Smiley Kaufman had a front row seat to one of the most dramatic endings in U.S. Open tournament history on Sunday.

A Birmingham native who attended Vestavia Hills High School before playing collegiately at Louisiana State University, Kaufman currently serves as a commentator for NBC's golf network.

During the performance Please excuse my opinion On the podcast, Kaufman analyzed four-time major champion Rory McIlroy's upset finish in which he bogeyed three of his final four holes and then missed two putts inside four feet on the 16th and 18th holes to lose by one stroke to Bryson DeChambeau, one of the most popular players in golf right now.

DeChambeau won the tournament with a miraculous par on the 18th hole, landing a 40-50 yard bunker shot into just 4 feet.

.translator Analysing Rory's putting collapse at the US Open pic.twitter.com/yo9F7rHi9L

— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) June 17, 2024

“I can’t think of a better golf event. that “It was the most entertaining golf I've played in the last 10 years,” Kaufman said of McIlroy's dramatic collapse heading into the 14th hole while trailing DeChambeau by two strokes. “No. 16 was inexcusable…I don't know what happened with that three-foot putt that he missed. I actually walked away saying, 'Oh my God, he missed it.' The possibility of missing that putt never even crossed my mind.”

“The 18th was a really interesting putt because I was walking back and watching. I saw it inside left, center left. I heard that from Max. [Homa]…He said [Justin Thomas] He hit that putt in a practice round and said it was a really weird putt… so it was a tough putt, but after Bryson hit it in the bunker, we [2 hole playoff] And Bryson went out there and made an unreal shot.”

Kaufman's coverage on NBC is hailed as some of the best golf content out there, and he also hosts a podcast. Smiley Show.

Michael Browner is a senior sports analyst and contributor to Yellow Hammer News. You can follow him on Twitter. translation: Listen to him weekdays from 6am to 9am. WNSP-FM 105.5's “Opening Kickoff” Available online for free.