Lucy Li Misses Women's Open Cut: So What...

((HT: Golf Channel/USGA))

SHE'S 11 YEARS OLD!!!

For the record, the youngest player ever to qualify for the US Women's Open shot back-to-back 78's and will watch the weekend like the rest of us from Pinehurst.

But a lot has to be said about how she handled herself in that bull ring for five days.

She caught flak from some professional golfers for being too young to play. But the HQ maintains that, if she went through the Q-process to get there and beat others, then she deserves to be there.

She thought it was cool and handled her self really well.


The HQ looks forward to seeing her game develop over the next four decades or so...

Erik Compton Makes A Helluva Statement

((HT: Golf Channel/USGA))

For those of you unfamiliar with the story, Erik Compton is a two-time heart transplant recipient (1992 and 2008). And to see what he has done in sports as a professional golfer is really cool...

What he did at Pinehurst is flat out awesome- especially when doctors tell you that you're not going to play golf after the second translplant.

Rex Hoggard's piece over at the Golf Channel is required reading about this weekend for Compton.

And having covered Compton during his time at the University of Georgia, the HQ has seen what he can do as a golfer- a tremendous golfer who, just happens to have a rather large medical file for his doctors to look through.

Here's his thoughts after finishing tied for second when he thought he could have done better...
Which is typical Erik Compton

Zach Johnson Does Something Very Few Have In The Past

((HT: Golf Channel/USGA))

This happened for only the 44th time in US Open history as Zach Johnson hit a 7-iron from 172 yards with a lot of movement from left to right.

And, for the record, the HQ has never done this, either...


And we're not celebrating like that, either if we pull that shot off...

Kenny Perry Meant For This To Go In

((HT: Golf on NBC/SnappyTV))

Kenny Perry is one of the majority of golfers who are over par at Pinehurst this weekend, but this is what the "natural area" can do with you, for you, and around you...

Not a bad hole out from the junk...

Looks Like Fran Quinn Made The Cut At Pinehurst

((HT: Charter TV3 Worcester, Massachusetts))

One of the best stories of the week in Pinehurst is that of 49-year-old golfer Fran Quinn. He went through the regional qualifiers to get into the field at Number 2 for the US Open- and he gets to share the experience with his 15-year-old son, Owen, who is on the bag for him this week and is the one who gets to calm him down when he needs it.

After a huge 68, he followed with a 74 for a T28 and a ticket to the weekend. The first round was his first round he played in the Open in 18 years. Quinn has won the 1986 Massachusetts Amateur, 1997 New Hampshire Open, four Web.com events, and two Asian Tour contests in his career. But the HQ thinks that his not playing in the Mass. Open will be excused...

Kevin Shea caught up with Quinn toward the end of his sportscast after he made it back from Purchase


“I’m looking forward to it,” he told GolfWeek's Jim McCabe. “Overall, I’m very pleased. It’s one good round from being really in the mix.”

Mahan And Donaldson Play Each Others Balls... Which Is Wrong...

((HT: Golf Central Daily/BBC/USGA))

On a few different levels...

And it's a two-stroke penalty on the course...

On their 9th hole of the day (the 18th at Pinehurst No.2), Hunter Mahan played Jaime Donaldson's ball and vice versa. That is a two-stroke penalty for both golfers- regardless of intent- and both guys are having issues trying to make the cut at the US Open

Here's what you do next after you realize it...


Both double-bogeyed the hole...

Here's the rule in the books:

Rule 15-3:

If a competitor makes a stroke or strokes at a wrong ball, he incurs a penalty of two strokes.

The competitor must correct his mistake by playing the correct ball or by proceeding under the Rules. If he fails to correct his mistake before making a stroke on the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the round, fails to declare his intention to correct his mistake before leaving the putting green, he is disqualified.

Strokes made by a competitor with a wrong ball do not count in his score. If the wrong ball belongs to another competitor, its owner must place a ball on the spot from which the wrong ball was first played.

Exception: There is no penalty if a competitor makes a stroke at a wrong ball that is moving in water in a water hazard. Any strokes made at a wrong ball moving in water in a water hazard do not count in the competitor’s score.

This Is What The US Open Can Do To You

((HT: Shane Bacon's Vine))

Just ask Justin Rose


For some, it might be over before it even really starts...

This/Close To Pinehurst, But Then Math Happened

((HT: Golf Channel))

It's the dream of every American golfer to try to win the nation's golf championship...

But...

Rice golfer Landon Michelson had that chance, but he signed an incorrect scorecard...

Michelson was a first alternate but got his chance when Freddie Jacobson decided not to go. He shot two rounds of 71 at Quail Valley in Vero Beach, Florida, tying for fourth place until the mistake happened.

Here's Damon Hack starting the interview with a stand-up dude...


Aron Price is now going in Michelson's spot...

Fox Sports Has Golf Now, U.S. Open Moves To The Globe In 2015

Starting in 2015 the U.S. Open and all USGA events will be seen on Fox Sports.

The USGA announced Wednesday they have reached a 12 year deal with Fox Sports to broadcast the U.S Open, U.S. Women's Open, U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Amateur and other USGA events.

“We’re looking forward to FOX Sports becoming home to the preeminent golf championship in the world,” FOX Sports co-president and COO Eric Shanks said. “We’re committed to elevating coverage of USGA events on every level, infusing them with a new energy and innovation that will make every championship the best golf event on television.”

Put Gus Johnson in the tower at 18 and that will infuse new energy.

Perhaps the face of Fox Sports Joe Buck will be there.  As long as the globe brings Roger Maltbie over from the peacock that would ideal.

The USGA wants to capitalize on Fox Sports' multi-platforms including the soon-to-be launched mobile app Fox Sports Go to establish the U.S. Open brand as well as providing greater visibility of amateur events through unique story telling.

In other words the soon-to-be launched Fox Sports 1 just received more content and a big time event.

Financial terms were not released but I'm sure the USGA won't go broke.

Jessica Korda Fires Her Caddie Mid-Round

This can be taken one of two ways...

That Jessica Korda is a lot like her father- fiery tennis star Petr Korda- or that she was being petulant, moody, and otherwise snap-judgmental in the middle of a major tournament...

Either way, this was weird...
((HT: USGA/NBC))


Replacing your caddie with your boyfriend...???

But a four-over stretch on holes 6, 7, 8, and 9 on the front didn't sit well...
She's five-over on her day through 14 (as the HQ writes) and she's gone from being within shouting distance of Inbee Park to being in a logjam for 11th...

PM UPDATE: Jason Gilroyed had caddied for Korda for about a year. Korda was asked if they had problems before Saturday.
She said- "I think everybody has problems every week."

"I care about Jason a lot. He is a great guy," Korda continued. "That's just how it happens sometimes in life. That was one of those things today that it just unfolded. It was very hard for me to do. I'm not that type of person to take these things really easily."

Shawn Stefani's Wild Weekend At Merion

((HT: Golf Channel on NBC/USGA/youtube))

The wild weekend of Shawn Stefani took another interesting turn during the final round...


The first-ever hole-in-one at an Open at Merion can add the other scores from a composite scorecard for the weekend...
Stefani scored a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 over the weekend...

Hard to do...

But the HQ is sure he'll like the low numbers even as he finished back in the pack...

Sergio's Day At Merion Includes A Menu Suggestion

((HT: Golf Channel on NBC/USGA))

Nothing like having your quotes come back and bite you on your first hole of the day... the 11th...
Eh, Sergio...


Philadelphia fans are quite biting... pardon the pun...

To add to Garcia's fun, he bogeyed two of his first three holes, and then on his fourth – the 15th – he drove three tee shots out of bounds and ended up with a ten...

As of this writing, he's second to last...

Tiger Woods Gets Grilled At Merion Presser

((HT: USGA))

By his niece, Cheyenne...

She slipped into his press conference and asked about he plans to handle his week...


Good to see the guy have a sense of humor this week of all weeks...
Not bad for a major...