U.S. Open: Gary Woodland looks for redemption at Pebble Beach
By Bill Felber
Less than one year after letting a major slip away, Gary Woodland gets a second chance at the 2019 U.S. Open.
Some players never get a chance at redemption. Gary Woodland has had to wait less than a year for his opportunity. He sits atop a stacked field at the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.
It was only last August when Woodland let a 36-hole lead, plus a good chance at a major title, slip away at the PGA Championship. A stroke ahead of Kevin Kisner and two ahead of both Brooks Koepka and Rickie Fowler following opening rounds of 64 and 66, Woodland managed only an even par 140 across the final 36 holes and dropped into a four-way tie for sixth place.
That was the tournament in which Koepka won the third of his four majors by posting weekend rounds of 66-67.
Saturday at the U.S. Open, the 36-hole PGA leader will get the chance to rewrite history. He’ll carry a two-stroke lead into the third round, this time over Justin Rose, thanks to opening rounds of 68-65-133.
Beyond that, it’s Koepka who’s back in the tie for sixth this time, four strokes off the lead.
Aside from their six-year age difference –- Woodland, 35, is the elder – the tournament leader and the two-time defending champion profile similarly. First and most obviously, both are workout fiends who, if not gainfully occupied on a golf course, could make a substantial living teaching fitness classes.
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At .661 Strokes Gained Off The Tee, Gary Woodland ranks 11th on tour this season, fractionally ahead of Koepka (.510, 19th). He ranks 11th in driving distance at 309 yards, a few inches longer than Koepka (308.6 yards, 14th place).
Both also pride themselves on their iron games. Koepka averages .814 strokes gained approaching the green, good for 11th on tour. At .537, Woodland ranks 24th. Brooks is 10th in the percentage of greens hit in regulation, Gary Woodland is 11th.
Neither is especially adept on the greens. At 29.14 putts per round, Koepka ranks just 124th on tour this season. Still that’s better than Woodland, 29.45 putts per round, 179th. Koepka gives away 0.56 strokes per round on the greens, Woodland loses .211.
If Koepka has one clear advantage over the 36-hole leader, it may show up Saturday. Gary Woodland has never finished higher than that tie for sixth at last year’s PGA. He came closest at last month’s PGA, tying for eighth. In both instances, his Saturday play did him in. Woodland shot 71 at the 2018 event and 73 this past month, two and three strokes worse than any of his other rounds those weeks.
That same pattern has hampered the Kansan most of this season. His third round scoring average of 70.53 ranks 175th on tour. Koepka’s third round average is 70.20, good for 92nd.
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Among players ranking in the top 10 for third round scoring average is Rory McIlroy, who happens to enter Saturday’s play in a tie for fourth, one ahead of Koepka and just three behind Woodland. The advantage for Gary Woodland is clear, but he’ll have his work cut out for him ahead of a stacked field.