SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Corey Conners appears to have rediscovered his swing through two windy rounds of the U.S. Open at the challenging Shinnecock Hills course. However, his putting struggles resurfaced on Friday, preventing him from capitalizing on his strong tee-to-green game.
Conners Relies on Feel in Windy Conditions
“I think you can throw all the technical stuff out the window here, in these types of moments, and just use your rhythm, use your feel and use your intuition,” the Canadian said. “Just kind of feel your way through the shots and execute the one in front of you.”
Coming off a missed cut at the RBC Canadian Open and a season-worst 79-78 weekend at The Memorial a week earlier, Conners has regained his familiar ball-striking form. Unfortunately, his putting woes persisted during the second round.
Putting Troubles in Round 2
After reaching three-under par and tying for second place midway through his round, Conners bogeyed four of the final eight holes to finish at one-over par heading into the weekend.
“There are little slopes, some severe slopes, the wind, and the other thing is they’re a little slower than we’re used to,” Conners said of the putting surfaces. “Sometimes you can almost guide the ball to the hole and it’ll keep rolling on faster greens.”
Conners is comfortably beating the field in fairways hit and greens in regulation this week, but he ranks outside the top 100 in putting and was nearly last in the second round. Over his final nine holes on Friday, he missed five putts from inside seven feet, including two four-footers.
“There were a couple I’d certainly like over, but it wasn’t like I was giving them no chance,” he said. “All the putts could have really easily fallen in.”
Unsurprisingly, his swing coach Derek Ingram and caddie Danny Sahl were spotted on the practice putting green waiting for their man after the round.
Shinnecock’s Severe Greens Challenge All
Conners is not alone in struggling with Shinnecock’s severe greens, which have been running slow between 10 and 11 on the stimpmeter to guard against the heavy wind. Overall, it has been a positive two rounds for Conners, who has been one of the most consistent players on tour before this recent blip.
Conners said he enjoys playing in the wind, where his pure ball-striking gives him a major edge over the competition.
“The wind was howling yesterday, but it was warm, so you look around and it kind of feels like you could be at The Open Championship,” he said of the exposed, sand-based Shinnecock Hills course. “There are definitely some characteristics that are similar. I think most links courses don’t have quite as crazy green complexes as this place, but it definitely has a little bit of that feel.”
Other Canadians Struggle
Canadian rookie Sudarshan Yellamaraju, playing in his second career major, finished 36 holes at five-over par and is projected to miss the cut.
“I kind of knew I had to be prepared to go out there and kind of drain my energy for the entire week,” Yellamaraju said. “It wasn’t going to be easy. You would have to play super well to be in control.”
Nick Taylor and Ben Silverman round out the Canadian contingent, and both had work to do to make the cut as they played their second rounds Friday afternoon.
