2007 Us Open – Oakmont Country Club
17th June 2008, by
Tiger Woods described Oakmont Country Club, when playing it in recent weeks in practice, as the most difficult US Open course he has played and one of the most difficult he has played full stop. He might not have been at his absolute best in his most recent starts but no player will be better prepared for the task ahead. Three victories and his runner up placing at the Masters have been the highlights in season 2007, so it’s no surprise the bookies have him once again as the commanding favourite.
Phil Mickelson has perhaps a cloud over his chances as a result of a recent wrist injury which forced him to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament. Four times a runner up in this event, he was looking a serious threat to win the US Open for the first time until that incident in Ohio.
Jim Furyk has not yet returned to his best form following a wrist injury. There have been glimpses of his very best in recent weeks including when runner up at the Crowne Plaza Colonial event but like Mickelson there is that cloud over his capacity to play at his peak this week, which he will need to do in order to win.
Adam Scott’s game, over the past twelve months, now possesses much of the consistency that had been missing in his earlier professional career. In that time he has developed into a player capable of winning at the highest level and his recent fifth place at the Memorial and sixth at the Players Championship tell the story of a player ready to contend in a US Open for the very first time.
Ernie Els won at this venue when the US Open was last played here 13 years ago. He is the only Oakmont winner in the field. While he has not been at his best of late, neither has he been at his worst. His last round of 67 at the Memorial Tournament two weeks ago may give a clue to his readiness for what lies ahead. He might just be peaking at the right time.
Vijay Singh has often finished inside the top ten at the US Open but his best was when third at Pinehurst in 1999. Like Els he has been neither great nor bad in recent weeks although he did finish off the BMW PGA event in England and the Memorial Tournament with very impressive final rounds.
Geoff Ogilvy has developed a reputation for playing the big events well in the last two years and this event is likely to be no exception. The defending champion was warming to his task when ninth two weeks ago at the Memorial but surprisingly missed the cut in Memphis by some margin although that course has never really been good to him. He now knows he can win a major and although it has been 18 years since a US Open title has been successfully defended, he is not without a chance to do so.
Luke Donald has always given the impression that he has the game to suit major championship golfand he further confirmed that with his third placing at last year’s PGA Championship and a 10th place at Augusta National this year. Since Augusta he has continued to play well including when runner up in Dallas and seventh at the recent BMW Players Championship. It might be a little early to expect him to win this event but it would be no surprise to see him in the mix on Sunday.
Henrik Stenson looked on the verge of great things earlier this year when winning the Dubai Classic and the Accenture matchplay in succession. While he has not played to that level since, he has continued to play solidly. He now has the golfing maturity and the credentials to challenge in a major championship for the first time, his previous best being when 14th at the PGA last year.
Padraig Harrington continues to play only just below the level of those who are winning major championships but he has shown in previous years that the US Open and the style of golf required to contend is not beyond him. He has recorded four top tens in his last seven starts in this event including a best of fifth last year at Winged Foot. His recent Irish Open win has him cherry ripe for this and although he has just missed the cut in Memphis, not too much should be read into that.
Retief Goosen is a two time winner of the event and possesses just the right demeanour and patience for the roller coaster ride that is US Open golf.His current form is the biggest concern however as he does not appear to be firing on all cylinders. He was runner up at Augusta but since then there has been little to get excited about. He is having a reasonable week in Memphis although once again appears headed for only a solid week at best.
Sergio Garcia has shown enough in recent starts to believe that he has a chance this week. He finished third two years ago at Pinehurst in this event and has a relatively good record at the US Open having also finished fourth in 2002. Considered amongst the best players yet to win a major and while that might not change this week, he is a genuine chance to contend until late in the event.
David Toms seems to be closing in on some very good form of late and is a proven major winner and a player capable of playing the tough courses well. Has a best of fifth in this event at Pinehurst in 2005 but could do better this year. He has finished in third place in Memphis further indicating his readiness for the task at hand.
Rory Sabbatini has a shocking record at theUS Openbut he has developed into one of the most in form golfers in the world in 2007. He has been four times inside the top three in his last six USPGA Tour starts including when runner up at Augusta. His best in five starts at this event has been 71st but it is a fair bet to assume that he will improve on that considerably.
Stewart Cink appears to me to be well on track to perhaps even claim revenge on the debacle of a last hole disaster in 2001. Overall, Cink’s record at the US Open has been very good including that agonising three putt at the 72nd hole to miss a playoff by one in that 2001 event at Southern Hills. He is the grinding, ‘no frills’ type of player who often does well at the type of golf required at the US Open.
Zach Johnson has joined the ranks of major winners with hisimpressive win at Augusta. Prior to his withdrawal from the Memorial with a throat infection, his Augusta form had continued. Augusta offered a firm, fast and long golf course with contoured greens. Sound familiar? If his health is right he will improved markedly on his previous best at the US Open, that being when 48th in his first of three starts in 2004.
K.J. Choi beat a high quality field on a strong golf course two weeks ago at the Memorial and although he has not exactly been a contender in previous US Opens, he certainly has the constitution for this style of golf. His recent form was leading towards last week’s win and it would not surprise to see another good week from him.
Other Australians
Nick O’Hern may not be the longest hitter in the game but his effort at the longest ever US Open layout last year at Winged Foot was particularly impressive. He finished sixth and his last round of 69 was the equal best of the day. A very underrated player, O’Hern’s game is built around percentages and keeping the ball in play, hence his success on courses where those skills are important. He has played well enough in recent weeks to be a chance for another top ten.
Stuart Appleby just seems to have gone off the boil since his good form earlier in the year which included him leading into the final day at the Masters. He was a surprise package at Augusta but his most recent form, which includes a missed cut last week in Memphis and a horror record at the US Open, where he has made only three of ten cuts, makes it hard to be convinced about his chances.
Robert Allenby has a slightly better record at the US Open than Appleby but not a lot. His best, and his best finish in a major, full stop, was when seventh in this event at a very difficult Shinnecock Hills in 2004. After one of his best starts to a season in 2007, Allenby has struggled in recent weeks, although things seemed to get a little better last week in Memphis. Like Appleby however it is hard to be convinced about his chances.
Rod Pampling has played this event on only three occasions making the cut just once when 32nd in 2006. He has found some very solid and consistent form in recent weeks and stands a very good chance of a much improved US Open Championship. His third place finish at the recent Memorial against a strong field and on a tough golf course will have given him great confidence for what lies ahead.
Aaron Baddeley is currently in the best form of his career and although he has played this event just twice for two missed cuts, he has every reason to believe that he can record his best ever finish in a major this year. Admittedly that would not be difficult as his previous best was 52nd at this year’s Masters but there is something about the way Baddeley is playing to suggest he might just have a reasonable week.
Nathan Green has played just three major championships and missed the cut at his only start in this event last year. He keeps surprising with his performances on the USPGA Tour and he stands a good chance to record his best ever finish in a major this week. He is a fine putter and that is likely to keep him in the tournament on a golf course where any likely contender is going to need a great week on the greens.
Steve Elkington is playing quite nicely in 2007, regularly making the cut and producing the occasional very good week. He is a tournament hardened professional who is still one of Australia’s best performed players in majors in recent years having finished runner up at the Open in 2002 and at the PGA in 2005. It is a bit much to expect him to contend but he has a chance to figure highly amongst the Australians.
last update : 17th June 2008 17:11