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Will I Make the Cut? | 2025 US Open
Waking up this morning, I felt good for no specific reason, which is always a promising way to start the day. Sometimes, you just need that extra boost of positivity when you’re bowling on one of the toughest stages in the world — the U.S. Open. My goal is clear: make the cut and stay in the competition. It’s been a wild few days, and today brought plenty of challenges. Let me walk you through it.
Managing the Mental Game
Bowling is as much mental as it is physical. Before heading to the lanes, I often take 20 or 30 minutes to relax and visualize the day ahead. I close my eyes and picture how I want to play each game — where I expect to stand, how the lanes might transition, and what adjustments I might need to make along the way.
Today, I woke up with a pretty solid vision. The lanes for this round featured a 52-foot flat oil pattern. That means there’s very little room for error, and even the slightest miscalculation can ruin your shot. The pattern makes every decision — from ball choice to where you play — absolutely critical.
Tackling the Transition
Transition was the name of the game today. Early on, I noticed that the lanes were changing faster than expected. Watching a few guys from the earlier squad, I saw balls checking up early or going through the nose, even when the shots looked solid off the hand. Thankfully, I’d prepared myself mentally for this.
My strategy? Keep my moves preemptive. If something doesn’t feel right, I’ll take a small two-and-one adjustment to get ahead of the transition. Of course, this approach has its risks. Move too soon, and you’re left with a weak 10-pin instead of a strike. But move too late, and the lanes punish you hard. It’s a fine line, but one you need to master at this level.
Bowling Through the Struggles
The first game wasn’t bad — a 210 out of the gate. Not spectacular, but it’s a long tournament, and every decent game counts. What followed, though, was a bit of a rollercoaster. Some shots felt amazing coming off my hand, only to result in brutal breaks or tricky splits. The adjustments I made weren’t always enough, or they were too much. Still, I fought through.
One game sticks out as particularly frustrating. I hit a patch where I thought I’d figured something out, only for the lanes to shift again, leaving me scrambling to keep it together. The oil pattern is inconsistent like that — move too little, and you go high; move too much, and the ball skids too far.
Trial, Error, and Slight Redemption
Midway through the day, I had to rethink my approach. I switched to a cleaner ball and started playing a little further right, targeting the areas where I was getting too much early hook. Shoutout to Timmy for suggesting the move — it saved my session. It wasn’t perfect, but it allowed me to salvage some solid 220 games and avoid complete chaos.
Unfortunately, the day ended on a tricky pair, where I just couldn’t find the right look. A chopped spare in the 10th left a sour taste, but I walked away 75 pins over par. On a day filled with ups and downs, I’ll take it. No bad games, no great games — just grinding and staying alive.
Reflecting on the Venue
I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with this bowling center. I’ve won here before and made shows, but it feels like my ball doesn’t enjoy striking in this building. When it works, it’s magic. When it doesn’t, it’s a grind. Today was a grind.
Over 18 games of qualifying, I’ve had just one exceptional game. Every other one has felt like a fight — single pins, bad breaks, tough transitions — you name it, I’ve dealt with it. Sometimes, it feels like I need to make a deal with the bowling gods to catch a little luck.
A Fun Moment Amid the Chaos
Amid all the tension, a bright spot came when I bowled with Carter. He showed me a photo from 10 years ago when we took a picture together in this very building. We recreated the moment today, and it was a great reminder of how much history this sport holds. Carter’s an amazing young bowler, and I told him this won’t be his last U.S. Open.
What’s Next?
The key objective today was simple: make the cut into match play. Mission accomplished. Tomorrow, I’ve got 24 round-robin games to tackle, and there’s plenty of time to climb the leaderboard. I’m not worried about an immediate win. Right now, it’s about staying consistent, making smart choices, and keeping myself in contention.
Bowling is full of twists, turns, and unpredictability. Whether it’s lane transition, tough breaks, or finding your rhythm, every game is a battle. I’m ready to fight again tomorrow — hopefully, with a little luck on my side.
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Until next time, stay tuned for more updates from the U.S. Open grind.
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