Full-time dentist, part-time amateur Matt Vogt's US Open homecoming ends with a kick in the teeth
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — Matt Vogt's dream-like week heading up to his somewhat unlikely journey to the U.S. Open at a course he once caddied at ended with what felt, perhaps fittingly, like a trip to the dentist's office.
The 34-year-old amateur — a Pittsburgh-area native who has a dental practice in the Indianapolis suburbs — had the honors early Thursday morning, taking the opening shot of the national championship's 10th visit to Oakmont.
Vogt knew full well the danger of going right. Wanting to avoid putting the ball along Hulton Road, he instead pulled it left. Way left. His 337-yard blast ended up on the edge of the adjoining ninth fairway. He somehow managed to save par, which ended up being one of the few bright spots on a day in which he shot 12-over 82.
'You just can't make physical and mental errors, you can like get away sometimes with one or the other, but you can't get away with both,' he said. 'And you just get behind the eight ball out here and honestly, your head starts spinning. That's honestly what it feels like. Your head starts spinning out here and it just gets away from you.'
While Vogt who grew up about 30 minutes northwest of Oakmont, tried to tell himself he had 'zero expectations' after going through qualifying to make the 156-man field.
Still, he was hoping to do a little better at the sprawling, links-like course than he did here at the 2021 U.S. Amateur, when he also shot in the 80s. Instead, he spent some time on the practice range Thursday afternoon, searching for something — anything really — to build on.
'I came into such optimism for this golf course, but it is so hard,' he said. 'It's just so, so hard. I'd say, in the moment, you feel like you get punched in the face, you know?'
Youth is served
Mason Howell not only is the youngest player in the field, he got to Oakmont with the lowest scores. The 17-year-old from Georgia had a 64 in local qualifying, and then rounds of 63-63 at Piedmont Driving Club to lead the five players out of Atlanta.
The U.S. Open was different. Howell didn't make a birdie on his way to a 7-over 77.
He was asked to compare the nerves of contending for a state high school title and playing Oakmont before a sellout.
'It's definitely way more here, like 10 times the people … way more than that, actually,' Howell said. 'But high school golf and major championships are just a little bit different.'
The closest Howell came to making birdie was on No. 1, his 10th hole of the day. He missed a putt just inside 10 feet.
Still, it was an experience he wouldn't trade.
'It's definitely special off the first tee,' he said. 'First tee of a major, you're always juiced up and amped up. I was just ready to get started all week. Now I just don't want it to end.'
History, and a humbling, for Lowry
Shane Lowry had to smile a bit after holing out from 160 yards for an eagle on the par-4 third at Oakmont. That wasn't nearly enough to salvage a brutal first round for the Irishman.
Lowry shot a 9-over 79, which included five bogeys, three double bogeys — and that history-making shot on No. 3. His eagle two was the first in U.S. Open history on that hole at Oakmont.
Lowry started on No. 10, so by the time he reached No. 3, he was already 6 over on the day.
Even the pars on Lowry's scorecard weren't necessarily routine. On No. 17, his tee shot went into the rough next to the green. His second shot didn't make it out of the rough. His third rolled across the green to the fringe on the other side.
Then he chipped in from there.
Pinball wizard
Tony Finau's best par of the day looked more like pinball than golf.
His second shot on the par-4 18th hole clanked off a sprinkler head at the back of the green, then into the grandstand, where it nearly hit a spectator, who reached down to pick it up before thinking better of that.
Finau got a drop in front of the grandstand, then hit a towering flop shot that still rolled 41 feet away from the back hole location. But he made it to save par — a rare highlight on a day when he shot 6-over 76.
Wherever he may roam
Thriston Lawrence gets around a lot. Maybe that's why it didn't take him long to get comfortable during his first trip to Oakmont.
The South African, who put together a 3-under 67 to find himself one shot back of early leader J.J. Spaun, doesn't currently have a 'home base.' Lawrence is in his first full season on the PGA Tour — where he's made just 2 of 11 cuts — but returned to the DP World Tour to play a couple of events ahead of the U.S. Open.
The lifestyle isn't new to the 28-year-old, who remembers playing upwards of 30 events a year when he was in elementary school.
Asked if he gets homesick, he shrugged.
'I mean, it's not nice,' he said. 'I would love to be home.'
That's not in the cards at the moment. Sometimes he crashes in Florida at DP World Tour member Thomas Aiken's house. Sometimes he just logs into Airbnb to see what's available, something that helps him 'not get attached.'
Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
'It would be nice to get something, but I'm not yet sure where that is for now,' he said.
___
AP Golf Writer Doug Ferguson, AP National Writer Eddie Pell and AP Sports Writer Noah Trister contributed to this report.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
31 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
River Plate, Monterrey play to a lively scoreless draw in Club World Cup
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — River Plate and Monterrey played to a lively 0-0 draw on Saturday night in the second round of group play at the Club World Cup. River Plate had 18 shot attempts, but the Argentine powerhouse got none of its six shots on goal past Monterrey goalkeeper Esteban Andrada, a native of Argentina. Monterrey got two of its three shot attempts on net, but Franco Armani also kept a clean sheet for River Plate. The teams traded 40 combined fouls and eight yellow cards throughout a chippy match at the Rose Bowl before a raucous crowd of 57,393, with both teams benefitting from large supporter sections on each end of the famed stadium. River Plate had the first half's best scoring chances shortly before halftime, but Giuliano Galoppo's unobstructed shot from the penalty area curled over Monterrey's net before Lucas Martínez Quarta brutally shanked a point-blank volley moments later. Monterrey opened Club World Cup play four days earlier with an impressive draw against Champions League finalist Inter Milan. River Plate also looked sharp in a 3-1 victory over Urawa Red Diamonds in its opener in Seattle. Key moment Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. In the 76th minute, Andrada smothered Miguel Borja's dangerous close-range shot after a run into the box. Takeaways Nothing is decided in Group E. Inter and River Plate are on top with four points each, but they must play each other on Wednesday in Seattle while Monterrey, which has two points, takes on winless Urawa in Pasadena. ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Curacao draws 1-1 with Canada after Antonisse's stoppage-time goal
HOUSTON (AP) — Jeremy Antonisse scored in stoppage time and Curacao tied Canada 1-1 on Saturday night to remain in contention to advance to the knockout stage of the Gold Cup. Nathan Saliba opened the score in the ninth minute, and Antonisse leveled things in the 94th. The 21-year-old Saliba, playing in his fifth international match, scored for the second game in a row. Canada, which started the tournament with a 6-0 win over Honduras, has four points and leads Group B. Curacao is second with two points. l Salvador, with one point, faced Honduras in a late match Saturday. The Canadians will close the group stage facing El Salvador on Tuesday, also in Houston. A win against the Salvadorians would secure first place in the Group B for the Reds and a match in the quarterfinals against the second-best squad from Group A, currently Costa Rica. Canada is trying to capture its second Gol Cup title despite missing his star winger Alphonso Davies, who tore his right ACL during the CONCACAF Nations League third-place game against the U.S. on March 23. Curacao could progress to the next round with a win over Honduras on Tuesday. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Canada pulled ahead after Saliba scored with a shot inside the box low across to the far post. The Caribbean team dominated the second half and appear to level things with a Jürgen Locadia goal in the 68th minute but after a VAR review it was invalidated for offside. Antonisse scored the equalizer on a breakaway play. ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Freytes scored go-ahead goal in 83rd, Fluminense beats Ulsan 4-2 at Club World Cup
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Juan Freytes scored the go-ahead goal in the 83rd minute and Fluminense beat Ulsan 4-2 in the Club World Cup on Saturday night. Jhon Arias bent a 25-yard free kick inside the right post and under the crossbar in the 27th minute to open the scoring for Fluminense. Lee Jin-hyun, on the counterattack, put away a cross played by Um Wonsang into a wide-open net to tie it in the 37th and Um scored on diving header, off a low ball-in played by Lee, in first-half stoppage time to give Ulsan a 2-1 lead at halftime. Gustavo Nonato Santana — known as 'Nonato' — stopped a clearance attempt near the top of the penalty area and tapped a shot inside the right post in the 66th minute to tie the score 2-2. Marcos da Silva França — known as 'Keno' — capped the scoring in the second minute of stoppage time. Ulsan goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo made a diving stop in the second minute and moments later had a leaping one-hand parry. KEY MOMENT Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Freytes put away a first-touch finish, off a cross played by Germán Cano, from point-blank range for his first career goal with Fluminense to take the lead for good. TAKEAWAYS Fluminense is tied with Borussia Dortmund atop Group F and can clinch a berth in the knockout round with win over the Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday. Ulsan, which plays Dortmund on Wednesday, was eliminated from reaching the knockout round. ___ AP soccer:
