Archive for the 'US Open' Category

Geoff Ogilvy won the US Open, not because Phil Mickelson cracked under pressure, but because he played the last 3 holes better than everyone else who was challenging for the lead.

Sure the media played up that the US Open was Mickelson’s to loose and maybe it was, but he didn’t loose all by himself, he finished tied with Colin Montgomerie, Jim Furyk, and Padraig Harrington, all of whom made at least a bogey on one of their last three holes. Bogey’s where Geoff Ogilvy made par, par, par.

Yes Phil Mickelson might have done better than double on the last hole were he to have used a 3 wood instead of a driver off the tee, and maybe he should have used a PW from the first shot behind the tree. These are all would’ve, could’ve, should’ve. Winged Foot is an amazingly difficult course and won’t let anyone coast through the final 3 holes with the lead. It makes you play your best golf straight through to the end.

Congratulations Geoff Ogilvy for winning the US Open with a great final round and bringing a victory back to your Australia.

Phil Mickelson is right where the world expected him to be after three days at Winged Foot. However, the big story of Friday was that Tiger Woods failed to make the cut along with some other big names. Tiger shot two rounds of 6 over 76 to finish with a 12 over for the two days and 2 strokes shy of making the cut.

Only a short time after the passing of his father some weren’t sure and I don’t feel anyone is shocked that Tiger wasn’t quite ready to battle one of the toughest courses around. He’s a fighter at heart but losing someone that close will take it’s toll on anyone.

Phil Mickelson on the other hand is ready to do battle and with the only under par score for the day (-1) he sits at 2 over par going into the final round of the US Open tied with Kenneth Ferrie. Geoff Oglivy is right behind the two with a 3 over par followed by Vijay Singh and Ian Poulter at 5 over par after three rounds of golf. It’s quite uncommon to see scores like this in a PGA tour event but the course is challenging, the rough is horrendous, and the greens are tough to read or gauge speed. The final round of the US Open this Sunday June 18th should be a great round of golf, with anyone having a chance at the title.

Colin Montgomerie leads the US Open field after the first day of play. Monty is the only player under par followed closely by Jim Furyk and and Phil Mickelson at even par.

Montgomerie had 3 bogeys but joined with them 4 birdies to stick under par. He started out 1 and 3 (the 216 yard par 3 at Winged Foot) with a bogey but came on strong for the remainder of the round. A big surprise for the day was Tiger Woods and his 6 over par 76 to finish out the round. The course took it’s toll on everyone having 22 others joining Woods at 6 over par.

Another notable was 16 year Hawaii youngster Tadd Fujikawa finishing the course at 11 over par. Not too bad a finish for the youngin’.