For a course that was so long, that it was suppose to bring the best players in the world to their knees, the 117th US Open at Erin Hills certainly failed to deliver. A grand total of 31 players finished with scores that were under par, a US Open record, further proof that length isn't the most important factor as this was the second longest course (almost 7,800 yards) ever used. The course wasn't totally forgiving as it did play havoc with a few of the big boys as the top three and six out of the top 10 players in the world failed to make the cut, including DJ, Rory and Jason.
Brooks Koepka always knew he had the talent and demeanour to win a major championship, but something always seemed to get in his way, usually his putting. But not this time, his 276 total score tied the lowest winning score in US Open history, matching Rory MclLory's score in 2011.
Brooke Henderson, up until now, has not been having the kind of season she was hoping for but the 19 year-old Canadian put it all together last weekend and won her fourth career LPGA tournament, the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan. With the win, trophy and the $300,000 winnings in her pocket, she moves from 15th to sixth place on the money list. Lost in the shuffle is Michelle Wie who has finally turned her career around, finishing in the top five in three of the last four events. Trivia time, name the only female Canadian golfer that has won more than 4 tour events?
By the time you read this, the Vegas Golden Knights will have their team picked for the upcoming NHL season, choosing one player from each of the other 30 teams unprotected list, many who are actually pretty decent in the skill department. In past expansion drafts, the new teams didn't have a whole lot of talent to choose from, but things are different this time around and GM George McPhee is smart enough to take advantage of the situation. The most notable player is three time Stanley Cup winner from the Penguins, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who still has a lot of game and gas in the tank and would be a huge positive force for the expansion franchise. The other one that stands out is Nashville's high scoring RW James Neal, who has had 10 seasons scoring 20 or more goals, something Vegas will desperately need big time.
Will any NHL team sign a player who has 22 seasons under his belt, all with the same franchise? We'll see where Shane Doan ends up after being released by the Phoenix Coyotes, formerly the Winnipeg Jets, who have decided to continue on with their youth movement. Wouldn't it be weird if he ended up back as a Jet? Nah, wouldn't fly, would it?
It should also be noted that the NHL has increased the team salary cap for next season to $75 million, with $55 million being set as the floor, a minimum financial mark that all teams have to reach, ensuring some decent coin for all players on all teams. In case you're interested, the minimum salary for a NHL player for this upcoming season is set at $650,000 while the maximum is set at twenty percent of the league's salary cap, which is roughly $15 mil.
Is MLB slowly going through a "changing of the guard" as far as World Series contenders are concerned? Yes, we still have the Cubbies, Red Sox, Yankees and Dodgers floating near the top but look who's at or near the top in their respective divisions; the Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros and the once lowly Milwaukee Brewers. By the way, if you haven't heard the Cubs' team song, or have forgotten it since the WS, Google "Go Cubs Go", it's real catchy, you'll love it.
Virden Oilers (7-5) last regular season home game is this Tuesday when the first place Oak River Dodgers (9-2) come to town. Boissevain leads the south division with a 9-0 record.
Trivia answer, Sandra Post with 8. Until next time....A
