The Good
On a weekend of tremendous sporting action, the US Open back 9 at Pinehurst on Sunday night was the highlight. I had been watching England’s inefficient victory against Serbia in the European Championships for a large portion of the evening but a quick glance at the leaderboard in the golf told me a change of viewing was required. Rory McIlroy had been hovering around the top for the majority of proceedings before drawing level with Bryson DeChambeau and overtaking him by two shots at one point. Unfortunately, an implosion on the greens saw McIlroy bogey three of the final four holes to hand the title DeChambeau. It felt like golf hadn’t had a classic final day showdown of this proportion in an age. Both players duelled it out on a nightmarish course set-up before real drama unfolded. The 18th hole proved the most theatrical. McIlroy was playing with the painfully slow Patrick Cantlay a hole ahead of DeChambeau when his drive on 18 found some shrubbery off the fairway. McIlroy managed to hack it out and up to the edge of the green, before chipping to leave an awkward four-foot downhill putt to retain six under par. It proved too delicate an operation for the Hollywood man as his putt lipped past and he dropped a shot.
It didn’t end there however as the American approached the 18th hole with similar ‘grip and rip’ tactics he had been deploying throughout the round. DeChambeau also missed the fairway with his drive leaving an awkward stance and a chip that found a greenside bunker. 55 yards from the pin, a mile in golfing terms for a shot from the sand to the green, DeChambeau held his nerve and salvaged par with an up and down of supreme quality. In doing so he claimed his second US Open title and second major victory overall after a gritty weekend of performance. McIlroy slunk away from the course in record time following his gut-wrenching defeat leaving DeChambeau to embrace the chants of USA and mingle with fans he had given so much time to throughout the week. Undoubtedly, two of the most intriguing characters in the game, McIlroy continues to chase a fifth major title his talent deserves, whilst no single sportsman has managed to turn themselves around to go from villain to hero quite like DeChambeau. His nickname of ‘The Scientist’ stems from his obsession with marginal gains through equipment, physical preparation or risky shot taking. Initially seen as odd, maybe selfish, he has endeared himself to fans in recent years with his unorthodox approach and gregarious interaction with spectators. McIlroy’s wait to return to the apex of the game continues.
Credit: Golf Digest
The Bad
The Joe McDonagh champions Offaly and runners-up Laois proceeded to the preliminary quarter finals of the Liam McCarthy on Saturday, as has been the case in recent years. Trying to retain some link between competitions is the primary cause for this continued avenue of so-called progression. Aside from Laois’ humbling of Dublin in O’Moore Park in 2019, coached by an astute Eddie Brennan, the Joe McDonagh winners and losers are hammered year on year by superior opposition. This time both teams suffered a combined 21-point defeat at the hands of Cork and Wexford respectively. Offaly gave a good account of themselves yet still fell to a 9-point loss. Laois similarly battled bravely against a Wexford team in second gear at home but succumbed tamely in the finish. The time has come for the association to do away with these pointless fixtures. Rumours circulated online to suggest that Offaly’s under-20 star Adam Screeney was not named on the matchday panel because he instead was on his holidays. If these rumours happen to be true, it shows a distinct lack of interest from a county which is riding high thanks to its underage success. Players are bound to narrow their focus singularly to the competition they are competing in. Following the Joe McDonagh it would be natural for said players to relax and enjoy each other’s company for a few days. Trying to prepare for an outing against a team who are in effect All-Ireland contenders should not have been on their radar. Cork played within themselves, and the game resembled a loose challenge match. It was far removed from what we had encountered in the group stages of Leinster and Munster, both finals aside. This is not to say that Offaly cannot compete with Liam McCarthy sides next year, but to ask players to come down from a high to refocus and to go again a week later is unnecessary. That’s just the winners of the competition, spare a thought for Laois, who had to do it after losing.
Credit: Irish Independent
The Ugly
English and Serbian fans clashing prior to their opening group game in the European Championships is the nadir of the weekend. Grown men fighting in the street. Ridiculous, embarrassing and shameful.
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