LIV, laugh, love?
Matt Fitzpatrick took home the U.S. Open win on Sunday, but there was another major story that brewed throughout the week leading up to his win.
MORE: Why PGA Tour players are defecting to new golf circuit
LIV Golf Series players were eligible to play in the golf major tournament in Brookline, Mass., meaning Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and others were on the course at The Country Club.
The LIV Golfers didn't fare too well, though. While the PGA Tour defectors aren't too far removed from playing on the PGA Tour and related events, for some it looked like it was their first time on a course. Maybe it was nerves, maybe it was pressure, or maybe it was just a difficult course to play.
Phil Mickelson with a tidy 4-putt.
— The Plugged Lie (@PluggedLiePod) June 16, 2022
That was 14 putts thru 6 holes. 😳 #USOpen pic.twitter.com/0FsoQkOH4t
The Country Club is still a notoriously tough course, so it's not as if the LIV golfers were overmatched.
That said, it might be the last week that members of the LIV tour get to play in the U.S. Open — that is, if USGA boss Mike Whan reconsiders certain qualifying aspects of the 2023 edition.
If this is the end for LIV golfers, then they went out with a flutter and not a flourish. Here's how they played:
LIV Golf players at the U.S. Open
It was a down weekend for LIV golfers at The Country Club, with Dustin Johnson one of just a handful of golfers to make it through all four rounds.
Here's how LIV Golf Series players played at the 2022 U.S. Open:
| Place | Golfer | Score |
|---|---|---|
| T-24 | Dustin Johnson | +4 |
| T-43 | Richard Bland | +8 |
| T-49 | Patrick Reed | +10 |
| T-56 | Bryson DeChambeau | +13 |
| Cut | Phil Mickelson | +11 |
| Cut | Louis Oosthuizen | +6 |
| Cut | Kevin Na | +5 |
| Cut | Talor Gooch | +5 |
| Cut | Sergio Garcia | +4 |
| Cut | Shaun Norris | +8 |
| Cut | Sam Horsfield | +6 |
| Cut | Branden Grace | +5 |
| Cut | Jediah Morgan | +16 |
| Cut | James Piot | +4 |
Who won the U.S. Open in 2022?
Matt Fitzpatrick took home his first major victory in winning the 2022 U.S. Open at Brookline.
Fitzpatrick has history with the course; he won the 2013 Amateur championship at The Country Club, becoming the first Englishman to win the tournament.
MORE: Everything you need to know about Matthew Fitzpatrick
U.S. Open leaderboard 2022
Here's how the top 10 shook out at the Country Club:
| Rank | Player (country) | Score (hole) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Matt Fitzpatrick (ENG) | -6 (F) |
| T-2. | Scottie Scheffler (USA) | -5 (F) |
| T-2. | Will Zalatoris (USA) | -5 (F) |
| 4. | Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) | -3 (F) |
| T-5. | Collin Morikawa (USA) | -2 (F) |
| T-5. | Rory McIlroy (NIR) | -2 (F) |
| T-7. | Denny McCarthy (USA) | -1 (F) |
| T-7. | Adam Hadwin (CAN) | -1 (F) |
| T-7. | Keegan Bradley (USA) | -1 (F) |
| T-10. | Gary Woodland (USA) | E (F) |
| T-10. | Joel Dahmen (USA) | E (F) |
Click here for the entire 2022 U.S. Open leaderboard