. It's a tap in for par. Now Koepka for a very important putt for a two shot lead from 4 feet out. BOOM...right in the hole for another birdie. Gotta give it to Koepka.....nerves of steel and executing under tremendous pressure.

[regaleagle]

It's not nearly over yet. Koepka has to negotiate this par 3, then the par 4 18th with a two-shot lead.