Erin, Wisconsin – Amari Avery had to rent a friend’s club for one of the biggest rounds of her life, but found a way to cut in the open for women in the US.
It was part of an eventful weekend that included attempts to break into the place she was originally staying.
“I say it’s pretty good to say it was wild,” Avery munched after completing the third round at Erin Hills.
Avery’s desperate Friday began around 2am when her family said they had to notify police about suspected people at their Milwaukee location where they were sleeping.
“My boyfriend, mom and dad saw the person outside the door, which was a bit scary,” Avery said. “We stayed a bit far from the front door and we wanted it to be resolved. It was good that the man left and the police came in and made us feel safer.”
They then stuffed things up while Avery’s boyfriend Gavin Aurilia prepares to board a flight from town. One problem: Aurilia accidentally left Avery’s club on her behalf. Avery and Aurilia both played jointly in Southern California.
“We use the same (bag) as USC, so it’s obviously exactly the same. It looks exactly the same,” Avery said. “It was equal to not checking my dad and boyfriend’s bags, but I loaded it in my car. My dad took him to the airport and he grabbed the wrong set. That was it.
Later, potential fallout from this surveillance began to sink.
“I sat at the hotel at 12:30 and ‘I think I’m going to get out of the US Open after a pretty solid round,” Avery said. “I’ve been clearly devastated.”
Avery played Friday morning and was rescued by former USC teammate Gabi Raffels, who is unlikely to make a cut after finishing the first two rounds with seven over pars.
“My agent asked, ‘Do you want to use her club?'” Avery said. “I’m like, ‘Well, how did she play?’ I don’t have anyone in their right mind to give me their club either, if she’s playing well.
“But unfortunately for her, she missed the cut, but that’s fortunate for me, and she’s clearly a very class act and a great friend of mine, so she lends me a club.”
Avery had a 73 card at the club he borrowed in the second round.
She was playing hole 17 on the day darkness forced a pause of play on Friday night. Avery finished the round Saturday morning after her club was already returned to Wisconsin, but rules from the US Golf Association required that she finish the round with the same equipment she used when it began.
Avery reclaimed her own club as Auririan mother flew from Phoenix on Friday to take them from Phoenix.
“I can’t thank her enough,” Avery said. “You can’t fully appreciate the whole inner circle. It’s crazy to jump on such a flight. I’m so grateful.”
Avery actually posted a better score than he did at the club he rented in the second round than he did at the third club. On a day when the overall score was much weaker than the first two rounds, Avery posted a 76, but she was almost at 189 yards of par 3 No. 6.
“Based on the score and based on my feelings yesterday, Gabi’s club honestly felt pretty good,” Avery said. “I called her and then joked with her last night. “Obviously, thank you for lending me the club.” I was like, “I might take your putter.” Just as I love putters, everyone knows it, my college coach said he got putts yesterday.
“I had to take her putter and maybe take it like iron. But no, it was good to get my club back.”