Thursday tee times click here
http://www.majorschampionships.com/usopen/2012/scoring/tee_times.cfm
For a live scoreboard click here
http://www.majorschampionships.com/usopen/2012/scoring/index.cfm
This US Open as always has as many story lines as it does possible winners. With "parity" being so prevalent in today's game (26 first time winners last year) this year is wide open.
I will be interested to see if the USGA has set the course up fairly. Reports are that the fairways are already running fast, and at Olympic that is more crucial than at other US Open courses because at least 6 of them are cambered against the direction of the dogleg. Many decent drives are going to end up rolling down the camber into the
branca at the bottom.
The first 6 holes are the key to this course, #1 now a 520yd par 4, #3 a 250yd par3 with nothing but trouble between the tee and the green. #4 a big dogleg left par4 with a cambered fairway and #5 is the reverse of 4, then at 6 a 500yd par 4, they are hitting anything from 6 iron down to rescue clubs into a green with 2 bunkers protecting the approach. In addition they have shaved off the rough around the greens at the 210yd par3 13th for example..
Jack Fleck won in +7 back in 1955, Casper at -2 in 66, Simpson at -3 in 87 and Janzen at E in 98..For sure Rory's -16 at Congressional last year didn't go down well with the USGA.
Despite all the media reports about Tiger and Phil and Bubba being paired together, Tiger and Phil, Phil and Tiger as if it were match play.. It's an exciting grouping for sure, but again folks.. this is not all about Tiger and Phil.. For example the defending champion and world #2 is paired with the world's #1 and 3.. remember them Rory, Luke and Lee ??
So how will 14 yr old Andy Zhang do, will someone win his first major ( see Luke Donald or Lee Westwood ), can Rory repeat, can Bubba do without his baby for 4 days...Jason Dufner the hottest golfer on tour right now...Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, both in form..on and on the possibilities are endless this year.
I'll be writing here all week as always and am hosting the Morning Show all week and next at
www.thenextsportstar.com
Notables
Donald, McIlroy, Westwood 1.20 #1
Watson, Mickelson, Woods 7.33 #10
Here are the pgatour.com picks..
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Bill
Cooney |  |  | LEE WESTWOOD. Eventually Westwood has to win a major, right? In six of his past 10 majors, he's finished top 5. Been in the top 16 in nine of the past 10. Was T7 at the 1998 U.S. Open at Olympic. No. 1 on TOUR in GIR, No. 15 in Total Driving. It's his time to shine. |
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Mike
McAllister |  |  | TIGER WOODS. Four years. That's how long it has been since Tiger last won a major -- in California, at the U.S. Open. How fitting it would be to resume his chase of Jack Nicklaus in his native state. Even if Tiger doesn't win, hard to imagine he won't be in the top 10. |
| If McAllister had the top pick ... Woods |
John
Schwarb |  |  | PHIL MICKELSON. The Hall of Famer got in early to Olympic for some work with Dave Pelz, who said Mickelson is sharp and ready. The draw is excellent -- Tiger has brought out the best in Phil in recent years. I'm ready to see Phil's best, too. |
| If Schwarb had the top pick ... Mickelson |
Helen
Ross |  |  | LUKE DONALD. He's had six top-10s in majors -- but never at the U.S. Open. Not to worry. The world No. 1 is solid tee to green, ranks first in scrambling and is third in Strokes Gained-Putting, all of which is a recipe for success at Olympic. |
| If Ross had the top pick ... Donald |
Brian
Wacker |  |  | RORY MCILROY. I'm baffled trying to dissect who's going to win this year, so I'm going with the best available player. No one has repeated since Curtis Strange in 1989, but I like the work McIlroy has done on his game and how he put himself in contention in Memphis. |
| If Wacker had the top pick ... Woods |
Anne
Szeker |  |  | MATT KUCHAR. The last time Kuchar came to Olympic at the U.S. Open (1998) he tied for 14th as an amateur. He's playing great again (top scoring average on TOUR at 69.80, 10th in GIR) and he plays tough golf courses just as well (T3 at the Masters). |
| If Szeker had the top pick ... Kuchar |
Chris
Dunham |  |  | MARTIN KAYMER. This streak of 14 different winners in 14 majors has to end sooner or later. Oft overlooked because of limited U.S. starts, Kaymer displayed the grit it takes to win the world's toughest tournament when he won the PGA at Whistling Straits in 2010.
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| If Dunham had the top pick ... Kaymer |
Amanda
Balionis |  |  | DUSTIN JOHNSON. Yes, you're saying, "No one has ever won the week before U.S. Open and then gone on to win the U.S. Open." Well, since returning from his back injury, he has a top-20 finish and a win on one of the toughest courses on TOUR. |
| If Balionis had the top pick ... D. Johnson |
Lauren
Deason |  |  | HUNTER MAHAN. Hard decision between Mahan and Jason Dufner, two of the hottest players on TOUR right now. Mahan, a two-time winner this year, has more experience playing in big events and has finished T12 and T19 in his last two major starts. |
| If Deason had the top pick ... Woods |
Ryan
Smithson |  |  | STEVE STRICKER. At the very last minute, I switched my pick from Graeme McDowell to Stricker. The winner this week has to be a short game demon, and Stricker fits the bill. He's also the best player available. |
| If Smithson had the top pick ... Woods |
John
Swantek |  |  | LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN. Can't think of any course where the sweet-swinging South African wouldn't be able to compete. His calm, patient demeanor is ideal for the relentless test of a U.S. Open and he owns a Claret Jug and nearly had a Green Jacket. |
If Swantek had the top pick ... Donald
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