US Open: Longest hole gets a cut for last round but still takes toll

The longest hole in major championship history was cut by over 100 yards for the final round of the US Open last night but it did not appear to have made it any easier.

Olympic Club’s 670-yard 16th was playing at 569 yards but, when the first four players tackled it three had bogey sixes and American Jason Bohn ran up a triple-bogey eight.

Australian Jason Day, runner-up to Rory McIlroy at Congressional last year, was the first to birdie it, while playing partner Simon Dyson managed a par.

Dyson, who defends his Irish Open later this month, was two over for the day and 14 over for a tournament. He did not expect to be playing a few weeks ago because of a hip injury.

Conditions were cooler and windier as the leaders – headed 2010 champion Graeme McDowell and 2003 winner Jim Furyk on one under par – began their preparations.

There was also a mist sweeping across from the Pacific Ocean, although it was not expected to hold up play.

After four hours’ action only three players were under par on the day – and none of them was better than one under. Korean KJ Choi stood six over for the event after five holes and both Italian Francesco Molinari and American amateur Patrick Cantlay eight over.

Cantlay was trying to be low amateur for the second year running, although he had 17-year-old sensation Beau Hossler six strokes ahead of him overnight.

Qualifier Hossler was in a tie for eighth only four behind McDowell and Furyk, who resumed two in front of Swede Fredrik Jacobson.

McDowell, who admitted he’d be nervous before his final round last night, knows how quickly it all can change on Sunday at the US Open.

McDowell was three shots behind going into the final round at Pebble Beach two years ago when he watched Dustin Johnson hit a wedge toward the second green and take five more shots for a triple bogey.

Just like that, the lead was gone, and so was Johnson. He closed with an 82.

McDowell was in the final group again this year at The Olympic Club, only he has company. Not only is he tied with Jim Furyk, but 11 others are within four shots of the lead.

“It doesn’t feel much different than two years ago,” McDowell said.

“I guess I know what to expect now. That’s probably the only difference. Emotionally, I went through the same experience today like I did two years ago. I was anxious and I was nervous.

“Two years ago, Saturday was a tough day for me. And hopefully tomorrow, I’ll know what to expect for the day.”

For a US Open, expect anything. Olympic has no water hazards, one fairway bunker and only two players under par after three rounds. The bogeys come from getting out of position off the tee and even on the greens. The higher scores come from players unwilling to take their lumps after a poor shot.

History has not been kind to the leaders over the last decade.

Rory McIlroy was different, but he was playing a different kind of US Open at Congressional, which was soft from rain and yielded a record score. Throw out his 69 in the final round, and you have to go all the way back to Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach in 2000 to find a 54-hole leader who broke par.

Aaron Baddeley had a two-shot lead going into the final round at Oakmont. He three-putted from 8 feet for a triple bogey on the opening hole and shot 80. Retief Goosen was going for his third U.S. Open title in five years at Pinehurst in 2005 when he took a three-shot lead into the final round. It was gone in three holes and he shot 81.