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It is hard to believe that is now 20 years since the late Payne Stewart won the US Open at Pinehurst and this special statue commemorates his victory.

Wonderful to hear that Lee Elder has this week been awarded the Bob Jones Award at Pebble Beach. It is the USGA’s highest honour and he becomes the first African American ever to receive it. Mike Davis, the USGA’s Executive Director said “Lee’s perseverance, positive attitude, and generous spirit personifies the ideals that the Bob Jones Award represents,” His grace and humility demonstrate his extraordinary character, and his work at the community level has paved the way for generations of future golfers. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to honor his incredible sportsmanship in the game.”

Inspired by his beloved Liverpool Football Clubs victory in the Champions League Final in Madrid Tyrell Hatton brought with him this wedge.

Unfortunately it didnt stop him from bogeying 15-18 holes in his first round.

Sensibly, after his behaviour at last year’s US Open, Mickelson has decided not to speak to the media this week, and not overshadow the championship.We know he has had a lot of different issues with the USGA but the way the course looks to be set up this year should not be cause for complaint. It looks prediminantly to favour players who like to hit a fade off the tee, the greens are small and the rough penal, but Mickelson is a course expert here. His putting looks dodgy still, and lying 140 in putting this season, doesnt augur well. But this is Mickelson. As I know from watching him for the past 25 years, anything can happen, including changing his mind about talking to the press.

Rory McIlroy completed his first round at Pebble Beach with one bogey and four birdies to be -3. Like last week when he won the Canadian Open he says he feels ‘free’ and ‘comfortable’.

It was good to hear him praise the greens, bearing in mind all the trouble that the USGA have had from the players about the US Open set ups in recent years. Rory said that the poa annua greens today were ‘perfect’ and ‘wonderful’ completely different from when the US Open was last played there in 2010. The greens are very small and Rory’s group started on the 10th and had them soft before the wind got up. He said he was pleased with his round.

The USGA have admitted they got it wrong – possibly after their “Justin we need to talk” talk with Justin Thomas who was very critical on social media about their decisions bringing in professional Jason Gore as a consultant as he is head of player relations. It sounds as though they have really listened to him.

Patrick Cantlay secured his second PGA Tour victory with a 64 to win The Memorial by 2 shots.4 strokes behind overnight leader Martin Kaymer he had five birdies on the front 9 to close the gap to 2. 3 more birdies on the back 9 lead to a  -19 under pad first victory since November 2018 and a handshake from tournament host Jack Nicklaus. Martin Kaymer had been overnight leader but three bogeys on the back nine left him trailing in third. Woods ended the tournament tied ninth.

Tournament host Jack Nicklaus and his wife Barbara are featured below.