U.S. Amateur champion Ricky Barnes’ third U.S. Open didn’t exactly get off to the start he was hoping for Thursday.
Minutes before Barnes’ 7:30 a.m. tee time, the head of his driver flew off the shaft on the practice range. Barnes’ brother and caddie Andy hustled to come up with the only replacement he could find, and Barnes used it to shoot a 1-over-par 71.
“I played a driver that was a little different length and loft,” Barnes said. “It was a struggle going to the first tee knowing you don’t have your regular driver in play on a U.S. Open course, which is usually pretty long.”
Olympia Fields is playing at 7,190 yards this week.
“It bothered me at the time a lot,” Barnes said. “You don’t know if the ball is going to come out right or left. I missed the ball to the right all day with [it]. And on the last hole I tried to swing it and force a draw and I kind of sniped one [left] instead.”
