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A16 sports
Tuesday 21 June 2022
On Golf: U.S. Open a reminder of what really matters in golf

By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
BROOKLINE, Mass. (AP) — A
week that began with Phil
Mickelson speaking with-
out saying hardly anything
ended with Matt Fitzpatrick
at a momentary loss for
words in his proudest mo-
ment.
The U.S. Open was more
that just a diversion from
the disruption in golf.
It brought meaning to the
game.
"No words," Fitzpatrick said
moments after a shot that
will become part of U.S.
Open lore. He hit 9-iron from
behind a lip in a fairway
bunker on the 18th hole
at Brookline that settled 18
feet behind the pin and led
to his one-shot victory.
"It's what you grow up
dreaming of," he said. "It's
something I've worked at so
hard for such a long time.
First win in America, and
to do it in a major, there's
nothing better."
Sure, there were a few
money matters mentioned
Sunday. Fitzpatrick won the
U.S. Amateur at The County
Club in 2013, which came
with a gold trophy and a
chance to play in three
majors. This title brought
$3.15 million from the larg- Matthew Fitzpatrick, of England, celebrates with the trophy after winning the U.S. Open golf tournament at The Country Club, Sunday,
est purse in U.S. Open his- June 19, 2022, in Brookline, Mass. Associated Press
tory.
Scottie Scheffler, the Mas-
ters champion and No. 1 wait. This U.S. Open deliv- players in the top final top Johnson, who birdied two ny Willett (2016 Masters)
player in the world, finished ered in so many ways. 10 who had to get through of his last three holes to tie and Justin Rose (2013 U.S.
second with Will Zalatoris The Country Club, hosting 36-hole qualifying just to for 24th. Open).
and earned more than $1.5 its fourth U.S. Open and its get to the U.S. Open. One Bryson DeChambeau He is No. 10 in the world,
million. That allowed Schef- first since 1988, produced of them was Denny Mc- wasn't in London — he a career-high, and can fi-
fler to set a single-season an ideal test to identify the Carthy, who made the cut signed up with the LIV Golf nally celebrate a victory in
PGA Tour record at nearly week's best player. There on the number and a 68-68 the weekend before the America. Zalatoris suffered
$12.9 million, easily break- was enough length on the weekend moved him all U.S. Open and will be out- another close call — his
ing the mark Jordan Spieth par 4s, a par 3 that adjusted the way into a tie for sev- side of Portland, Oregon, third runner-up finish in the
set in 2015 — and there's still for elevation played under enth. at the end of the month. last seven majors — while
two full months to go. 100 yards and greens that And this was one week af- He finished his final round Scheffler has a Masters
Charl Schwartzel won $4.75 only held the best shots. ter Rory McIlroy won the before the leaders teed off green jacket and a U.S.
million a week earlier com- It was the fourth straight Canadian Open, golf's and had three birdies in his Open silver medal. It's been
peting in the Saudi-funded year there was a first-time fourth-oldest national weekend rounds of 76-75. a pretty good year.
LIV Golf series. It was 54 major champion at the U.S. open, in a tense duel with As for Mickelson? He didn't They meet up again in a
holes with no cut, a 48-man Open, though Fitzpatrick Justin Thomas. even make it to the week- month at St. Andrews for
field that featured only four was hardly a surprise. He LIV Golf and its theme of end. Not to worry. His next the British Open, the 150th
players from the top 50 in knew Brookline as well as being a "force for good" tournament in the LIV series staging of the sport's oldest
the world ranking. anyone from having made will return. The only thing doesn't have a cut, just a championship at the home
No one will ever mistake it through six matches to swirling more than the wind lot of money and little rel- of golf.
that for the toughest test in win the U.S. Open, and this over the weekend were evance. It can't get here soon
golf. was his fourth top-10 finish more rumors about which Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, was enough.
It took until the opening in his last five tournaments. players will be the latest to looking forward to some "You've imagined being in
round of the U.S. Open for He was in the final group at try to cash in. time away from golf to this situation you're entire
the attention to shift away his second straight major. Only four players who had decompress and wrap his life, and now I've basically
from Greg Norman's mon- The contenders featured been in the first LIV event head around the notion been in it three times in a
ey grab and put it back on four of the top seven play- made the cut from the 17 he's a major champion, the major," Zalatoris said. "That's
the highest level of compe- ers in the world on the at the U.S. Open. The best third from England in the why you play the game.
tition. But it was worth the weekend. It also had three finish came from Dustin last decade, joining Dan- There's nothing like it."q