Paul

Barjon

The TCU product is making his third career start at the U.S. Open, playing his way in via the Durham sectional. He missed the cut in his last two tries (2020, 2021) but off to a much better start this time around. “I learned I think at Winged Foot I made four doubles in the first two days... So I learned that if you get in trouble -- and I talked to my caddie a couple times about that today -- if you get in trouble, just chip it out, try to make a 5.” That strategy paid off today and a hot putter certainly helped. Barjon gained 3.7 strokes putting (2nd) to maintain his momentum.

The TCU product is in the top 10 after R1 for the first time in 24 career TOUR events, 16th as a member. He was one of just two players from the afternoon session to navigate TPC Potomac error-free, joining Mackenzie Hughes, and one of only five on the day. The 29-year-old, who arrived off eight missed cuts in his last nine, including four straight, penciled five birdies at holes 2, 5, 10, 13 and 14, all from inside of nine feet, posting 4.239 SG: Tee-to-Green and 0.348 SG: Putting. His career best on TOUR among two top 25s and one top 10 is a solo 10th on debut at this season’s AmEx 10 starts ago, where he was T13 after 18 holes and a 54-hole co-leader (66-67-65-73). See link below to post-round comments.

Making his event debut and 14th career start, the PGA TOUR rookie slept on his first lead/co-lead (39 rounds) after kicking off with 66-67-65 (LQ-NT-SC). As you might expect, it was a struggle, outbalancing two circles at holes 8 and 9, with three bogey-5s at 1, 7 and 12 (failed scrambles). On eight (of 14) fairways and 12 greens in regulation, the 29-year-old gained 0.766 stokes off-the-tee but lost strokes on approach (-0.388), around (-0.336), and had a forgettable day on-the-greens (-2.128), missing five putts from inside of 11 feet, including a 5'7" birdie at the 71st hole. For the week, he totaled one eagle and 21 birdies against six bogeys for a 17-under 271 total, and does hang on for his first top 10 on TOUR, replacing a previous-best T20 at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open as a non-member, sponsor invite. The Dumbea, New Caledonia native (French territory) is in the published field at the upcoming Farmers.

The Dumbea, New Caledonia native (French territory) will be in the final group with fellow rookie and first-timer Hodges (along with Tom Hoge), this after being paired together the first three rounds as well. Hodges referenced post-round today that he and Barjon are best buddies, and Barjon concurred, “We’re good buddies...and we just kind of feed off each other, so it’s been fun.” Barjon, a TCU product, is chasing his first TOUR win in 14 career events, sixth as a member, while his best thus far among one top 25 is a T20 on debut at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open as a non-member sponsor invite (T25 thru 54 holes). After opening with 66-67 (LQ-NT), he outflanked one bogey with eight birdies on 16 greens in regulation, gaining 2.780 strokes tee-to-green and 2.508 on-the-green, today’s 65 matching his career best in 39 rounds (x2). See link below to post-round comments.

The Frenchman is playing his first season as a PGA TOUR card-carrying member. He’s opened with three paydays in five events played. All three finishes have landed between T39 and T49 so nothing to write home about yet. He was T15 thru 36 holes at the Sanderson Farms Championship and T24 after day one last week in Hawaii. Barjon currently ranks 54th in strokes gained off-the-tee and 68th in strokes gained putting. That style of play should certainly put him on the watchlist for many gamers.