Open Thread: 2016 U.S. Open, Your Kneejerk Reactions

In the interest of remaining on the topic at hand let's just get all of our high praise and deep affinity for rule 18-2 out in the open, and then go from there.

A Few Shane Lowry Reads Before The U.S. Open Final Round

Before his 3:30 pm ET tee time with Andrew Landry (!), Shane Lowry probably needs some introduction before he attempts to win the U.S. Open at Oakmont.

Here is Doug Ferguson's game story on the conclusion of round three that saw Lowry open up a three stroke lead.

Ryan Herrington on Lowry prior to the restart and how much the stoppage helped the Irishman.

Brian Keogh of the Irish Golf Desk has covered the former Irish Open winner (as an amateur) and covers Lowry's self-called penalty. USGA researchers are trying to determine if it is historic first should Lowry go on to win.

In the morning he banked some crucial karma when he called a penalty shot on himself on his seventh hole, the par-three, 16th and did well just to make bogey and slip back to two over for the day.

“I addressed the ball, and the ball moved back,” he said. “I had to penalise myself. It’s very frustrating in a tournament like that.

“I actually holed a great eight-footer for a bogey on that hole. I think, if I had missed that, it would have been difficult to get back from there.”

Alex Miceli has post-restart quotes from Lowry, who says he would have been happy with four pars.

The pairing with unknown Landry will be interesting, and Rex Hoggard says the blue collar showdown is fitting in Pittsburgh.

Kyle Porter with various notes on Lowry including the records of those with a four-stroke-or-more lead.

Lowry's clutch 18th hole par putt:

This is what it feels like to shoot 65 and head into the final round of the #USOpen with the lead. pic.twitter.com/skdaaK8N8a

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 19, 2016

MLB Takes Priority! Fox Sends U.S. Open Coverage Back To FS1

After an incredibly taxing and downright heroic 11.5 hours straight of bonus-infused coverage on Fox Sports 1 and Fox, the network sent the final 49 minutes of third round coverage back to its less-visible cable channel.

The conflict?

The network's Major League Baseball game of the week pre-game show prior to featuring Cubs-Pirates in much of the country. In the New York market, it was the Mets vs. the lowly Braves.

Given that golf fans are used to majors staying on network TV through the completion of play, the Twitter outrage over the Fox network broadcast of a major championship shifting to a network seen in fewer homes was swift and directed at the USGA.

Did FOX just leave the US Open for a baseball game!! What a dumb thing the USGA did selling out to those guys.....
— Sammy Lane (@samm1968) June 19, 2016

@FOXSports @FS1 dumbest thing ever - switching to a premium channel. Nice move. @usga never use Fox for golf
— Scott Schnaars (@schnaars) June 19, 2016

Fox playing musical networks w/ Major Championship golf for regular season baseball is exactly why the USGA didn't think, only looked at $$$
— Jason Reid (@JReidOneNiner) June 19, 2016

@gatekicker99 @FOXSports @FS1 the worst. They cut to pre-game programming. Could have seen at least 2 more holes. @USGA #fail
— Barry Clegg (@cleggthis) June 19, 2016

Update on 2016-06-19 04:18 by Geoff

**Martin Kaufmann at Golfweek.com had some issues with Fox's storytelling approach and lack of coverage of many players.

Whenever Buck or Shane O’Donoghue would say, “Let’s go to Holly Sonders,” my first thought is: Let’s not. That meant two things: we were leaving action, and we probably were going to see more of Brooks.

Later in the day, Fox lost track of Jason Day, who was chasing Johnny Miller’s 63. Fox belatedly caught up with Day on the 14th tee, when he was 5 under. (He shot a 4-under 66 to get back in the hunt.) We also saw little of Branden Grace, who shot 66 to move into sixth place, and Bryson DeChambeau (T-8), and I don’t think we saw any of Kevin Streelman (T-12), one of only five players to post two subpar rounds this week.

U.S. Opens To Oakmont (2025) & Shinnecock (2026)

President Trump will wrapping up his second term the next time we return to Oakmont, while President Kanye will be in the White House when Shinnecock Hills hosts again in 2026.

My report at GolfDigest.com.

As for why the USGA is locking Shinnecock Hills in even when we still are two years away from their next hosting gig, your guess is as good as mine. Then again, it's one of those venues few are offended to see as often as possible.

Update on 2016-06-18 20:31 by Geoff

**The announcement...

JUST IN: @USGA announces the #USOpen will return to Oakmont in 2025 & Shinnecock Hills in 2026.https://t.co/sPOmeW3use

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 18, 2016

Video: Spencer Levin's U.S. Open Tantrum

I just can't get enough of this childish meltdown during round one's Friday wave of play at Oakmont.

Fox Sports Adjusts, Televising 13 Hours Friday From Oakmont

Pray for a restful night's sleep for those Fox crews, they have a ridiculously long day Friday thanks to the rain delays.

BROADCAST SCHEDULE
 
Date                 Program                                               Time (ET)                     Network
June 17             First & Second Rounds                         8:00 AM - 5:00 PM         FS1
                                                                                    5:00 PM - 9:00 PM         FOX
                                                                                                                                                          
DIGITAL STREAMING SCHEDULE
 
Date              Channel                           Time (ET)                         Platform
June 17          Featured Holes               8:00 AM – 10:00 AM         USOpen.com
                     Featured Groups (Ch. A)         8:00 AM – 10:00 AM  USOpen.com  
                     Featured Groups (Ch. B)         8:00 AM – 10:00 AM  USOpen.com
                     FS1 stream                       8:00 AM – 5:00 PM         FOX Sports GO        
                     Featured Groups (Ch. A)         10:00 AM – 8:00 PM   FOX Sports GO
                     Featured Groups (Ch. B)         10:00 AM – 8:00 PM   FOX Sports GO
                     Featured Holes               10:00 AM – 8:00 PM         FOX Sports GO
                     FOX stream                      5:00 PM – 9:00 PM         FOX Sports GO