In golf, nowhere is the margin between good and great, success and failure, or making the cut or missing it greater than at a U.S. Open.

This year, that’s extremely so. Punishing rough, slick greens and more sand than most beaches, have made Oakmont Country Club a brutal test that is humbling some of the best golfers in the world. The hunt for a major championship has become more a test of survival than a birdie-fest.

“It’s really challenging,” said Corey Conners, who hit just six fairways and seven greens. “I definitely found it tough.”

The pride of Listowel, Ont., signed for a four-over 74 which could have been higher had it not been for a hot putter. He was five over on the front side but tried to keep the negative thoughts from his head. He managed two birdies on the back, rolling in a 14-footer on the 11th and an eight-foot putt on the short 14th hole.

“The putter was the saviour,” he said. “I made a lot of par-saving putts, bogey-saving putts, a nice double-saving putt."

That latter stroke came on the seventh hole where he needed to make a seven-footer for a six.

Putting on the........

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