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NBC Sports
12 hours ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Wyndham Clark confirms that he damaged lockers at Oakmont: 'I made a mistake'
Wyndham Clark fired a 6-under 64 Thursday in the first round of the Travelers Championship, his best round since late March. But all most reporters wanted to talk about was last week's report that Clark damaged multiple lockers following his U.S. Open missed cut Friday at Oakmont Country Club. A photo, shared to social media by No Laying Up's Tron Carter, showed the lattice panels of two bottom lockers appearing to be kicked in. Clark confirmed he was the culprit, though he didn't provide much aside from a quick apology. 'I've had a lot of highs and lows in my career, especially this year some lows,' Clark said. 'I made a mistake that I deeply regret. I'm very sorry for what happened. 'But I'd also like to move on, not only for myself but for Oakmont, for the USGA, and kind of focus on the rest of this year and things that come up. I still want to try to make the Ryder Cup team. I still am on the outside looking in for the FedExCup. So I'm starting to move on and focus on those things.' Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, entered this week's final signature event of the season ranked No. 80 in FedExCup points and No. 23 in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings.
NBC Sports
a day ago
- Entertainment
- NBC Sports
The captain told him to enjoy this, so that's exactly what J.J. Spaun plans to do
After a whirlwind U.S. Open victory, things finally settled down for J.J. Spaun around 2 a.m. Monday. He didn't leave the gates of Oakmont Country Club until about an hour past midnight, and upon arriving back at his hotel in downtown Pittsburgh, he took a quick shower and then settled into bed to start flipping through the hundreds of messages that had queued in his phone. Comedian George Lopez, Dodgers star Mookie Betts, sportscaster Scott Van Pelt; all had words of congratulations for the newly minted major champion. But the most impactful message came Tuesday from Keegan Bradley. Bradley remembers his major-championship breakthrough well. He was just a 25-year-old rookie when he captured the 2011 PGA Championship in a playoff. He recalls returning home and going out to a local restaurant, and 'I could feel that people knew who I was. I had never felt that.' And it made him so uncomfortable that he put his Wanamaker trophy in his closet, out of sight. And so, as Spaun was whisked around New York City for a daylong media tour, the U.S. Ryder Cup captain offered this piece of advice: Enjoy it. 'There's always another tournament,' Bradley said Wednesday ahead of the Travelers Championship. 'He's going to tee it up here. He bogeys the first hole, he's going to be bummed out. It's the way golf is. You win the Stanley Cup, you get to enjoy it for months on end. … For me, everything happened fast. I had been on the Tour for only a year. I didn't know what any of these media tours were. I'm sure J.J. is going through that. My advice to him was to try to sit back and enjoy it and soak it all in.' Spaun's media obligations, which included an appearance on NBC's 'Today,' lasted until mid-afternoon. He then hopped in a car up to Cromwell, Connecticut, getting in around 8 p.m. Spaun's eight hours of sleep Tuesday night, were as much as he got the previous two nights combined. 'I'm not like fully in the clouds still, but we're getting a little below the ceiling,' Spaun said during his Wednesday presser, which immediately followed Bradley. 'Yeah, it's been a whirlwind. Everything that the aftermath of this whole championship has been so crazy but so much fun, and all these doors opening, it's stuff that you don't expect ever really to happen in your career. … I'm super grateful to have won the championship and to be given this experience. It's something I'll never forget obviously for the rest of my life. I guess I'm a part of history now.' The champ has made it to New York 🙌 Sure, there will come a day soon when Spaun will be able to sit on his couch, veg out and watch Sportscenter – his preferred way to relax. But for now, he's set to compete in the Travelers Championship, the year's final signature event. Spaun has a special connection to the Travelers. In 2020, he won the Umbrella at 15½ Challenge, a closest-to-the-pin contest using the red, umbrella-shaped green that floats about 85 yards from land between the 15th and 16th holes. Spaun's victory earned him $10,000 for the charity of his choice, which he donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Two years earlier, Spaun had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes; he wouldn't find out until the following spring that he was misdiagnosed and was actually late-onset Type 1. Andy Bessette, EVP and chief administrative officer of Travelers, broke down in tears when Spaun decided to donate to JDRF. Bessette, whose son, Chris, has Type 1 diabetes, is a longtime supporter of JDRF, and as Spaun navigated his diabetes journey, Bessette was an invaluable resource. 'Hopefully, I can win the challenge again and donate some more money to JDRF,' Spaun said. Toward the end of his presser, Spaun struggled to recall verbatim a Confucius quote that has served as inspiration. As he continued answering other questions, the PGA Tour media official conducting the press conference looked it up: Our greatest glory is not in never falling but rising every time we fall. 'That's the one,' Spaun said. 'That's kind of, I feel like, my career.' Spaun originally wanted to be a professional skateboarder. He walked on at San Diego State, where he became an All-American. He then earned just $850 his second season on the Canadian Tour and lost his card, only to win the tour's order of merit the following season. He graduated from the Korn Ferry Tour the following season. Four years later, he finished No. 185 in FedExCup points, though he maintained his PGA Tour status after the pandemic froze eligibility for an additional season. The following year he had to go to KFT Finals just to keep his card. Two years later, after figuring out his diabetes issues, Spaun won the Valero Texas Open for his first PGA Tour title, but just last year, amid another slump, he debated retirement before eventually cracking the top 100 in points. The rest, as they say, is history. Spaun nearly won at Sony (T-3), and at Cognizant (T-2), and at The Players, where he fell in a playoff to Rory McIlroy. Now, he's a major champion, ranked a career-best eighth in the world rankings – and a surefire bet to make his first Ryder Cup team. Spaun's U.S. Open win launched him to third in U.S. Ryder Cup points, much to the delight of Bradley. 'I think going to a course like Bethpage Black, the people are really going to be behind a guy like J.J. Spaun,' Bradley said. 'His story is incredible. He's a hard-working guy that's just building and building and building his whole career. To win the U.S. Open at Oakmont, in my eyes, is the pinnacle of major golf. It's as tough as you can get. I think he's a guy that people at Bethpage will really resonate with and a guy that on our team is the heartbeat. He's now the U.S. Open champion. That's a heavy burden to bear, but that's also a great thing to have on your team.' It's impossible to know yet just how Spaun will respond to winning the U.S. Open. He'll be running on adrenaline this week, at least. But soon, he'll be hit by his new reality. McIlroy is still struggling to find motivation after completing the career grand slam at the Masters in April. Spaun's got a long way to go before he accomplishes something that monumental – if he ever does – but relatively, his inner-drive will be challenged, too. 'I definitely need to keep the hunger there,' Spaun said. 'I think I will have the hunger just because I want to continue to prove myself, but not prove myself to anybody other than myself, I feel like, and that's kind of been my biggest barrier throughout my entire career is just trying not to be so hard on myself and not ruining any sort of confidence that I've built from all these experiences on my journey as a golfer. As long as I keep that up, I think I'll continue to play well, and obviously winning the U.S. Open is going to be a huge boost to that sort of inner ego, I guess you could say, to keep that self-belief alive and burning.' Spaun then mentioned Bradley's advice, on how easy it is to let all this fly out the window, to be quickly forgotten. And he certainly doesn't want to lose this feeling. 'Yeah, I need to enjoy this,' Spaun said. '… I'm planning to enjoy it next week, that's for sure, at least for next week.'
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Rory McIlroy opens up on ‘physically and mental' reset after ‘gruelling' US Open test at Oakmont
RORY MCILROY has held a press conference ahead of the Travelers Championship at TPC Cromwell. It's the first time the 2 Rory McIlroy spoke at the Travelerers Championship about how he resets after tough weeks 2 Rory McIlroy had. a tough week at last week's US Open as his average form continued since his Masters win The world number two is set to play in the final 'Signature' event of the McIlroy, who endured a disappointing final round at Oakmont after barely making the cut had declined to give interviews earlier in the major week. Down native McIlroy tried to justify the decision as he insisted that he had 'earned the right' to speak on his own terms. He said of his brief blackout: "It's just frustration with you guys [some sections of the media]. read more on golf "I have been totally available for the past number of years. "That [driver issue] was a part of it, but at Augusta, I skipped you guys on Thursday. "It's not out of the ordinary as I've done it before, but I am doing it a little more often. "I feel like I've earned the right to do whatever I want to do." Most read in Golf But he's spoken ahead of a far less challenging test than Oakmont on Wednesday afternoon. And the far more relaxed McIlroy Watch Bob MacIntyre's classy reaction after JJ Spaun holes winning putt at US Open He said: "I think everyone has got their own way of recovering from gruelling weeks. But I think they're just the little habits that you pick up along the way. "Wether it's physical, mental or getting away from it - giving yourself a little bit of time to recharge. "But, yeah it's important to take care of yourself physically and mental - especially when there's these big events - and there's a lot of pressure and expectation. "It is important to get away from all that as well." Holywood hotshot McIlroy went on to admit that he likes a glass of wine on a Sunday after an event. That was before he admitted that he uses the Monday after an event to hit the 'reset' button. The Down native gets his Travelers Championship underway on Thursday alongside 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley at 3:35pm IST. All the action will be live on Sky Sports Golf.
NBC Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Travelers Championship 2025: Second-round tee times, pairings Friday at TPC River Highlands
George Savaricas catches up with Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler, and other PGA Tour golfers to get their reaction to Brian Rolapp being named the PGA Tour's next CEO. The PGA Tour's eighth and final signature event continues Friday with the Travelers Championship. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler and U.S. Open winner J.J. Spaun will go out early, at 10:35 a.m. EDT, while Rory McIlroy and U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley will be paired at 1:45 p.m. Golf Channel coverage begins at 3 p.m. Here's a look at full second-round tee times and pairings at TPC River Highlands. Daniel Berger Sam Stevens Jhonattan Vegas Gary Woodland Rickie Fowler Michael Kim Maverick McNealy Ryan Gerard Russell Henley Nick Dunlap Patrick Cantlay Sungjae Im Cam Davis Alex Noren Taylor Pendrith Eric Cole Thomas Detry Si Woo Kim Brian Harman Akshay Bhatia Sepp Straka Aaron Rai Shane Lowry Denny McCarthy J.T. Poston Matt Fitzpatrick Justin Thomas Hideki Matsuyama Xander Schauffele Collin Morikawa J.J. Spaun Scottie Scheffler Jordan Spieth Luke Clanton Andrew Novak Jacob Bridgeman Brian Campbell Bud Cauley Nick Taylor Kevin Yu Joe Highsmith Tom Kim Min Woo Lee Harry Hall Mackenzie Hughes Matti Schmid Tony Finau Christiaan Bezuidenhout Wyndham Clark Matthieu Pavon Jason Day Max Homa Austin Eckroat Byeong Hun An Davis Thompson Stephan Jaeger Adam Hadwin Max Greyserman Tom Hoge Tommy Fleetwood Adam Scott Cameron Young Viktor Hovland Robert MacIntyre Ludvig Åberg Sam Burns Rory McIlroy Keegan Bradley Ryan Fox Ben Griffin Harris English Lucas Glover
New York Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
The ‘ridiculous' Korn Ferry Tour rule that left New Jersey native Ryan McCormick annoyed at US Open
OAKMONT, Pa. — Ryan McCormick, who made the cut at the U.S. Open on the number on Friday at 7-over par, should be exhilarated to be playing the weekend at Oakmont, his first major championship. But McCormick, one of five Metro Area players in the field this week, expressed disappointment when he finished his third round in 76 on Saturday because Korn Ferry Tour players don't receive points for qualifying for a major or even making the cut in one. Advertisement 'It's frustrating,'' McCormick, a Middletown, N.J. native, said. 'We don't get points for making the cut here. It's the only tour in the world that doesn't get points for making a cut at a major. It's clearly ridiculous. It's terrible.'' McCormick, who is 13-over, embraced the challenge the USGA delivers at the U.S. Open. 5 Ryan McCormick hits a shot during the third round of the U.S. Open on June 14, 2025. AP 'I love the test out here,'' he said. 'I wish every week was like the U.S. Open. It's demanding. You have to hit quality shots. You've got to think about where you're going. You've got to do everything on your own. It's you against yourself and the course, and I love the challenge.'' Advertisement His fellow Korn Ferry Tour local, James Nicholas, from Scarsdale, is 12-over after shooting 75 on Saturday. Among the three other players from the Metro Area, Westchester's Cameron Young is not out of contention at 3-over par, seven shots back, after shooting 69 Saturday. Chris Gotterup, from Fair Haven, N.J., is 4-over par and eight shots back after shooting his second consecutive 69. Advertisement And Max Greyserman, from Short Hills, N.J., is also 4-over par after shooting 71 on Saturday. Keegan Bradley, the current U.S. Ryder Cup captain, sounded very bullish on Sam Burns, who had the 36-hole lead and has the 54-hole lead with a 65 on Friday and 67 Saturday. 5 Keegan Bradley reacts during the third round of the U.S. Open. Imagn Images Advertisement Burns' 65 was the third-lowest round played in the 10 U.S. Opens held at Oakmont, behind only Johnny Miller's 63 in 1973 and Loren Roberts' 64 in 1994. 'He's such a great player, and he's been trending,'' Bradley said. 'He seems to have a U.S. Open mentality. I was watching him [Friday] and I just kept saying it looks like he's up for the challenge today, and he was.'' Bradley wasn't a fan of the USGA boasting before the tournament that it wanted the players to use all 15 clubs — the 14 in their bag and the one between their ears (the mind) — to win a U.S. Open. 'The USGA can say all they want, but we're professional golfers,'' Bradley said. 'This is what we do for a living. I don't agree with that. We go out here every day and try to be professionals, and we know when it comes to a major, whether it's a U.S. Open, British Open, Masters, PGA, that we have to be on top of our game mentally. 'The USGA is not doing that, we're doing that.'' Advertisement Cool U.S. Open story. Philip Barbaree Jr., who got into the field through qualifying, was one of the 13 players who had to come out to Oakmont early Saturday morning to complete the second round thanks to Friday's weather suspension. He had to make a five-foot par putt to make the cut at 7-over par and he made it, fist-pumping and giving his wife and caddie, Chloe, a big hug. 5 Philip Barbaree Jr. is pictured during the third round of the U.S. Open on June 14. Getty Images He's previously qualified for the 2018 U.S. Open, but missed the cut. Advertisement A short time later, Barbaree, who grew up with Burns in Shreveport, La., was the first to tee off for the third round, and played with a club-member marker because of the odd number of players to make the cut. 'A lot of pent-up emotion and stress from sleeping last night — or not sleeping last night — knowing that I pretty much had to come out and make par on one of the hardest holes on the course,'' Barbaree said after shooting 75 on Saturday. 'And then to actually do it, that's what you practice for. To be able to pull off a shot like that when it matters, and then with her on the bag, it's special.'' Among the 15 amateurs in the field, Justin Hastings was the only one among them to make the cut, finishing 6-over par through 36 holes. Advertisement 5 Justin Hastings, pictured during the third round of the U.S. Open on June 14, was the only amateur to make the cut. Getty Images He shot 73 on Saturday and is 9-over. The 21-year-old Hastings, from the Cayman Islands, said he plans to turn pro after the British Open next month. Advertisement Early Saturday as the third round was getting underway, the USGA had Jack Nicklaus, the 1962 U.S. Open winner at Oakmont, and Miller, the 1973 winner at Oakmont, into the interview room for some reminiscence. Nicklaus was asked what the 'key'' was to his win as a 22-year-old that year. 'The key was to beat Arnold Palmer,'' Nicklaus said. 'Arnie was the top player in the game at the time. He had won the Masters earlier in the year. He was the guy you had to beat if you wanted to win, and particularly here. 5 Jack Nicklaus (l.) and Johnny Miller (r.) are pictured during a press conference at the U.S. Open on June 14. Imagn Images 'I didn't know anything about Oakmont. I didn't realize, as a 22-year-old, that I was in Arnold Palmer's backyard.'' Palmer, of course, was from nearby Latrobe, Pa., which remains a shrine to his greatness. Both former players were asked about the $21.5 million prize purse this week, with $4.3 million going to the winner. 'Would I have loved to have had what's going on here when we played? Yeah,'' Nicklaus said. 'Obviously, all of us would. But I know Johnny and myself both trail-blazed the way for what's happening today. I think if you look back at [Ben] Hogan and [Sam] Snead and those guys, they trail blazed it for us. 'Would [the money] have changed our lives? I would hope not.''
