Golf:A US A US OPEN Miscellany
Heir not so apparent: Garcia gracious despite strugglesIT WON'T be lost on Sergio Garcia that, at a time of Rory McIlroy's arrival as the would-be king of the game, the position of heir apparent was one he once held, but never managed to attain.
Without a major win in his career, the talented Spaniard has shown some flashbacks to this old self here in reaching the midway stage on 140 – two under – but still expressed concern about his own game as he sought to pursue halfway leader McIlroy going into the weekend.
“If you’re hitting it all over the shop, it’s quite difficult to give yourself chances. You’re fighting to make pars.”
Indeed, Garcia was so concerned about the state of his game that he added: “I have bigger worries than Rory McIlroy.”
Still, if he wasn’t to win, McIlroy would be his choice. “He’s a wonderful player, very nice kid. I get along very well with him, too. It would be nice. Even if what happened at Augusta would have not happened, it would be nice for him to win. I think he deserves it.”
Back to Chicago
ALTHOUGH there are whispers President Barack Obama may yet make a visit to tomorrow’s final round, he has been handed an invitation to include next year’s Ryder Cup at Medinah on his calendar.
US captain Davis Love gave the president an invitation to the biennial match when it is held on his old stomping ground in Chicago.
“Hopefully he’ll come,” said Love, who attended the White House on Wednesday with Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson.
The golfers gave the president a present of some clubs and a new bag in advance of a round Obama is due to have with the US Speaker of the House John Boehner today.
A fan of sorts
BRANDT Snedeker – who shot a second 70 for 140, which in any other US Open would leave him handily placed – wasn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet but still felt obliged to join the McIlroy fan club of sorts.
“I think everybody would agree Rory’s probably got more talent in his pinky (finger) than I have in my whole body. He is unbelievably talented, shooting those kind of numbers and swinging the golf club the way he does. He does everything well.
“I love watching him play because its a very classical, beautiful golf swing. Once he matures and starts being out here for a while, and being in these kind of situations, I think he’s only going to get harder to beat.”
