The US Open starts later this month and the whole field knows who the man to beat is. Tiger Woods has regained full fitness and is expected to win his 15th major at Bethpage, New York.
Woods has only one PGA tour win to his name since winning last year’s US Open, but few doubt he is ready to reacquaint himself with a major trophy.
Woods tied for sixth place at April’s Masters but showed enough form to suggest he is ready to lead from the front at Bethpage. He missed the 2008 Open and PGA Championships due to the knee problem that became apparent in his dramatic win at Torrey Pines but showed few signs of rustiness at Augusta by producing his best round on the final day.
A lack of match practice should therefore not be a problem for the reigning champion. He will be mentally fresh after missing so much golf and fully motivated to get back to winning ways at a major after winning two of the last nine.
His biggest challenge is likely to come from his compatriots. Before Woods won at Torrey Pines last year, there had not been an American winner of the US open since Jim Furyk in 2003. I expect a home winner this time around.
Masters champion Angel Cabrera will be high on confidence, especially having won the US Open in 2007. With regards to golf betting, Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia and Pádraig Harrington will lead the European charge, whilst previous winners Retief Goosen and Geoff Ogilvy cannot be discounted.
However, the in-form players on the PGA tour are the domestic stars. Sean O’Hair, Zach Johnson and Steve Stricker are recent tournament winners who will fancy their chances at New York, whilst the ever-reliable Furyk and Kenny Perry are sure to be competitive and would make popular champions.
The same can be said of Phil Mickelson, who has confirmed his participation despite his wife’s battle with cancer. The US Open is the only domestic major that Mickelson is yet to win and he will receive generous support in a tournament that he can perform in with some pressure off.
Original Story:
http://www.sportsloungeblog.com/2009/...
Woods has only one PGA tour win to his name since winning last year’s US Open, but few doubt he is ready to reacquaint himself with a major trophy.
Woods tied for sixth place at April’s Masters but showed enough form to suggest he is ready to lead from the front at Bethpage. He missed the 2008 Open and PGA Championships due to the knee problem that became apparent in his dramatic win at Torrey Pines but showed few signs of rustiness at Augusta by producing his best round on the final day.
A lack of match practice should therefore not be a problem for the reigning champion. He will be mentally fresh after missing so much golf and fully motivated to get back to winning ways at a major after winning two of the last nine.
His biggest challenge is likely to come from his compatriots. Before Woods won at Torrey Pines last year, there had not been an American winner of the US open since Jim Furyk in 2003. I expect a home winner this time around.
Masters champion Angel Cabrera will be high on confidence, especially having won the US Open in 2007. With regards to golf betting, Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia and Pádraig Harrington will lead the European charge, whilst previous winners Retief Goosen and Geoff Ogilvy cannot be discounted.
However, the in-form players on the PGA tour are the domestic stars. Sean O’Hair, Zach Johnson and Steve Stricker are recent tournament winners who will fancy their chances at New York, whilst the ever-reliable Furyk and Kenny Perry are sure to be competitive and would make popular champions.
The same can be said of Phil Mickelson, who has confirmed his participation despite his wife’s battle with cancer. The US Open is the only domestic major that Mickelson is yet to win and he will receive generous support in a tournament that he can perform in with some pressure off.
Original Story:
http://www.sportsloungeblog.com/2009/...
