This year's US Open is at the Congressional CC in Washington,DC. There have been 2 US Open's held there, 1964 when Ken Venturi survived heat exhaustion to win then 1997 when Ernie Els won his 2nd, when Monty missed a 5 footer for par on 17.
It is usually hot and humid in DC at this time of year and this week the weather is scheduled to be in the mid to high 80'sF on Friday and the weekend, with thunderstorms in the forecast every day but Saturday..
Next you need to know this is a long, long course, 7250yds and this time it is a par 71 instead of 70 as it was in '97. There are 8 par 4's over 460 yds long, in fact the 18th is a 523yd brute of a par 4. The 9th in 636 yd par 5 and there is plenty of water..
Last week's heat and humidity has curtailed the growth of the rough, and the greens were rebuilt 2 years ago are looking a bit thin and brown in some cases.
The book on Congressional is that it favours the long bombers who can draw the ball, although Monty who just lost here to Ernie played a fade for his entire career.
I always look for guys in form, guys with good US Open records, guys who play the particular course well when I am previewing an event, so with that in mind here are a few fun categories for guys who could win, or couldn't..
Defending Champ : GMac won last year at Pebble Beach but will not successfully defend here this week. He had a career year in 2010 as we all know, but apart from brief flashes he is not the same guy yet this year. Pebble Beach reminded him of playing in Portrush, Congressional is completely different. He has lost patience with himself repeatedly this year, and will need tons of that this week..
The Bombers : here are 5 guys that haven't met a course yet that is too long..Nicholas Colsaerts may be the longest of them all, and nobody in the States knows him. He is Belgium and won his first pro tourney earlier this year on the Euro tour in China. This is his 1st US Open..Angel Cabrera is playing his 12th, he won it all in 2007 at Oakmont. One of the fastest players in the game he is 7th in driving distance at over 302yds per, and always seems to play well at Augusta and US Opens... Alvaro Quiros playing his 3rd US Open is legendary long off the tee, but not always straight. He has now got a lot of game to go with his length, and although he has not made a cut yet here, but has to be considered.. Dustin Johnson looked the winner last year for 3 days, until his 82 blow up on Sunday. He is another to be considered playing his 4th US Open... Bubba Watson in his 5th US Open hits them Bubba Long !! as the adverts say and he was T5 at Oakmont in 2007 so has been in contention at this level before... On the bench, Robert Garrigus and Gary Woodland have no real US Open form, but are just monsters off the tee..
America's picks: Simply put, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker.. Phil has now been 2nd 5 times in 20 starts, but if it is his week, he has all the game obviously to win. Long, one of the world's best short games and a streaky putter..one of these years he is not going to shoot himself in the foot.. Steve Stricker won Jack's Memorial 2 weeks ago so is in form. A veteran of 15 US Opens, until all the pub over his recent win, he was quietly having a solid season, so his favourite's status is justified.. On the bench : Matt Kuchar is a top 10 machine with 8 so far this year and was T6 at Pebble Beach last year. This is his 6th US Open
Don't be surprised if .. any of these guys win.. Gregory Havrat was 2nd to GMac at Pebble last year and the big Frenchman was 5th a month ago in the Spanish Open. He had to WD from the Wales Open, so his fitness may be an issue...Johan Edfors has finished 4th, 7th and 9th in his last 3 starts. In his 4th US Open he is in the same Puma stable as Rickie Fowler..Francesco Molinari was T5 at his Italian Open last week, is playing this event for the 3rd time, is straight off the tee, one of the world's best long iron players and when in form a great putter. He is now a real world traveller, so this occasion won't intimidate him.. On the bench.. Robert Karlsson and Harrison Frazar were the last 2 standing last week at the St Jude so are in good form and confident and the big Swede was T4 in 2008 at Torrey Pines..
Smart picks.. Jason Day the 22 yr old Aussie in his 1st US Open was 2nd at the Masters, T6 at the Players and 5th recently at the Byron Nelson and he is 19th in driving distance... KJ Choi won the Players and the Tank is playing his 11th US Open. He is steady, straight and is a man of enormous faith. His best finish is T15..Matteo Manaserro is in form right in contention at the BMW PGA at Wentworth, then again at his Italian Open. It's his first US Open and wll be a blast to follow. Rory McIlroy.. why not, he has come out of his Masters meltdown a stronger player, and he is going to win his first major sooner or later, could be this week in his 3rd US Open.. Jim Furyk the ultimate US Open grinder, straight, solid short game, real good putter and the winner in 2003 at Olympic Fields.. always pick him in your pool.. Retief Goosen twice a US Open winner and both times he had a T10 the week before. He was 64,69 last weekend for T3 in Memphis.
My picks A repeat of the BMW PGA at Wentworth.. #1 Luke Donald and #2 Lee Westwood . Luke is 153rd in driving length but #1 in scoring, so he will need to rely on his wedge game, long iron play and of course clutch putting, just as he has on his ride to the world's #1 spot... Lee finished just outside the T10 last week, has already won twice this year and of course was very unlucky to lose that PGA playoff to Luke 3 weeks ago. He has had time to settle in over here now and I just have a feeling this will be his week. All he needs is a few more putts.
Good Luck to our 3 Canucks.. Wes Heffernan, Adam Hadwin and Jon Mills..
What ever happened to??.. Martin Kaymer !! why oh why are you tinkering with your swing young man.. Once the odds on favourite every time he played, he has been struggling of late. Quit thinking, start playing the way you did as you became the world's top player..
Best dressers with a chance : No surprise here.. Ian Poulter winner earlier of the World Matchplay and just for fun Rickie Fowler who as Nick Faldo says has a wardrobe that must be humming in his room at night..
If dream's came true.. big Ernie would have his hands and heart touched by the good putting fairy for just another 4 days, and he would vanquish all those times he was hammered by Tiger and walk off on Sunday afternoon with his 3rs US Open... oh, I just woke up !!..
Follow me here all week and of course your comments are welcome
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
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