EMAIL

If someone told you, going into a golf tournament, that you'd shoot the following scores over four days:  61, 68, 66, 63, you'd probably call them a liar, laugh and walk away.  For Kenny Perry, however, those four scores were his reality and they also meant the reality of setting a brand new tournament record for lowest score.  Impressive?  We think so.

Kenny Perry Sets New Record

That's right, the Travelers Championship is over and we know who came out on top, who was chasing and just how impressive the entire field of golfers really was.  Word was that the conditions on the course at the TPC River Highlands were so good for scoring that someone, somehwere was going to break some records, but nevertheless, it takes an amazing amount of skill and even stamina to post a final score of -22.  While I'm sure Kenny Perry is beyond excited for this victoy, and for the 500 Fed Ex Cup Points he received for winning it, thereby catapulting him to the top of the Fed Ex leaderboard, I'm sure he is just as excited that he didn't melt down like he did a few months back at the Masters.

No Masters Meltdown at Travelers

Back in April, when Kenny Perry was about to close out the Masters and take home the Green Jacket, he had a meltdown that led to a bogey-bogey finish and ended up costing him the tournament.  It was smooth sailing for Perry this weekend, despite coming into the final round a stroke behind Paul Goydos.  When asked about both the Masters, and his mindset for finishing this tournament, Perry said:

"Everyone kind of asks about the Augusta hangover deal.  I guess I kind of shoved that aside a little bit. So that makes me feel pretty good....I knew that I had to keep making birdies," he said. "I wasn't going to let up. I wasn't going to play defensive golf. I learned something from that mistake."

Well Played Kenny

Staying on the offensive was exactly what it took.  Congratulations Kenny Perry, well played.

(Image via Rogash/Getty Images)

 EMAIL

He's only 36 holes into the U.S. Open but he's already set a record that absolutely no one saw coming.  That's right, the 2002 U.S. Amateur Champion, Ricky Barnes, is the current leader at the U.S. Open and finished up his second round today, after starting it yesterday.  When he left the course this morning and finally got to rest in the clubhouse, he'd set a brand new U.S. Open 36-hole record, which he'd done by posting a first round 67 and following it up with a second round 65.

-8 After Two Rounds

That's right, he's sitting at -8 after only two rounds, and considering the fact that the U.S. Open is at Bethpage Black, one of the trickiest courses in the world, that's saying something.  In addition, weather has been and continues to be a major factor in play throughout this tournament.  You already know that it completely delayed and finally cancelled first round play, and then caused players to have to play the rest of their first round on Friday, as well as start their 2nd round.  That's exactly what Barnes did, and finished up that 2nd round today, extremely impressively, we might add.

Barnes Surprised but Not Shocked

When asked about the new record, and the fact that his new record is only giving him a slim, 1-shot lead, here's what Barnes had to say:

"If you would have told me I would have been eight under par and have only a one-shot lead, I would've said, You're kidding, but I'll take it...It was solid play. My ball-striking was the most impressive part of the first 36 holes. I hit 31 of 36 greens. It was pretty stress-free. Could I have predicted I would shoot 132? No. Did I know I had it in me? Yeah, I'm starting to play well."

Can He Hold On?

We'll see how he holds on in the last two rounds.  That is, if the last two rounds even happen, it seems Mother Nature has it out for this year's U.S. Open, and more negative weather is expected throughout today and tomorrow.  This could be one of the longest U.S. Open's in history.  Not that we're complaining.