Johnny Miller is mad about a 63, Jason Dufner is mad anyone is mad about a 63, and Jon Rahm is just mad. But the WAGs are happy! All that and more in this edition of The Social.
After apparently spending Father’s Day with his kids at the movies, Tiger Woods announced Monday: “I’m currently receiving professional help to manage my medications and the ways that I deal with back pain and a sleep disorder. I want to thank everyone for the amazing outpouring of support and understanding especially fans and players on tour.”
The news comes three weeks after Woods was charged with DUI in South Florida. While the police have not yet released the toxicology report, Tiger told arresting officers that he was on multiple prescription meds.
Naturally, in the year 2017, such an important announcement comes from Twitter via a screenshot of Big Cat’s iPhone Notes app.
By TW pic.twitter.com/AuX6PEgNQ1
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) June 19, 2017
Everyone who is anyone shows up to major weeks.
That includes all the wives and girlfriends, officially standing by their men.
There was Rickie Fowler with Allison Stokke and the champion Brooks Koepka with Jena Sims.
But they weren’t just there to support their favorite golfers. They also were there to support one another, throwing Sergio Garcia’s fiancée, Angela Akins, an impromptu bridal shower.
There are worse ways to spend major weeks.
It wouldn’t be a major week, particularly a U.S. Open, without a little bit of controversy. At Erin Hills, it came in the form of record-low scores, highlighted by Justin Thomas’ 9-under 63 on Saturday.
Thomas said afterward that he wished NBC golf analyst and previous U.S. Open record holder Johnny Miller (8-under 63) had been calling the action, just to see what he said.
Turns out, even on an off-day, Miller was happy to give his opinion, and it was everything you imagined it would be:
“Taking nothing away from 9 under par – 9 under is incredible with U.S. Open pressure. But it isn’t a U.S. Open course that I’m familiar with the way it was set up … a 63 for a par 72 is a heck of a score, even if it was the Milwaukee Open.”
Those comments and the general debate over the quality of 63s didn’t sit well with Jason Dufner, who fired up his Twitter fingers.
My boy @JustinThomas34 shoots a 63 at us open, and all I see and hear is comparisons to another 63 that happened 44years ago. #exhausting
— Jason Dufner (@JasonDufner) June 18, 2017
And whoever wins today deserves it.I don't wanna hear that it's "not a us open"narrative bc of the scores.the players just showed up to play
— Jason Dufner (@JasonDufner) June 18, 2017
And if you like "old fashion" US Open's we have 3 historically great venues coming up for that. #getoffmylawn
— Jason Dufner (@JasonDufner) June 18, 2017
Hard to argue with a #getoffmylawn defense from Duf Daddy.
Not to be outdone, Rory McIlroy and Steve Elkington got into a bit of a tiff after Elkington called out the four-time major winner for missing the cut at Erin Hills.
Rory is so bored playiing golf...without Tiger the threshold is prolly 4 majors with 100mill in bank
— Steve Elkington (@elkpga) June 17, 2017
McIlroy responded with a screenshot of his accomplishments from his Wikipedia page. A pretty great clap back to have in your holster, provided, you know, that you have a Wikipedia page.
More like 200mil... not bad for a "bored" 28 year old... plenty more where that came from. pic.twitter.com/R2nigEaee7
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) June 17, 2017
Of course, this didn’t stop Elkington from digging his hole a little deeper, something the former PGA champ has been known to do.
New you were a money guy
— Steve Elkington (@elkpga) June 17, 2017
Jack won 18 and never mentioned his total cash..
It was 5 mill https://t.co/4vTFyUpY7p
McIlroy was happy to bury him. But if we know anything about Elkington, much like the Terminator, he’ll be back.
That's why jack designed 100's of golf courses... and it's knew... mustn't have taught grammar in the 50's....
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) June 17, 2017
Tebowmania at an all-time high.
Sportsmanship, shmortsmanship ... watching Jon Rahm play angry golf is highly entertaining.
Rahm wasn’t exactly pleased with his play at the U.S. Open, and the 22-year-old let everyone know it.
Check out this sequence of events from Day 2 at Erin Hills, where Rahm carded a 1-over 73 and missed the cut.
Was standing near Jon Rahm a minute ago when he:
— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) June 16, 2017
1. Bellowed an F-Bomb
2. Slammed his wedge
3. Kicked it
4. Picked it up & slammed it again
After this, he:
— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) June 16, 2017
5. Missed a 40 foot par putt
6. Thumped his putter hard on green
7. Tapped in for bogey
8. Punched the sign on 15 tee
9. After this, he birdied the next hole.
— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) June 16, 2017
10. Tomahawked a 7-iron into the turf on 17 fairway after a meh approach.
— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) June 16, 2017
Imagine if he hadn’t made that birdie.
A wild scene unfolded Thursday at the U.S. Open when an advertising blimp crashed just outside Erin Hills, exploding on impact.
A manned blimp unaffiliated with FOX Sports or the #USOpen crashed near the course earlier today. pic.twitter.com/XXaj3n8j2H
— FS1 (@FS1) June 15, 2017
The only person on board, the pilot, is expected to recover after suffering serious burns, but the incident had social media buzzing for most of the day, as amateur photographers flooded Twitter with videos and photos of the wreck.
More video of blimp crash near U.S. Open. Video shot by Hunter Guetzke pic.twitter.com/7JAheaDHSk
— Tonya (Ty) Simpson (@EyeSpyTy) June 15, 2017
>
Blimp pilot suffers burns after crash near US Open Sorry, but Day 1 stats: 12 eagles, 312 birdies, 2,280 pars, 638 bogies ... and 1 crash pic.twitter.com/LDZDuHjQLZ
— Yu-Dee Chang (@ToptraderYudee) June 15, 2017
The U.S. Open brought us a smattering of shouts from fans as players teed off. There was the usual, “Get in the hole!” and “Baba Booey!”
But a couple of fans deserve a little recognition for thinking outside the box.
While almost all shouts from the crowd are obnoxious, these two at least made people chuckle.
Usually annoyed by fans who shout absurd things after impact …
— Ryan Lavner (@RyanLavnerGC) June 17, 2017
But Xander Schauffele getting an "X gon' give it to ya" is well done.
Whoever yelled out 'Say hello to your mother for me' on Koepka's tee shot is a hero 😂 #USOpen
— Harrison Chesterton (@hchesterton) June 18, 2017
DMX and Mark Wahlberg, growing the game one shout out at a time.
Leased Nissan Altima, but close.
