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A16 sports
Friday 17 June 2022
McIlroy makes more noise at U.S. Open, this time with clubs

By DOUG FERGUSON 13 players at the U.S. Open
AP Golf Writer who took part in the Saudi-
BROOKLINE, Mass. (AP) — backed LIV Golf last week,
Rory McIlroy made another leading the PGA Tour to
bold statement at the U.S. suspend those members.
Open. This time it was with McIlroy, the first to shut
his golf. down talk of rival leagues
McIlroy has become a in 2020, spoke passionately
leading voice on the PGA this week about building on
Tour over the last few years, the legacy handed down
particularly with his rebuke by Arnold Palmer and Jack
of the Saudi-funded series Nicklaus. For those taking
that is disrupting golf. The the guaranteed money for
opening round Thursday at 54-hole events, he said it
The Country Club was a re- felt like "the easy way out."
minder he's pretty good at But now it's time for golf,
his day job, too. and there a vibe of relief
And a few fiery moments that focus could turn to a
showed how badly he U.S. Open that first came
wants to end eight years to Brookline more than a
without a major. century ago. Thursday was
McIlroy made two straight more about birdies and bo-
birdies late in his round to geys — mostly the latter in
become the first player to Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, hits on the fifth hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf a U.S. Open — and a place
reach 4 under among early tournament at The Country Club, Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Brookline, Mass. in history.
starters, only to miss the Associated Press No other major is more
ninth green and make his open — roughly half the
only bogey for a 3-under might be able to take it Mickelson four-putted from ter things at a U.S. Open, 156-man field has to qualify
67 and a share of the lead deep — at least by U.S. about 18 feet for double whether they be lies or stuff — and it showed with those
with qualifiers Joel Dah- Open standards — when bogey on the par-3 sixth, like that, that you just don't who shared the early lead
men, David Lingmerth and he birdied the ninth hole to dropping him to 5-over par really encounter any other with McIlroy.
Callum Tarren. reach 3 under. But he didn't through six holes in the af- week," he said. "It's hard not Dahmen debated whether
At the moment, McIlroy isn't make another birdie and ternoon. to get frustrated because to go a 36-hole qualifier 10
concerned with his strong closed with a bogey when For McIlroy, it was his sec- I'm walking up there going, days ago in Ohio. The U.S.
stance against LIV Golf. he had to lay up short of ond straight major — and 'Just come back into the Open is hard and he has
"It's been eight years since I the gaping bunker on the third time in his last four U.S. bunker.' The thickest rough been beat up from travel
won a major," he said. "And 18th, duffed a pitch into Opens — he opened with on the course is around and pedestrian results. Plus,
I just want to get my hands the sand and scrambled a score par. There is confi- the edges of the bunker. it was supposed to rain. But
on one again." for a 69. dence in his game for win- So I was sort of cursing the he went anyway, and he
Even with a good start, "I think it will only get tough- ning last week in Toronto, USGA whenever I was go- qualified with one shot to
and coming off a victory er," he said. and there is passion rare for ing up to the ball." spare.
last week in the Canadian Jon Rahm was also at 69 af- a Thursday unless the game And then from the ninth Lingmerth was in the same
Open, it doesn't figure to ter hitting wild drives on his is going badly. fairway, his approach qualifier and had to play 36
be easy. The Country Club last two holes and convert- He tried to drive the reach- sailed to the right and he holes and then some be-
might be as accommodat- ing one for par, another for able par-4 fifth hole and flung his club. He couldn't cause of a 5-for-1 playoff
ing as it gets all week, with birdie. caught an awkward lie save par on that one and for the final spot. That went
moderate wind and cloud It already was proving in the thick collar above had to accept a 67 — not to Hayden Buckley — he
cover keeping the sun from tough enough for Phil Mick- a bunker, forcing him to a bad start, and no apolo- was among those at 68 on
making greens crispy and elson, playing on American stand in the sand. He hit gies for his few outbursts of Thursday — and Lingmerth
firm. soil for the first time since he that into another bunker, emotion. was first alternate. He got in
And the best anyone could revealed his level of sup- and then twice slammed "Almost to remind yourself when Martin Kaymer with-
do was a 67. port for the Saudi-backed the club into the sand out sometimes how much it drew.
Collin Morikawa, trying to league and played last of frustration. But he man- means to you," he said. Tarren got one of three
win a major for the third week in the first of Greg aged to save par. There's a lot on the table spots in the Canadian
straight year, thought he Norman's events. "You're going to encoun- outside of golf, too, with qualifying site.q
No. 1 Medvedev beats Ivashka to

reach Halle quarterfinals

HALLE, Germany (AP) — three set points when trail- are playing the World No.
Top-ranked Daniil Medve- ing 5-4 in the first set. 1 and they have a tough
dev defeated Ilya Ivashka Medvedev returned to No. draw. If they lose, maybe it
for the second time in a 1 in the rankings this week, is nothing special," Medve-
week, beating the Belaru- with Novak Djokovic drop- dev said. "And some on the
sian 7-6 (4), 6-3 Thursday to ping to No. 3, and acknowl- contrary.
reach the quarterfinals at edged that may add to his Maybe they don't have the
the Halle Open. opponents' motivation in best confidence at the mo-
Germany's Oscar Otte plays against Georgia's Nikoloz Basilash- Medvedev, who also elmi- Halle. ment and if they beat the
vili during their ATP Tour men's singles Round of 16 tennis match nated Ivashka in 's-Herto- "Some are going to be a lit- World No. 1, that is where it
in Halle, Germany, Thursday, June 16, 2022. genbosch last week, saved tle bit intimidated that they starts."q
Associated Press