A Few Shane Lowry Reads Before The U.S. Open Final Round

Before his 3:30 pm ET tee time with Andrew Landry (!), Shane Lowry probably needs some introduction before he attempts to win the U.S. Open at Oakmont.

Here is Doug Ferguson's game story on the conclusion of round three that saw Lowry open up a three stroke lead.

Ryan Herrington on Lowry prior to the restart and how much the stoppage helped the Irishman.

Brian Keogh of the Irish Golf Desk has covered the former Irish Open winner (as an amateur) and covers Lowry's self-called penalty. USGA researchers are trying to determine if it is historic first should Lowry go on to win.

In the morning he banked some crucial karma when he called a penalty shot on himself on his seventh hole, the par-three, 16th and did well just to make bogey and slip back to two over for the day.

“I addressed the ball, and the ball moved back,” he said. “I had to penalise myself. It’s very frustrating in a tournament like that.

“I actually holed a great eight-footer for a bogey on that hole. I think, if I had missed that, it would have been difficult to get back from there.”

Alex Miceli has post-restart quotes from Lowry, who says he would have been happy with four pars.

The pairing with unknown Landry will be interesting, and Rex Hoggard says the blue collar showdown is fitting in Pittsburgh.

Kyle Porter with various notes on Lowry including the records of those with a four-stroke-or-more lead.

Lowry's clutch 18th hole par putt:

 

 

MLB Takes Priority! Fox Sends U.S. Open Coverage Back To FS1

After an incredibly taxing and downright heroic 11.5 hours straight of bonus-infused coverage on Fox Sports 1 and Fox, the network sent the final 49 minutes of third round coverage back to its less-visible cable channel.

The conflict?

The network's Major League Baseball game of the week pre-game show prior to featuring Cubs-Pirates in much of the country. In the New York market, it was the Mets vs. the lowly Braves.

Given that golf fans are used to majors staying on network TV through the completion of play, the Twitter outrage over the Fox network broadcast of a major championship shifting to a network seen in fewer homes was swift and directed at the USGA.

 

 

 

 

Fox Sports Adjusts, Televising 13 Hours Friday From Oakmont

Pray for a restful night's sleep for those Fox crews, they have a ridiculously long day Friday thanks to the rain delays.

BROADCAST SCHEDULE
 
Date                 Program                                               Time (ET)                     Network
June 17             First & Second Rounds                         8:00 AM - 5:00 PM         FS1
                                                                                    5:00 PM - 9:00 PM         FOX
                                                                                                                                                          
DIGITAL STREAMING SCHEDULE
 
Date              Channel                           Time (ET)                         Platform
June 17          Featured Holes               8:00 AM – 10:00 AM         USOpen.com
                     Featured Groups (Ch. A)         8:00 AM – 10:00 AM  USOpen.com  
                     Featured Groups (Ch. B)         8:00 AM – 10:00 AM  USOpen.com
                     FS1 stream                       8:00 AM – 5:00 PM         FOX Sports GO        
                     Featured Groups (Ch. A)         10:00 AM – 8:00 PM   FOX Sports GO
                     Featured Groups (Ch. B)         10:00 AM – 8:00 PM   FOX Sports GO
                     Featured Holes               10:00 AM – 8:00 PM         FOX Sports GO
                     FOX stream                      5:00 PM – 9:00 PM         FOX Sports GO

Oakmont 2016: Giving Larry Nelson His Due

Dave Kindred tries to find any sign of former Ryder Cup captain Larry Nelson or any recognition of his epic 1983 win here at Oakmont.

He writes:

Anybody seen Larry Nelson? The greatest golfer who ever walked the point of his infantry company in a Vietnam jungle – and the only one who ever won three major professional championships, including the 1983 U.S. Open here – is also the greatest golfer no one knows. Figuring he might be on the grounds as a past champion, I asked a media official, “Do you know, is Larry Nelson on the grounds?”

Here a cloud of puzzlement moved across the official’s eyes.

Then he said, “Who does he work for?”