SAN FRANCISCO: With former world number one Tiger Woods seemingly back to his best, and defending champion Rory McIlroy not far off, this week’s US Open at the Olympic Club has whetted the appetite of fans and players alike.
A host of other in-form players can lay claim to being genuine contenders for the year’s second major, though an unpredictable winner is also likely given Olympic’s uncanny habit of delivering the unexpected in past Opens staged here.
Jack Fleck upstaged tournament favourite Ben Hogan in 1955, Billy Casper prospered from Arnold Palmer’s late collapse in 1966 and the plodding Scott Simpson dashed Tom Watson’s hopes by one shot in 1987. In 1998, the popular Payne Stewart seemed to be on track for a third major title when leading by four strokes going into the final round but his bid was derailed as Lee Janzen stormed back to victory after falling seven behind. On all four occasions, the third-round leader at Olympic was denied and there is every chance history could repeat itself this week as the game’s leading players vie for supremacy.
Woods and McIlroy are capable of electrifying the galleries with their power and precision and both are itching to return to the major winner’s circle in the championship widely accepted as the most grueling of all.
Long-hitting American Dustin Johnson completed his US Open preparations by winning his sixth PGA Tour title at the St. Jude Classic on Sunday, a day after Briton Lee Westwood had clinched his 22nd European Tour victory at the Scandinavian Masters. Other likely candidates for success include world number one Luke Donald, fellow Briton Justin Rose and Americans Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Matt Kuchar and Masters champion Bubba Watson. (Agencies)