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Everyone expected Oakmont Country Club to be a brutal test at this year’s U.S. Open, but Denny McCarthy has put into words just how draining the challenge has been so far.
The cut line alone tells the story, with top names like Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson among the big names heading home early.
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy frustrates fans at US Open as PGA Tour faces growing pressure for rule change
Oakmont has lived up to its reputation over the first two rounds. The thick rough, slick greens, and punishing layout have made scoring difficult across the board.
McCarthy has battled his way to the weekend at four over par and remains in the mix heading into Saturday.
But while he’s pleased to make it through, McCarthy admitted the toll the course is taking on players is obvious.
Denny McCarthy shares how players are finding the U.S. Open at Oakmont
Sitting at four over, McCarthy still believes he has a chance given how tough scoring has been. One or two good rounds could make all the difference.
But according to McCarthy, the field looks and feels battered heading into the weekend.
“Not a ton. Obviously they’re really sloped undulated greens, but there hasn’t been a ton of talk,” McCarthy said.
“It’s just kind of the common theme; everyone seems like they’re exhausted when they come in off the course just because it’s a punch in the face. Even if you’ve played okay and grind it out and shoot a couple under to a couple over, it’s still just a grind. It just takes a lot out of you.”
Over par could once again win the U.S. Open
Jon Rahm predicted earlier in the week that a score above par could be enough to win — and he might be proven right.
There are a handful of players below par, but Oakmont’s margin for error is razor-thin. One bad hole can undo hours of steady golf.
Back in 2007, Ángel Cabrera won the U.S. Open at Oakmont with a total of five over par. While it may not get quite that high this time, another over-par winning score is certainly in play.
Players like Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Jon Rahm will back themselves to hang tough over the weekend.
If the weather stays dry, it could simply come down to who can handle the grind best — and maybe get a lucky bounce or two along the way.
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Rickie Fowler's popularity is giving him an unfair advantage
Rickie Fowler finished T6 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Sunday to barely squeak into the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings and qualify for the BMW Championship. It secured his spot in all eight Signature Events in 2026, but he was lucky to find himself in that position in the first place. Fowler finished outside the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings last season, meaning he wasn't guaranteed a spot in any of the eight Signature Events in 2025. Players in that position can only qualify for those tournaments by cracking the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking or playing their way in through the Aon Next 10 or the Aon Swing 5. However, there is another way. If players can't make it into Signature Events on their own, they can get bailed out with sponsor exemptions. Luckily for Fowler, he's a popular fan favorite and a dream partner for corporate sponsors. As such, the World No. 87 received sponsor exemptions to six of the eight Signature Events on the 2025 PGA Tour schedule. Thanks to a few strong finishes in those tournaments, Fowler earned 319 of his 665 regular-season FedEx Cup points in those six starts. That's nearly 50 percent of the points he earned in 19 total starts. Without those critical FedEx Cup points, Fowler wouldn't have even made the playoffs. Instead, he snuck in at 64th in the standings and used a strong week at TPC Southwind to vault inside the top 50. Credit to him for playing well when he needed to, but he was only in that position because he was gifted opportunities other players weren't. Take Chris Kirk, for example. After struggling for most of the 2025 season, the 40-year-old came to life down the stretch with a T12 at the U.S. Open, a T2 at the Rocket Classic, a T14 at the 3M Open and a T5 at the Wyndham Championship to crack the playoff field. A T9 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship should've been enough to put him in the top 50, but he finished three slots behind Fowler at No. 51. Aldrich Potgieter, who won a PGA Tour event this year, unlike Fowler, wasn't invited to play in any of the eight Signature Events on the schedule. One sponsor exemption may have been enough to push him up a few spots from 51st in the standings. Fans won't be complaining about seeing more Fowler next season, but players on the bubble who weren't given the same opportunities have a legitimate gripe.
Maria Guardiola’s Summer Bikini Photos Have Fans Losing Their Minds (And We Get It)
Well, well, well. It seems like being Pep Guardiola’s daughter comes with its own set of perks – including the ability to break the internet with a simple Instagram post. Maria Guardiola, the 24-year-old content creator and daughter of Manchester City’s tactical mastermind, recently blessed her 907,000 followers with a summer recap that had fans practically worshipping at their phone screens. Guardiola’s Daughter Serves Summer Looks That Put Influencers to Shame Let’s be honest here – while Pep Guardiola is busy orchestrating beautiful football on the pitch, his daughter Maria is orchestrating something entirely different on social media. Her recent Instagram post, captioned with the surprisingly modest “Summer wrapping up,” was anything but modest in terms of impact. The photo dump (because that’s what we’re calling these strategic social media moves now) featured Maria living her best life in ways that would make any 24-year-old jealous. Bikini shots by the pool? Check. Dreamy restaurant visits that probably cost more than most people’s monthly salary? Double check. The kind of effortless glamour that makes you question your own life choices? Triple check. What’s particularly amusing is how Maria has managed to carve out her own empire while her father is out there making grown men cry over football tactics. She’s not just riding on daddy’s coattails – she’s built a legitimate following that hangs onto her every post like it’s the latest transfer news from the Etihad. The Internet Goes Full Meltdown Mode Over Bikini Shots The comment section on Maria’s post read like a love letter convention gone wild. Fans were throwing around words like “angel,” “gorgeous,” and “stunning” with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for last-minute Champions League goals. One particularly creative fan simply commented “Angel,” which, let’s face it, probably took them a solid five minutes to come up with. But here’s what’s genuinely fascinating – Maria has somehow managed to accumulate nearly a million followers without relying on the typical influencer playbook of manufactured drama and controversial takes. Instead, she’s built her brand on lifestyle content, fashion moments, and the occasional glimpse into the Guardiola family dynamics that most football fans would kill to witness. Guardiola’s Family Life Gets the Social Media Treatment What makes Maria’s content particularly interesting is how she occasionally offers glimpses into life with one of football’s most intense managers. Earlier this summer, she and Pep were caught on camera absolutely belting out Oasis classics at a concert in Manchester’s Heaton Park. Watching Guardiola, the man who probably analyzes his breakfast cereal arrangement, letting loose to “Wonderwall” was the kind of humanizing moment that reminds us these football icons are actual people. The fact that Maria conveniently left out any reference to the Oasis concert in her summer recap is almost too perfect. Because nothing says “curated content” like strategically omitting the moment your tactical genius father transforms into a middle-aged man singing along to Britpop anthems. The Content Creator Empire Built on Authentic Glamour Born on December 28, 2000, in Spain, Maria now calls London home – which explains the effortlessly chic European aesthetic that permeates her content. She’s the eldest of Guardiola’s three children with businesswoman Cristina Serra, and watching her navigate the intersection of football royalty and social media stardom has been genuinely entertaining. Unlike many celebrity offspring who seem to stumble through their public personas, Maria appears to have found her groove in the content creation world. Her posts strike that perfect balance between aspirational lifestyle content and relatable moments that keep her audience engaged without feeling completely disconnected from reality. Why Maria’s Success Makes Perfect Sense Here’s the thing about Maria Guardiola’s social media success – it’s not accidental. While her father revolutionized football tactics, she’s quietly revolutionizing how celebrity children can build their own brands without constantly referencing their famous parents. Sure, being Pep’s daughter opened doors, but keeping 907,000 people interested enough to call you an “angel” over bikini photos requires its own set of skills. The irony isn’t lost on anyone that while Pep Guardiola spends his days obsessing over every tactical detail, his daughter has mastered the art of making everything look effortlessly perfect. Those summer photos didn’t just happen – they were curated with the same attention to detail that Guardiola brings to his team formations. In a world where social media success often feels manufactured and desperate, Maria’s approach feels refreshingly authentic. She’s not trying to be controversial or edgy; she’s simply sharing moments from a life that happens to be significantly more glamorous than most people’s reality. So while football fans continue to debate Guardiola’s latest tactical innovations, his daughter continues building her own empire, one perfectly curated Instagram post at a time. And honestly? Good for her.
Pros Predict Dricus Du Plessis Vs. Khamzat Chimaev – ‘That’s A Tough One’
UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis will defend his belt against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev, with MMA pros weighing in on the matchup. Du Plessis (22-2) has been on a tear, winning 11 straight bouts. After dethroning Sean Strickland at UFC 297, the South African standout defended his crown against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and then turned back Strickland again in a rematch at UFC 312. Chimaev (13-0), despite limited activity since 2023 due to injuries, has made a major impact in his few appearances. Victories over former champion Kamaru Usman and elite contender Robert Whittaker have kept his hype alive. Here is how MMA insiders saw the fight playing out. Predictions “That one is tough. I’m going with Khamzat Chimaev. He seemed like a future champ for a long time, and he finally becomes the champ here,” (Diego Ferreira, UFC lightweight) “I think DDP gets it done. I think he survives the first two rounds and then takes over,” — (Drakkar Klose, UFC lightweight) “I’m going with Dricus Du Plessis. He’s too big a guy and has the gas tank to extend this fight,” (Mario Bautista, UFC bantamweight) “I think Khamzat needs to get DDP out in the first or second round to win. Dricus is a tough out for anyone, and I do think Dricus can survive and then take over and even maybe finish Chimaev late,” (Marcus McGhee, UFC bantamweight) “That’s a tough one. If it goes past a couple of rounds, DDP. I don’t think Chimaev has the gas tank to go all five rounds, but I think DDP survives and defends his belt,” (Davey Grant, UFC bantamweight) “Khamzat by submission. He’s the real deal,” (Steve Garcia, UFC featherweight) “I think Dricus has been a very tough cookie to crack, and grappling is his thing. Even if Chimaev gets him down, his bottom game is good, and I think Du Plessis keeps the belt,” (Eryk Anders, UFC middleweight) “Khamzat Chimaev. He’s not cutting weight, and I think he gets another early finish here to send a statement to the whole UFC,” (Terrance McKinney, UFC lightweight)
Jets QB Justin Fields had 'alarming' practice against Giants
New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields found out he has a long way to go following his performance at Tuesday's joint practice with the New York Giants. Per Connor Hughes of SNY TV, Fields started hot at the practice before struggling during the move-the-ball period. "Very interesting practice for #Jets QB Justin Fields," Hughes posted on X. "He finished 7 of 12 with a TD. 5 of 5 to start practice. Then 0 for 4. Finished 2 of 3 with the really impressive TD to Jeremy Ruckert in red zone (starter 18 yard line). "The offensive performance was a bit alarming in move-the-ball period of practice. Fields Co. had three attempts to get down field. They didn’t gain a first down. Only gained yards twice (two short Breece Hall runs). Three sacks. That needs to be fixed. #Giants defense toyed with NYJ during that period." Some Jets fans online thought Hughes was using hyperbole to characterize the practice, but he doubled down on his judgment of the offense. Fields looked strong on his first and only drive in the Jets' 30-10 win over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night. He went 3-of-4 passing for 42 yards and rushed two times for 14 yards and a touchdown. However, the Giants defense at the joint practice is a much better unit than the short-handed one the Packers trotted out for the first preseason game. Fields' issues seen with the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers, with holding the ball too long and not being able to pass consistently downfield, were a factor against the Giants. Following Saturday's game, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said Fields was getting better but had a lot to improve on. Tuesday's practice was a humbling reminder that Fields needs to become a consistent passer if the Jets are going to move the ball on good defenses in the regular season.
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