The Metropolitan
June 2021
Memorable Major Season Already The Bogeyman Dan O’Neill
(Editor’s note: This story appears courtesy of Morning Read (www. morningread.com) By the time this edition of the Metropolitan fades to black, all four of golf ’s 2021 major championships will be in the rearview mirror. It will feel strange. Of course, when it comes to feeling strange, last year buried the needle. The Masters postponed until November, the U.S. Open was conducted in September, the British Open cancelled altogether … who was on first, what was on second. Nothing was by the book. A year later, the 149th “Open Championship” this month brings the major season to an early end, which may feel strange. But whatever takes place at Royal St. George’s, it promises to add to an already memorable 2021 series. Hideki Matsuyama’s dominant performance at Augusta National in April will be bookmarked for years to come, as he became the first Japanese player to capture the Masters. Then came the PGA at Kiawah Island, where more history was made. Before that weekend in late May, 455 major golf championships had been conducted and only five had been won by a player 45 or older - none by someone in his 50s. That changed, when 50-year old Phil Mickelson captured the PGA, becoming the oldest to win any of the four majors. Those headlines set the stage for the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, and still more history. As noted, the 2020 edition of the national championship was delayed because the pandemic and played in September. That 120th edition at Winged Foot became all about power as Bryson DeChambeau 12
essentially manhandled the golf c Driver Man” fearlessly blasted from by the spinach and, although he hit o fairways during the week, he broke DeChambeau’s 6 under par finish w red, as he won going away. Willie been turning in his grave.
That’s not to say the power display w it also was unsettling. Traditional won from the rough. Today’s techno gauge approach notwithstanding, g to be a home run hitting contest. Acc supposed to be important.
Torrey Pines re-established the con influenced by form PGA Tour play tested the best players in the world emotional.
Fairways were lean, greens were fir what rough is supposed to be - pu were. Good shots were rewarded, b through it all, combatants had to be
To his credit, DeChambeau was on lead as he made the turn on Sunda an 8-over 44 on Torrey’s backside, revealing.
“I didn’t get off the rails at all; it’s gol or did that, and it’s just golf. I’ve ha worse than today and I won. It’s jus have the right breaks happen at the
Actually, he’s right, it is golf, the way hit three fairways in the final round miss fairways at a U.S. Open, you supposed to pay a price. That’s why i It is golf, and metaphorically, it’s life
