SO....
We arrive at the second Major of the year, the US Open, this year being held at Oakmont Golf Club, outside Pittsburgh, reputably, America's most difficult course - a devilish par 70 hilly layout.
The frankly ridiculous 288yd par 3 eighth, the cough cough, very short, 667yd par 5 twelth, long, punishing rough, 25 yd wide fairways and greens that are slicker than a lubed-up eel (stimpmeter value 13!!!), lie in wait for the hopefuls this week.
Eight over par come sunday may well win the prize, and we (as punters) will have to look for accuracy off the tee, combined with length, and almost certainly a fair amount of experience and PATIENCE, plus the nerves of steel with a flat stick. Difficult? Absolutely. But it looks (on paper anyway) as though this could be a really open Open (if you catch my drift).
A few notes on the golfers heading the market and some longer shots...
WOODS: The hot favourite (of course) at 3-1. Drifting though, no value, and easy to oppose this week. I hear Woods has been struggling to focus during practice, because the tournament is bringing back memories of losing his father at this time last year. Woods has made two visits to Oakmont last week, and has suggested he'll use his driver sparingly- instead opting instead for his now trademark "Stinger (low, punchy) 3 wood" off tight tees. Hard to be enthusiastic about, but as usual, the best golfer in the field - by a country mile.
MICKLESON: Has the game, especially as he's found a driver that he likes, and can hit a long, long way. One concern is his wrist injury - there's no doubt that the fearsome rough at Oakmont will test Lefty's wrist - beware the injured golfer, but maybe Oakmont has just come too soon for Big Phil, or maybe not....?!!!
SINGH: Difficult to get behind the Willowy Fijian, as he is STILL chopping and changing his putters. Belly putter to short. Short to Belly. This week we need a pro who is comfortable with his flat stick, if only to salvage 6-8' par putts. Maybe not VeeJay.
FURYK: Interesting. Very interesting. Experienced. Patient. Straight-hitting. Due one. Possibly a real contender this week.
ELS: Won at Oakmont in 1994 but not playing in the same rich vein of form this year. He would quite literally have to turn his season around to win here, but maybe, just maybe, his memories of 1994 may help him in that quest? Not for me though.
SCOTT: Unlike Els at the moment, in a rich vein of form right now. One to consider, and about time he added to his only real big win so far, the 2004 TPC at Sawgrass.
GOOSEN: Has looked disinterested recently. BUT, (and he is amazed people don't give him credit for this), he is a recent DOUBLE U.S.Open champion, and you ignore the dull South African at your peril!
HARRINGTON: Playing very well at the moment. But prone to errors in big tournaments.
DONALD: Cool, calm, collected. Patient. Striaght as a die. Used to American courses, based in Chicago so used to the Pittsburgh set-ups. Could do well, if he can find some sort of (alien to him) "Killer instinct"...
GARCIA: Has the tee-to green game, but NOT the putting head (he's awful on the dance-floor) and no patience either. I don't think so.
G.OGILVY: Possibilities for last years winner at Winged Foot, and would continue the awful American run in their own open, should he win. But I prefer others...
JOHNSON: Masters winner already this year, and the best American golfer this year, so far. But surely "Gad" can't be on his side at Oakmont AND Augusta, even if he is omnipotent! I think he's got another major in him, but he's not good enough to win two in one year is he? Withdrew from last weeks warm up with a severe throat infection, but ok now, and lies a lofty 4th in the driving accuracy statistics on the tour - imperative here...
STENSON: Real chances. Long, straight and experienced enough. Could Henrik be the European to end our "Major Drought"? Very possibly...
ROSE: Another real chance, and playing well, though recent niggly injuries concern me a bit. May challenge, may end the weekend on the leaderboard, but I just cannot see him winning.
CINK: Has everything he needs in his bag, but one thing. The confidence and belief he can actually win a major. The "nearly man" may go close again, but may not walk away with the spoils, or will he? I've put a few REAL bets on Cink in my time - do we give him another chance?
TOMS: David Toms' only drawback is his relative lack of length. Everything else fits the bill, but because of his "shortness", I'll cautiously dicount him. He's sure to be in the thick of things with his accuracy, but maybe not a winner come sunday...
SABBATINI: Playing very well indeed at the moment. But has the patience of a small child with ADHD, stuffed full of E numbers. Easily the least patient, most hot-headed player on tour, and that will mean (like Monty) he will NEVER win a U.S. Open, even though he possibly has the all round game for it.
CHOI: Recent winner. Other than that, not really.
IMMELMAN: Has played really well this year until recently. His sketchy form recently though can be excused - he has been really quite unwell with severe recurring food-poisoning, (he's lost 22lb in weight because of it). I think Immelman, if completely fit, may well be a dark horse at Oakmont.
O'HAIR: Another real outsider to REALLY consider. Long AND straight, (the best on tour in fact) - if Sean O' Hair can sink a few par putts, he may well walk away with this whilst no-one is looking. Bang on form too.
CASEY: Long enough, but maybe not straight enough. Do his Ryder Cup comments still count against him in the U.S. of A? I think so, no matter how much he pretends they don't.
VERPLANK: Consistent. Straight. Experienced. Patient. Great putter. Recent winner (after a 6 year gap from victory). Another ex-betting favourite of mine. Usually the Bridesmaid, bu maybe... just maybe... he can get to the aisle this week. Nerves will be key for Scott...
ALLENBY: Another real chance here, at huge odds 100-1. very good GIR figures, has recently bounced back to top-class form, and has all the shots in his bag. Good U.S. Open form too- seventh in the almost unplayable Shinnecock Hills in 2004. I think Allenby may well win this, or at least go close, if he can sort out his putting, which can be a bit dodgy.
OK. There you go. Make of all that what you will.
I've decided to back a couple of my old stalwarts, throw in the man that everyone seems to be backing at present, the new kid on the block (the best value in the entire field) and an injured warhorse...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SELECTIONS:
JOHNSON £1 e/w 50-1
CINK £1 e/w 50-1
VERPLANK £1 e/w 80-1
MICKLESON £1.50p e/w 18-1
FURYK 75p e/w 20-1
Current balance before tournament: £432.63p
Stake: £10.50p
Balance after stake: £422.13p
==============================================
RESULT:
JOHNSON: =45th
CINK: m/c
VERPLANK: =7th
MICKLESON: m/c
FURYK: =2nd
WINNINGS: £4.50p
PROFIT/LOSS:- £6
CLOSING BALANCE: £426.63p
COMMENT: Not a great result for "Twenty-Six", it could have been MUCH better if Jim Furyk had not tried to drive the 306yd par 4 17th, (which he inevitably bogied, and made him eventually finish tied 2nd with Woods).
A fantastic result though for Cabrera (and I suppose, the European Tour). Angel is a great player, thats for sure, but I'd never have him for the US Open. Famed for smashing the balls miles (but NOT his accuracy), his very good putting (which possibly won it for him at Oakmont), and his love of Wentworth - I do like the burly Argentine - but then again, I'm a big fan of all the Argy golfers - especially the ever-smiling (champs tour now) Eduardo Romero.
Anyway, neither Woods nor Furyk could catch Angel, even though he gave 'em a chance by dropping two strokes late on.
As for my other selections, Cink started well, then had a horrid 2nd round 80 - and missed the cut. Big Phil did the same (maybe his wrist is still a bit sore), Johnson was never in it but at least boring boring Scott Verplank at least was on the leaderboard come sunday night.
Interesting to see Bubba Watson (the longest driver in the world) make the sunday final leaderboard also - like Cabrera, I'd never given hima chance.
If one is THAT long - (like Angel and Bubba), does that negate the need for pinpoint accuracy these days at Oakmont? Possibly, though possibly not as David Toms did what he promised to do.... play solidly, hit every fairway 80 yards behind the big guns, challenge but never really for the win.
Overall - great to see a European tour Stalwart and an Argentine make off with the loot, but not one of the best results for "Twenty-Six". Let's do better in the next major, eh...?!
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