Jordan Spieth hits out of the bunker on the seventh hole. Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo
Jordan Spieth hits out of the bunker on the seventh hole. Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo

Defending champion Jordan Spieth six shots off the US Open lead but ‘still in it’



It was far from a sparkling effort, but Jordan Spieth was confident his two-over 72 at Oakmont on Friday would keep him in the hunt for a second straight US Open Golf Championship crown.

“I didn’t shoot myself out of it,” said the 22-year-old world No 2, who was six shots off the pace in the rain-disrupted round carried over from Thursday.

“Ideally, I would have been where the leader is at four-under.

“But I honestly don’t think that was even possible for our tee time.”

Unlike Landry, Spieth could not capitalise on softer conditions.

More from the US Open:

• Five to watch: Phil Mickelson and the five golfers who could spring a surprise at the 2016 US Open

• Past champions: Jack Nicklaus, Ernie Els and the past five US Open champions at Oakmont Country Club

• Preview: Oakmont bunkers a bone of contention for US Open champion Jordan Spieth

One-over through 11 when play was halted for the third and final time on Thursday, he returned on Friday to post one birdie and two bogeys in his final seven holes.

After his bogey at the par-five fourth, he landed his tee shot at the par-three sixth 13 feet from the pin and made that, but gave the stroke back with a bogey at seven, where he was in a greenside bunker.

Spieth said he would have preferred to see the firm conditions that prevailed during the practice rounds.

“Now, you know, it’s still great, but it’s a different golf course,” he said. “Overall, I felt like I played well. I felt like I didn’t quite get rewarded with my score for how I felt like I played.

“A couple tough breaks. It’s a US Open. Still in it.”

Spieth won’t start his second round until Saturday morning, with the third round to start just after.

It’s a similar schedule to the one players in the other half of the field faced Friday, playing all of the first round and as much of the second as they could complete before nightfall.

“We’re going to find out what happens with the guys that are playing 36 today,” Spieth said. “If the sun comes out and the wind kicks up, it could play harder than ours.

“I know that at the end of the day, the USGA is going to try to have even par win the golf tournament, and I know that I can shoot two-under in the remaining 54 holes no matter how the course plays.

“I know I am capable of it. I’m in it.”

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How The Debt Panel's advice helped readers in 2019

December 11: 'My husband died, so what happens to the Dh240,000 he owes in the UAE?'

JL, a housewife from India, wrote to us about her husband, who died earlier this month. He left behind an outstanding loan of Dh240,000 and she was hoping to pay it off with an insurance policy he had taken out. She also wanted to recover some of her husband’s end-of-service liabilities to help support her and her son.

“I have no words to thank you for helping me out,” she wrote to The Debt Panel after receiving the panellists' comments. “The advice has given me an idea of the present status of the loan and how to take it up further. I will draft a letter and send it to the email ID on the bank’s website along with the death certificate. I hope and pray to find a way out of this.”

November 26:  ‘I owe Dh100,000 because my employer has not paid me for a year’

SL, a financial services employee from India, left the UAE in June after quitting his job because his employer had not paid him since November 2018. He owes Dh103,800 on four debts and was told by the panellists he may be able to use the insolvency law to solve his issue. 

SL thanked the panellists for their efforts. "Indeed, I have some clarity on the consequence of the case and the next steps to take regarding my situation," he says. "Hopefully, I will be able to provide a positive testimony soon."

October 15: 'I lost my job and left the UAE owing Dh71,000. Can I return?'

MS, an energy sector employee from South Africa, left the UAE in August after losing his Dh12,000 job. He was struggling to meet the repayments while securing a new position in the UAE and feared he would be detained if he returned. He has now secured a new job and will return to the Emirates this month.

“The insolvency law is indeed a relief to hear,” he says. "I will not apply for insolvency at this stage. I have been able to pay something towards my loan and credit card. As it stands, I only have a one-month deficit, which I will be able to recover by the end of December." 

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Hunger and Fury: The Crisis of Democracy in the Balkans
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Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.

It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.

The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.

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