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What do Matthew Wolff and Francis Ouimet have in common? Nothing yet, but that might be about to change at Winged Foot. The scale of Wolff’s potential achievement is confirmed by history. Ouimet was the last player to win the US Open on his debut; 107 years ago. Interestingly, 1913 also marked the last time this specialization was carried out in September. It even ended on the 20th of the month.
The 21-year-old Wolff, no doubt inspired by Collin Morikawa’s success at last month’s PGA Championship in America, will take a two-strokes five-under-par lead on day four after a third-round display. which completely denied his inexperience. Wolff’s control in this major grew stronger on the final green, where he converted for a birdie. The leader’s wonderful second shot, from 207 yards, had finished 10 feet from the cup. Wolff signed for a 65. This is not only his first US Open appearance, it is only his second in a major. Winged Foot is known as one of the most brutal events in golf; Wolff has made it seem so blissfully straightforward. So far, that is.
“Right now I feel very confident in every part of my game,” Wolff said. “I’m not going to think about it too much and just go out and do the same things that I have done the last three days. Right now I’m just looking to have a good time. And it’s just golf.
“Even though it is the US Open, there are many things in life that are a little different at the moment and in the world you can see how many things affect us.” Wolff’s maturity extends beyond the strings.
His first nine out of 30 were outstanding. In the final stages of his round, he had a four-shot advantage over the field. That was downgraded because Wolff couldn’t save the pair at 16, but he held his own as the more illustrious and seasoned names faded away. Patrick Reed, who held half the lead, was hit for a 77.
Bryson DeChambeau is prone to talk at length to himself in the middle of the round, but seemed more irritated than usual during a 70. Still, it is DeChambeau who sits closest to the unflappable Wolff. Recent history favors the older man, with the 27-year-old nullifying a three-shot lead from Wolff when he won at Detroit in early July.
Louis Oosthuizen, who has great winning experience, quietly came out of the group with a 68, which brought him to one below par. “I need to play quite similar to what I did today,” Oosthuizen said when asked about his prospects of winning. “You need to hit the streets.
“I think everyone now, especially on this golf course, knows that you have to be patient. A lot can happen even in the last two or three holes, so you have to try to get into a position with three, four or five holes ahead and see what you can do. “
Hideki Matsuyama was two under par before disaster struck on the penultimate hole. Matsuyama landed a shot from the green side in a bunker. All of this contributed to a double ghost of six. Matsuyama will start the fourth round five behind Wolff’s lead.
Xander Schauffele holed from 30 feet at last to tie Matsuyama. Schauffele saw Wolff “destroy” Harding Park in the final round of the US PGA. “It goes a long way,” said Schauffele de Wolff. “It hits it really high. He’s not afraid. ”Harris English later joined the even-level match.
Rory McIlroy is not out of this tournament in any way. The Northern Irishman rebounded brilliantly from a second round of 76 with a 68.
In one, McIlroy’s dreams of adding a fifth major title to his CV are very much alive. “If I go out tomorrow and shoot another 68, I won’t be far behind,” McIlroy said. However, he admitted that the absence of galleries is a potential benefit for Wolff as he seeks to make history.
“It’s a variable that you just don’t have to deal with,” McIlroy said. “It is that loss of an advantage for you, that you are used to being in that environment.”
Paul Casey admitted he had thoughts solely on breaking 80 when he played his first seven holes over five more. The Englishman produced an impressive back nine of 30, which is 69 for a total of five more. Dustin Johnson and Lee Westwood have the same total of 54 holes.
Jon Rahm’s 76 leaves him seven more. In plus four, Justin Thomas needs a drastic improvement in the fourth round and collapses elsewhere; shot 76 on Saturday. That score is, it must be said, the best you can get when playing Winged Foot almost exclusively from the rough.
Mystery surrounds the actions of Danny Lee, who took nine on 18 and duly withdrew from the event, citing a wrist injury. Perhaps it was incurred when adding your score. Sadly, no footage is available of Lee’s last hole antics.
