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Thursday 15 June 2017
Johnson hopes timing is right for another U.S. Open title

By DOUG FERGUSON at Congressional in 2011,
AP Golf Writer was delighted to feel the
ERIN, Wis. (AP) — Dustin soft turf under his feet.
Johnson wrapped up his fi- Jason Day is starting to turn
nal day practice round for his game around, finally.
the U.S. Open just as the sky Along with his power, Day
began to rumble and the is an expert with the short
horn sounded to stop play game, which should come
at Erin Hills. in handy around the greens
The timing couldn’t have that feature shaved slopes
been better for the world’s instead of dense rough.
No. 1 player, as it has been Johnson, however, is such
the past two weeks. an intimidating figure that
As much as he hates miss- even Curtis Strange is a little
ing cuts, the Memorial two nervous.
weeks ago was a good Strange, who now works for
time for Johnson to have Fox Sports as the on-course
a weekend off. It allowed analyst, won the 1989 U.S.
him to spend two days in Open at Oak Hill to be-
Wisconsin getting to know come the first player since
the longest course in U.S. Ben Hogan (1950-51) to win
Open history, realizing that the U.S. Open in consecu-
he would be a late arrival tive years. “Move over,
to Erin Hills because of some Ben,” Strange famously
important family matters. said after his second title.
River Jones Johnson, his “I’ve got to tell you, it’s tai-
second son, was born on Dustin Johnson hits from the 13th fairway during the first round of the Memorial golf tournament, lor-made for Dustin John-
Monday. Thursday, June 1, 2017, in Dublin, Ohio. son,” Strange said after his
He finds out Thursday Associated Press first look at the course.
whether his game is in The Masters (three times)
shape for Johnson to be- — against the strongest for occasional storms on on the USGA in how they and the PGA Champion-
come the first back-to- fields of the year — John- Friday and Saturday. The set up the golf course, and ship in stroke play (twice,
back U.S. Open champion son slipped in his socks go- greens are soft enough that the meteorologist to give by Tiger Woods) have few-
in 28 years, but his mood ing downstairs to move his Johnson is getting yardag- an accurate forecast of the er back-to-back winners
couldn’t be better. About car in the rain on the eve of es to the hole, knowing his wind. There are a few holes than the U.S. Open, but it’s
the only thing to fear, out- the Masters and bruised his shots won’t bounce away at Erin Hills where if the tees the major that has gone
side of the thick fescue that back so badly that he had too far. are all the way back and the longest without a re-
frames the fairways at Erin to withdraw the next day. “I hope they play it all the the wind shifts into the play- peat winner.
Hills, is the house where he He hasn’t won in four starts way back on every hole,” ers, some won’t be able The closest call for Strange
is staying. since then, and his game he said. “Why not? It’s go- to reach the fairway or will was in 2005 when defend-
It has a double-spiral stair- hasn’t looked as sharp as it ing to be soft. I hope it’s face blind shots. ing champion Retief Goos-
case. once did. He concedes he windy. I hope it’s long, but “It’s nerve-wracking, hon- en had a three-shot lead at
“I sit down when I go down lost some momentum. it doesn’t matter.” estly, more than most Open Pinehurst No. 2. He shot 81
the stairs now,” Johnson Even so, he is the betting Johnson isn’t one to feel sites,” USGA executive di- in the final round. Four-time
said with a smile. “I slide favorite at the 117th U.S. much pressure — he rector Mike Davis said. champion Jack Nicklaus
down on my butt.” Open on a course that doesn’t show much, any- Johnson isn’t the only long never went back-to-back.
Stairs were the only thing would appear to suit his way — even playing his first hitter whom Erin Hills favors. Neither did Woods.
that could stop him ear- game perfectly, especially major as the No. 1 player in Rory McIlroy, who crushed “You’ve got to be lucky,
lier this year. A winner of with more rain Wednesday the world. U.S. Open scoring records have it be the right time,”
three straight tournaments afternoon and a forecast If anything, the pressure is on a rain-softened course Strange said. q

Roger Federer comeback halted by Tommy Haas in Stuttgart

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) a bit,” said Haas, who is saw him capture his 18th
— Roger Federer was beat- ranked 302nd and was giv- Grand Slam at the Austra-
en on his return from a two- en a wild card for the grass- lian Open.
month break, losing 2-6, 7-6 court tournament. “I’m a Federer claimed his last
(8), 6-4 to German veteran bit speechless. It’s hard to grass-court title in 2015 in
Tommy Haas in the second find words.” Halle, where he is an eight-
round of the Stuttgart Open Haas, a two-time Halle time champion.
on Wednesday. champion who hadn’t Earlier Wednesday, Philipp
The 39-year-old Haas, who beaten his good friend Kohlschreiber upset the
is playing his last season since the 2012 final in Halle, fifth-seeded Steve Johnson
before retirement, saved improved to 4-13 against of the United States 7-6 (3),
nine of the 12 break points Federer, who hadn’t 5-7, 7-6 (6), while the sixth-
he faced and converted played since winning the seeded Mischa Zverev, an-
two of his three chances to Miami Open in early April. other German, defeated
deal the Swiss great just his Roger Federer of Switzerland returns the ball to Germany’s The 35-year-old Swiss qualifier Yannick Hanfmann
second defeat of the sea- Tommy Haas during their match at the Mercedes Cup tennis skipped the clay-court sea- 7-6 (1), 6-2 to secure his
son. tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Wednesday, June 14, 2017. son to recuperate from a place in the quarterfinals.q
“I’ve even shocked myself Associated Press busy start to the year that