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LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN

An opening day of emotions and a few surprises at Match Play

In the Dell Technologies Match Play, every day can feel like Sunday. “I turned out to hit that shot really well, went super high over the trees. It was his biggest loss in Match Play since Ben Crane beat him, 8 and 7, in the second round of 2011. Kevin Kisner, the defending champion from 2019 — the Match Play was the third event to be canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic — won his seventh straight match by beating Louis Oosthuizen. When you're up against an opponent who plays really, really well and you play just a little better, it's really satisfying."

Spieth rounding into form for fickle week of Match Play

In that respect, Spieth is happy to be at his second home — he spent three semesters at the University of Texas — for the Dell Technologies Match Play. He has played consistently better every step of the way and made the Match Play field with room to spare. That means he faces one of the top 16 seeds — Matt Fitzpatrick, in his case — when this unique World Golf Championship begins Wednesday. “Missing a World Golf Championship via not qualifying for it was the first one, and I didn’t like that at all. 1 seed for the fourth straight time in the Match Play, though it has only led to victory once.

Casey rides the buzz of Masters history to 65 and early lead

Paul Casey matched his lowest score at the Masters with a 7-under 65, giving him a two-shot lead among half the field fortunate to play in perfect scoring conditions. It was the fifth hole, which he bogeyed all four rounds last year when he won the Masters. He was joined by Xander Schauffele, a runner-up to Woods last year, who had seven birdies in his round of 67. The delay was the last thing the Masters needed with limited daylight hours leading to the two-tee start. The loudest cheer — applause, certainly not a roar — came for Nicklaus and Player hitting tee shots so early that they couldn't see where they landed.

DeChambeau carves up US Open one divot-sized slice at a time

Over the course of four days, DeChambeau unnerved the folks who run the U.S. Open and carved up Winged Foot’s unyielding reputation one divot-sized slice at a time. In the bargain, DeChambeau turned one of the golf’s foundational myths — the game is about how many, not how — inside out. It’s called the “bomb and gouge” strategy and DeChambeau has become both its loudest and most successful advocate. There’s no way to know how long DeChambeau will have that same advantage nor whether he’ll hold up over the long run. DeChambeau shredded that defense by cutting the corner with a tee shot that measured 365 yards.

Bryson DeChambeau blasts way to U.S. Open title

Bryson DeChambeau was not the least bit concerned by the narrow fairways or the ankle-deep rough that shape Winged Foot into historically the toughest of all U.S. “You can’t take Bryson out because obviously he won, but shooting even par for four rounds at Winged Foot is pretty exceptional," Wolff said. It was a breathtaking performance, four rounds at par or better, the first player to manage that at Winged Foot. Opens at Winged Foot among 894 competitors, DeChambeau is only the third to finish a tournament under par. Still to play was the back nine, where so much has gone wrong at Winged Foot over the years.

California cool, Matthew Wolff takes detour to US Open lead

The only number that mattered to the 21-year-old Californian was a two-shot lead going into the final round. “Anyone in my position would be frustrated, especially with having the lead going into today," Reed said. It’s the U.S. Open, and I have a lead,” Wolff said. “I’m going to try to keep my nerves as calm as they can be. I did everything that I could do up until this point, and tomorrow I’m going to go out there, I promise you I’m going to try my best.”He was at 5-under 205.

Reed takes the lead as the real US Open gets started

Patrick Reed embraced every aspect of it Friday when the U.S. Open lived up to its reputation as the toughest test in golf, and so did Winged Foot. Amateur champion and current muscleman who powered and putted his way to a 68, the lowest score on a day Winged Foot played to an average score of 75.25. After an opening round in which 21 players broke par, Winged Foot allowed only three players under par. Because I’m pretty tired.”There's still 36 holes to go, and no indication that Winged Foot is going to get any easier. “I love when it’s hard, when you have to be creative on all different golf shots,” he said.

Woodland returns as wounded US Open champion

Woodland shot another 74 on Saturday and appeared certain to miss the cut. Maybe we can fix it together.”WEEKEND WITHOUT PHILPhil Mickelson walked down the first fairway of the East course at Winged Foot, the path to the parking lot. Mickelson never considered his return to Winged Foot to be about redemption, which was a good thing. Lefty opened with a 79, his highest opening round in the 29 times he has played the U.S. Open. No one is ever happy with that kind of finish, but a course like Winged Foot and a major like the U.S. Open brings perspective.

The Latest: Tiger moving up (and down) at US Open

6:40 p.m.Benign conditions at Winged Foot have led to some rare low scores at the difficult course. The 24-year-old is competing in his second U.S. Open after a stellar junior career and playing at Wake Forest. 2:35 p.m.Phil Mickelson opened his return to Winged Foot with two birdies but gave both shots back over the next two holes. Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa were waiting on the second tee when Spieth in the group ahead arrived in a golf cart. ___7:30 a.m.Brandon Wu kicked off the 120th U.S. Open with a drive into the right side of the fairway at Winged Foot.

McIlroy, Cantlay the sole survivors to par at Olympia Fields

Olympia Fields is so tough it won't allow anything but his full attention on every shot. By the end of another steamy afternoon south of Chicago, they were the sole survivors to par. One week after McIlroy admitted to going through the motions without spectators around to provide the cheers, he had a 1-under 69 to share the 36-hole lead with Cantlay. He also missed the green on three of the par 3s, the last one leading to a double bogey. For non-majors, the tour said over par hasn't won since Bruce Lietzke at the Byron Nelson Classic in 1981.