‘Sometimes it’s good to be a bit different’: Golfers praised The Country Club, Boston crowd at US Open

Although he wasn’t in a position to pull off a hometown win on the 2022 US Open, New England native Keegan Bradley left little doubt how a lot he loved enjoying at The Nation Membership in Brookline.

“I feel it’s among the finest golf programs on the earth, and alongside in all probability the very best sports activities followers on the earth,” Bradley stated. “Mix these two, and also you get this out right here.

“The Nation Membership is spectacular,” he added. “I completely cherished it. It’s my favourite U.S. Open venue I’ve ever performed. Any time you get to play a match in Boston, it’s electrical. The followers are the very best.”

Bradley left little doubt about how he would really feel a few match coming again to the Boston space:

It was a view shared by the eventual champion, Matt Fitzpatrick, who had additionally gained in Brookline on the 2013 US Beginner Championship.

“I like enjoying this golf course,” Fitzpatrick stated afterward. “It fits me so effectively. It fits my sport effectively. I’ve been enjoying effectively for some time, and I feel all of it simply fell into place that this was the place it was going to occur.”

As for the native Boston crowd, Fitzpatrick was requested how he saved calm regardless of the plain pleasure.

“It felt like [my caddie Billy Foster] and me had been going to get stampeded, however we didn’t. We’re positive. I like that,” Fitzpatrick defined. “I like when the group is happy and loud. It’s what makes it extra thrilling. I like soccer, and I like the environment in that. I do know golf’s totally different, and it’s acquired to be all good and calm and all the things, however generally it’s good to be a bit totally different.”

As for the course — laden with challenges — golfers had been “general” pleased with the expertise.

“I assumed it was nice,” stated Rory McIlroy, who completed the weekend tied for fifth at 2-under par. “I assumed [there were] a number of funky tee photographs, a number of tee photographs I’m glad to not see once more for a number of years. However general, actually good setup, nice US Open.

“To have the ability to play this championship particularly so near huge cities, I feel that’s actually, actually essential,” he continued. “Nice environment, nice crowds. It was a extremely good week.”

Trying again on their time at The Nation Membership, golfers appeared to benefit from the strategic challenges posed by the course.

Scottie Scheffler, who completed tied for second place at 5-under par, concurred with McIlroy about it being a “good setup.”

“Nothing unfair, nothing loopy. It was only a good check,” Scheffler stated. “Particularly a day like as we speak the place the wind truly calmed down just a little bit. Whenever you’re hitting high quality photographs, you’re going to get rewarded for them.

“Then the final three days with the winds we performed in, popping out of our wave it was actually troublesome, and we type of [had to] grind it out,” he added. “It was a ton of enjoyable. It’s satisfying to have the ability to battle towards this golf course.”

Collin Morikawa, who tied with McIlroy for fifth place, had one criticism, although he agreed with the general sentiment.

“Apart from the tiniest chipping inexperienced, I assumed it was the very best place I’ve performed shortly,” he stated. “There’s solely been a handful of programs the place I actually step foot on property, and also you see it for a brief time frame, and then you definately suppose you’re going to find it irresistible, and this was one among them. There’s no B.S. round that. It’s a very good golf course.”

“You actually need to plot your approach across the course. You’ve acquired to suppose by it,” Morikawa identified. “I assumed it was a course that you could possibly play fairly effectively at and a course that might type of damage you within the again fairly rapidly. I feel I acquired each ends of that, however general, yeah, I cherished it.”