LOS ANGELES — Canada’s two top finishers at the U.S. Open left in different moods regarding the state of their games, but of similar minds when it came to the atmosphere, or lack of atmosphere, at the unusual Los Angeles Country Club.
“With what they had in Canada last week with all the fans jammed into the 18th green, that’s what creates that cool amphitheatre style atmosphere,” Mackenzie Hughes said after shooting a Sunday one-over 71 to finish at eight-over.
“The atmosphere this week was a little bit disappointing obviously because you’d like to have as many people in here as you can to keep the energy up and hear the roars but the venue doesn’t really allow for it. It’s big, but it’s small in the places you need to walk. A bit of a different U.S. Open than we’re used to and obviously compared to last week it was a little quiet.”
The rugged terrain winding through canyons and highlighted by a sandy barranca providing natural drainage throughout the property makes for creative golf holes and great aesthetics, but also made it nearly impossible for fans to move around. The USGA only released half as any tickets compared to a normal U.S. Open, and this being Hollywood the majority were settled comfortably in corporate hospitality. Fans who were on the course were often far from the action.
“There’s a lot of holes out here where spectators are 30 to 40 yards away from the hole and they sometimes can’t even see whether the putt goes in or not,” Adam Hadwin said after shooting a five-over 75 to finish at 11 over. “It kind of sucks from that standpoint, and takes away a little bit from what the U.S. Open is normally like.”
Hughes is heading to next week’s Traveler’s Championship feeling good about his game.
“These last six months have been a little bit challenging, I’ve had bright spots but the game has been more up and down than I’d like,” said Hughes, who won for the second time on tour last fall. “I felt like this week I made some big strides in my game and I saw some things I was really happy with. I’m excited for the rest of the summer. I’ve got some momentum now as small as it might be.”
Hadwin is looking forward to a week off.
“I’m happy to be going home,” he said. “I just didn’t have it this week. There’s a lot of disappointment. I feel like I was primed for a much better week than this. I’ve got a big stretch coming up to get through the rest of the year and into the playoffs. … It’s very questionable whether I’m going to get into The Open or not so this would have been a good week to play well to secure that.”
As much fun as Hadwin had with his viral moment at Oakdale, he’s ready to put the tackle heard round the world behind him.
“I enjoyed it and soaked it in as much as I could, but I’m ready to move on and start having people talk about me for my golf,” he said.
Adam Svensson was the only other Canadian to make the cut, finishing at 12 over for the week.
The post How Canadians finished at U.S. Open, and their opinions on the (lack of) atmosphere appeared first on National Post Today.
How Canadians finished at U.S. Open, and their opinions on the (lack of) atmosphere
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