-
Mark Schlabach, ESPN Elder Author
LOS ANGELES– There have actually been a lot of golf players publishing low ratings in the very first 2 rounds of the 123rd U.S. Open at Los Angeles Nation Club.
PGA Champion winner Brooks Koepka hasn’t been among them.
” I’m not a big fan of this location,” stated Koepka, who is even par after 36 holes, on Friday. “I’m not a big fan of blind tee shots, and after that I believe there’s simply some areas that no matter what you struck, the ball simply winds up in the exact same area.
” I believe it would be more enjoyable to use much like a routine round than it would be a U.S. Open. I suggest, there’s, what, 2 eights the other day? That does not take place.”
Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele both set the U.S. Open scoring record with 8-under 62s about thirty minutes apart in Thursday’s opening round.
Koepka, a two-time U.S. Open champ, stated he played much better the previous 2 days than he performed in the last 2 rounds of last month’s PGA Champion at Oak Hill Nation Club in Rochester, New York City.
There, Koepka published ratings of 4-under 66 and 3-under 67 on the weekend to beat Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler by 2 strokes to win the Wanamaker Prize for the 3rd time.
For whatever factor, Los Angeles Nation Club’s North Course, which is hosting the U.S. Open for the very first time, does not fit him.
” I won majors on golf courses that I have not actually liked excessive,” Koepka stated. “However, yeah, this one, I do not understand. It’s not my favorite.”
Koepka, captain of Smash GC in the LIV Golf League, was 10 strokes behind Fowler when he signed his scorecard Friday.
” Undoubtedly, I got to play 2 great rounds, so that’s something I need to do,” Koepka stated. “However certainly want to be even more up from where I’m at. However all of it depends what takes place today, whether the wind gets. … Who understands what those men are going to get to.”
Koepka struck just 10 of 18 greens Friday. He carded a 1-under 69 in the round.
” I believed every pin position was great,” Koepka stated. “I didn’t believe anything was actually dressed up. I think I simply didn’t play that fantastic, so not going to actually shoot an excellent number.”