Status Update 018
A look back at the 2025 U.S. Open
Welcome to Status Update — a free Friday newsletter featuring long and short stories, general ramblings from the week that was, the most interesting things to have recently caught my eye and any other golf-related nonsense I believe to be worth your time.
The Opening Drive
I’ve been thinking a lot about my own golf game in recent weeks as the kid has experienced a little bit of a resurgence with the clubs in hand. Carding a couple of scores of par-or-better in the last handful of rounds, I’ve come to realize that I am not better — in fact I am probably worse from a skill point of view — but just know how to play better.
I understand how to pick apart golf courses more than maybe ever — knowing where to miss, knowing what club to hit, when to be aggressive and conservative and allowing a round to come to me.
It may not seem like much, but it adds up over the course of 18 holes, and I can’t help but think my job is a large reason why I have been able to hone in this skill.
Ahead of the U.S. Open, I decided to walk the course with some players but more importantly with a couple of caddies to get their perspective on Oakmont and the strategy required around it. It was one of those experiences where a couple of years ago imposter syndrome would creep into the walk, but this time it was legitimately cool to be talking the same language — misses, aggressive nature of play, layup zones, carry numbers, etc.
I can’t overstate how helpful this is for analysis, writing and putting out on social media to educate those who may not be on the grounds. It allows one to share your observations, describe the situation and to get out of the way.
Now, I know this is a couple weeks after the U.S. Open and a lot has transpired since — a new PGA Tour CEO has been named, Collin Morikawa has gone after the media AGAIN (which I kind of love, honestly), Keegan Bradley seems like a surefire playing captain and I spoke with Jordan Spieth before he withdrew from the first event of his PGA Tour career (the boys had a field day with that).
But we’ll still talk about my U.S. Open experience because it was my first and because it will be my last major of the year. And because this is my newsletter. Mainly that.
We are hanging up the traveling bags until the Ryder Cup — so to my New Yorkers in the chat, I shall see you soon enough. Without further ado, here are the highs and lows from the U.S. Open.
Scheduling note: I am thinking of making this a Monday morning newsletter instead of a Friday morning newsletter. It just kind of makes more sense. TBD, but you’ll find out when I find out on that decision.
Personal Highlights
The media center location was top notch — directly on the driving range and with a view of the 18th hole from just beyond where guys were hitting their approach shots
Tuesday morning I was the first person out on property and decided to walk the golf course as they were cutting hole locations and mowing the fairways — I might have to make this my new tradition at tournaments
Just brought a few golf balls to check out slopes and got such a good understanding of the golf course
Good for social media stuff too!
Almost at 1500 TOK followers... nbd
There was a local news media member who stole the show in terms of scripting — imagine Loudmouth golf, Malbon and J Lindeberg had a child and it still would not compare to his outfits
It was like playing Where’s Waldo every morning, and yes I made sure to compliment him every morning
The guy next to me in the radio booth was doing local radio and compared TJ Watt’s contract situation to Rory’s media situation and although I don’t think he landed the plane, he at least got it airborne
Water bottles were aluminum cans so it felt like I was downing silver bullets all week
Great coffee — newly obsessed with flat whites (not good for LDL levels)
Had some people sending me pictures of myself on TV — mainly gyms, I feel like our programming is only in gyms — which is always cool to see
Walking the course with colleagues is always good fun and always so different depending on the person — some people talk about only golf, others prefer to talk about anything but, I’m usually somewhere in between
Walked the last few with Phil in what could have been his final U.S. Open — what an odd scene it was as lightning was flashing in the distance, thunder bellowing across the turnpike and barely a soul was there to watch him fail to make the cut in spectacular fashion
I’ve always been a Phil guy — that hasn’t changed
Cool to sit in on the Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller press conference — Miller still has his fastball for what it’s worth
Great down the line view of J.J. Spaun’s final putt
I love talking to the volunteers — met one woman who goes around the country on her own dime to volunteer majors (kind of a psycho move, which I told her). Then I met the husband of the head of investments for Dick’s Sporting Goods — we had a spirited conversation about their recent acquisition of Footlocker
Unsure if this is highlight or lowlight, but I looked like a USGA official for like three days thanks to my friends at B. Draddy and Zero Restriction — had fans, volunteers and media member asking me for directions! I sent them on their way — whether it was the correct way is a different story
Sungjae is a prince. Willy Wilcox is a king.
Guy next to me on the flight home ordered the United charcuterie board as his snack — what a move, I’d never seen it in play!
Was hanging out at the driving range when an unassuming man struck up a conversation with me — Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, what’s going on big fella?
Talked for 15 minutes about a whole lot of nonsense — his golf game, why he didn’t take the VP position, you know the light stuff
He lost me when he said his favorite golfer was Rory
Personal Lowlights
I talked about this on a show but there is a trend going around the country where people are refusing to get up out of their seats on airplanes to let the window person out of the aisle. This happened not only on my way to Pittsburgh but also on my way home!
Also we need to discuss lounge access and general airport etiquette because it is abysmal. The woman sitting next to me in the Pittsburgh lounge was doing a Duolingo lesson with NO headphones. She wasn’t even the worst offender as a guy was having a phone call on speaker phone just a few seats away cussing up a storm! Can people start acting like people again! Jesus.
I believe it was Japanese — I could understand one in every four words
Received word of some very scary medical news on Monday — I have a slightly elevated cholesterol so if I don’t make it just know that I appreciate and love you all
I am all ears if you have any good tips — diet change and additional cardio have been added to the daily routine
I sat a couple seats down from one of my favorite people — Josh Carpenter a.k.a. “The Ice Cream Man” — in the media center but the rest of the immediate row was filled with the worst people in golf media
Sports Illustrated social media guy who makes videos like “DID YOU KNOW…”
CNN who eventually hijacked my seat for one of their colleagues leaving me to sit in the bullpen in the back (which I am quickly finding out is much more preferred)
It was weird to be the only CBS Sports personnel on the ground
I had an event with B Draddy that I drove 45 minutes in the wrong direction for and ultimately missed. Oops!
The media center was 30 degrees in the mornings (not an exaggeration)
The ice cream selection was to die for but I did not partake since I have elevated cholesterol and I don’t want to die
I walked with Sungjae Im and Willy Wilcox for the back nine of their practice round on Wednesday, so naturally being the idiot that I am, I tried to strike up a conversation with Sungjae’s team — one social media guy and his manager(?)
Yeah…they don’t speak English
“SHOES! YOUR SHOES! DO YOU LIKE YOUR SHOES!?!?”
Response: *points to shoes* “Shoes.”
face meet palm of hand
There were a number of storms to roll through the area, and the media center bathroom required a brief walk outside. There was something up with the door where it held water like a bucket at a waterpark and when you opened the door it dumped all of it on you. Does that make sense? It doesn’t feel like I explained that properly, but nevertheless I got a bucket of water dumped on me a couple of times
I was asked to talk about the whole Rory McIlroy, media back-and-forth on air, and it felt like I got scolded for not scolding McIlroy! Just a very weird time in media, especially as it relates to players too
The hotel where I was staying was not located in the nicest location making it quite easy to stay at the course longer than maybe I should
One evening I took my watch off (not that nice of one, mind you) because I might have been a little nervous!!!
Inside the ropes access needs to be examined (similar to lounge access honestly). There was an NBC spotter who was scrolling through TikTok as Scottie Scheffler was playing his final round and then there was this guy who I may never forget
It’s the 71st hole of the U.S. Open, Spaun hits his drive to 20 feet and then this kid approaches me and asks what is happening so you tell him — Spaun is leading by 1 with 1 to play
This kid (whose eyes are as red as the devil’s asshole, not that I would know) then proceeds to get so close to Spaun clapping what seemed at the time right in his face, screaming that this is his tournament. People looked at me like I knew this guy! Last time I talk to a stranger.