US Open: Sportsmail brings you this year’s ups and downs in Brookline, Massachusetts

The 122nd US Open took place in Brookline, Massachusetts this year, with several star golfers in the mix to win on a surprising final day.

English golfer Matt Fitzpatrick has arguably had the defining moment of his career, with the 27-year-old pushing all the way with some of the biggest names in the sport right now and establishing himself amongst the elite.

sports mailDerek Lawrenson’s Derek Lawrenson describes the ups and downs of this year’s tournament, both on the links and off the field.

A contest to the finish: Punters enjoy the final day of the US Open 2022 at Brookline

HIGH: FENWAY PARK

What a delight to watch the Boston Red Sox, the other team owned by John W Henry, play at his baseball home. Nice touch to have Liverpool FC memorabilia in the shop too.

Fenway is often compared to Anfield but, partial, I know, it’s not that great. In fact, with uncomfortable seats and poles blocking the view, it’s more like Goodison Park.

THE COUNTRY CLUB

It’s amazing how your view of a course can change when the atmosphere isn’t wild and American golfers aren’t acting like idiots.

The childhood home of Francis Ouimet, a self-taught former caddy who won the US Open in 1913

Twenty-three years after that vile Ryder Cup, I loved walking past Francis Ouimet’s house on 17th Street every morning. His inspiring victory at the 1913 US Open might truly be the greatest story the sport has ever told.

RORY MCILROY

Sure, golf is bigger than a man, but imagine for a moment if Rory had accepted hundreds of millions of dollars to join the Saudis. Surely many more stars would have followed in his footsteps. He is now the savior on the barricades, desperately trying to protect the game from himself, and fair game for Jon Rahm and young Americans for joining his crusade.

BASS: LIV SERIES

Where else to start with the minimums? Even at a fantastic US Open there was no escaping the constant chatter in the locker room and beyond. In sports, you often wonder where a game will be in five years. In golf right now, you don’t even want to think about a year from now without the sight giving you a sense of dread.

Kudos to Rory McIlroy (pictured), John Rahm and others for resisting the riches of the LIV Series

USGA PRESS CONFERENCES

Imagine the level of complacency three men must have to talk for 32 minutes without allowing a single question? As the audience slept, he joked about his caffeine levels and other such important topics. I’ll be nice and not name them, but suffice it to say: come on, gentlemen, you can do much better than this. She was playing into LIV’s hands.

LATE GAME TIMES

On Friday, Rory came out with a good line when he said he was glad he wasn’t leading as it meant he wouldn’t have to start at 3:45pm on Saturday. What a joke of a late start time. By the time the final group reached 18, it was cold, almost dark, and many fans had headed for the hills. More help for LIV. The game doesn’t help itself sometimes.