A Friday Happy Hour KMARK presented by…..no one. Absolutely no sponsors here folks. Never be afraid to forward this newsletter 10k of your best friends.

Grab a Ketel One dirty martini on the rocks (just a little dirty) and let’s see what’s on tap this weekend:

CWS - while your eyes are glued to NBC, consider your old friend ESPN. 2 mid-day games each on Saturday/Sunday including the featured matchup of LSU vs Arkansas (Saturday primetime). Today, as golf ends, get charged up with Louisville and Oregon State. Happy hour, pre-game, Friday night, college ball, charged up. I’m charged up.

US Open - rain in the forecast should keep the greens receptive. More on this below.

NBA Finals - Put up or shut up time for OKC. 5:30pst Friday night. OKC trailed Denver 2-1 in round 2, but this Indy team is playing even more fearless than Jokic and Gang. They’re healthy, at home, and finding contributors up and down the lineup. Haliburton hasn’t put an apex game together yet, but tonight could be the moment. Up 2-1 against the Knicks, Haliburton exploded for 35/15/12. Bartender - one more of those!

Alright, alright Oakmont’s hard. Pros are lookin silly. Doubles come fast and easy. Without levelling an opinion, here’s my interpretation of what we’ve seen so far:

Water - there isn’t any. The rough is the water. But different than finding the pond at Augusta or Sawgrass, you don’t get a clean drop. Find the rough off the tee and you suffer the same penalty stroke plus you have to play your shot from a compromised lie. The pain compounds. More to the point, no course has water on every hole or every shot. Oakmont’s rough is an ever present penalty ready to shake you off par.

Spin - A week of rain softened the greens and more rain should come Friday night. The slope of the greens are causing players trouble (particularly on the short putts), but controlling the spin on your approach is separating good scores from bad. Scottie’s spin control in round 1 frustrated him as much as his driving. This isn’t the same firm greens test featured at Pinehurst or Augusta. From the fairway, players can target flags without fear of the green rejecting the approach shot.

Weekend - Anyone who makes the cut is two good rounds away from the title. It takes 4 consecutive days of going low to win a normal PGA event. The 3M or Charles Schwab is just a race to -22. Even the top of this leaderboard is full of guys with one low round and one round grinding things out. If anyone in the field remaining can post two 68’s, they’d have a great chance to be a champion.

Leaderboard

Potential Future One or Two (Max) Major Winner Like Wyndham Clark: Sam Burns (-3)

European with Ball Flight Goals Who’s Been Knocking At The Door: Thomas Detry (-3)

Not Serious, Sorry: JJ Spaun (-2)

Lurks: Victor (-1), Brookes (+2), Scottie (+4), Morikawa (+4), Rahm (+4), Xander (+4)

Eaten Alive: Rory, Bryson, Cam Smith, Justin Smith, Shane Lowry

You need energy for Dunbar. After 36 the day prior and a 40 minute drive from Gullane, it’s a little hard to get off the bus. Fortunately, Dunbar opens with two short and simple par 5s followed by a downhill, straight par 3. It’s a gentle handshake to help get your skis under you. From there, you cross through the wall (above) and the game begins.

Scotland is full of handsome golf holes. They feature appropriate proportions, attractive angles, and proper accessories. Dunbar features all the above but adds brutish good looks. Miles Teller is handsome, but Brad Pitt is a goddamn movie star. Dunbar leans more Pitt. The course plays out to a far point on the coast and the width and expanse becomes intimidating. Not width as in fairways left and right, but expanse as in massive green complexes, complicated fairways, and a true distant feeling from the clubhouse or other civilization.

I loved Dunbar as much as anywhere else. I enjoyed how present the small towns felt at other courses, but I appreciate how remote the bulk of Dunbar’s holes seem. Crossing through the wall leads you away from comfort and you need enough juice to get all the way home. Getting back to town is an achievement, a welcome sight, and hopefully a cold Guinness before your next round.