PGA Tour star in mix at U.S. Open despite missing | Golf News

It has been a season to overlook on the PGA Tour for Harry Higgs, but a strong opening at Shinnecock Hills has given the 34-year-old an alternative to flip issues around.

The U.S. Open is proving to be a robust take a look at for some of the world’s most interesting gamers, with Wyndham Clark the only competitor to rise to the problem across both rounds, holding the 36-hole lead at seven-under par.

Higgs had made six tour begins this 12 months heading into the major, each one ending with a missed cut. Yet the Kansan’s season may take a dramatic flip if he can preserve his stunning run at Shinnecock Hills this weekend. Higgs watched his identify climb the leaderboard throughout Friday after starting the day at one-over par, recording birdies on Nos. 3, 5, 6 and 11 to attain three over.

Bogeys on 14 and 16 pulled him back barely, but Higgs stays inside the top 10 after two days and is pushed to maintain his spectacular type, having secured entry to the match as an alternate just days before it teed off.

“I don’t know that I’ve had enough time to wrap my head around that after the finish,” Higgs said of being top 10 at a major championship. “But there’s going to be maybe a quiet reflection on the drive home. Hopefully there’s not a whole lot of traffic, which I’m sure there will be.

“Do more of what I did today. Make the selection to be merely just, like, assured and consider in your self no matter what occurs,” he continued.

“I need to do that in every facet, every golf match. I do not know why it got here. Maybe this is just so onerous that I may shrug off all the unhealthy issues that occurred to me a little simpler, but man, for the first time in a while I actually thought that, like, yeah, I can do this.

“This is Friday. Who knows? I’m sure it’s going to be harder tomorrow, and I’m sure it’s going to be even harder Sunday. I haven’t had that feeling in a while. I would love to recreate it over the next two days, and if I don’t, I’m just going to try my damnedest and see what happens.”

Higgs, who has been candid about his disappointing performances this season and wrestling with anxiety this week, expressed hope that he can preserve his composure when he takes to the course Saturday alongside one of the game’s elite gamers.

“Yeah, I mean, I’m sure you play golf. I’m sure you know. It’s the same for us as it is — yeah, it’s hole-to-hole, shot-to-shot. Today was more of a blanket, this is how I’m going to be today no matter what happens.

“Yeah, I’ve already made the selection. You bought to do it. You bought to keep doing it. You bought to keep doing it. I missed a lot of short putts. I hit a few unhealthy pictures. You know, but I just — I just saved doing it. I just saved doing it. You know, I’m going to tee off tomorrow and be a lot nervous. So is all people. I hope that those subside.”