Liguori: Picking A Winner At This U.S. Open Is As Tough As Chambers Bay, Itself
By Ann Liguori
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UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. (CBSNewYork) -- There are almost too many questions that need to be answered.
Can Phil Mickelson win his very first U.S. Open and complete a career grand slam? Lefty has been working overtime on the fine fescue fairways and greens at Chambers Bay in an attempt to make it happen following a record six runner-up finishes in this tournament.
Can Rory McIlroy win his third major championship in the last year after earning the 2014 British Open and PGA Championship titles?
Can golden boy Jordan Spieth, at all of 21 years old, win back-to-back majors?
Can Tiger Woods bounce back from his fourth swing-change slump, after shooting career-worst 85 in the third round of the Memorial two weeks ago, make the cut and contend over the weekend? He's won three U.S. Opens. His last win in a major was the 2008 U.S. Open.
Will an American be able to prevent a European player from taking our national championship? Four of the last five winners have been from Europe: Graeme McDowell and McIlroy, both from Northern Ireland, in 2010 and 2011, respectively, England's Justin Rose in 2013 and Martin Kaymer of Germany in 2014.
Can Bubba Watson use his length off the tee and creative shot-making to win his first U.S. Open?
Can Kaymer of Germany repeat?
How will the 16 amateurs fare?
Will Chip Hammer, the youngest in the field at 15 and the third-youngest competitor in U.S. Open history, show off his short game and play the weekend?
Needless to say the answers will come when the 115th edition of the U.S. Open gets underway Thursday morning with threesomes starting on both tees 1 and 10 at 7 a.m. local time (10 a.m. on the East Coast).
Mickelson will tee-off at 7:33 a.m., along with partners Watson and Argentina's Angel Cabrera.
"The fact that I've come so close (to winning the U.S. Open) is actually a motivator for me to work harder," Mickelson said this week. "And its encouraging that I've done well in this tournament. It's encouraging that I've had success and that I've played some of my best golf in this event and that I've had a number of opportunities."
Mickelson, who turned 45 on Tuesday, said his swing speed is back faster than ever.
"As you get older, you have to put more work in so your body can withstand the practice regiment that is needed to play golf to the highest level, as well as to have the (swing) speed that's necessary," Mickelson said. "And I've been able to hit 400 or 500 balls a day, where I had been limited to maybe 150 to 200 balls previously. I feel like I'm back on track."
One of the keys to doing well at Chambers Bay is preparation and knowing which way the ball might bounce and roll off the many contours of the fairways and greens.
Spieth's caddy, Michael Greller, is from the area and caddied at Chambers Bay before connecting with the reigning Masters champion.
"It's going to help driving the ball, sight lines and understanding when things get firm," Spieth said. "Off the tee, it's really going to help."
Spieth has an afternoon tee time on Thursday and will play with Jason Day and Justin Rose.
Woods will play with Rickie Fowler and Louis Oosthuizen in a group that gets going at 2.28 p.m. When Tiger was asked what is left for him to accomplish, he quipped, "more wins!" When asked if he still has the devotion required to get back on top, he said "I wouldn't have made the changes if I wasn't devoted to the game of golf and winning golf tournaments. I want to be out here. I want to play. I want to compete and I want to win. To come back and do what I did at Augusta gave me a lot of confidence going forward."
I don't expect Tiger to make the cut this week. I'm not convinced his game and confidence are where they need to be at the moment to deal with the challenges this course will present.
To pick a winner is tough. As much as I 'd like to see Mickelson, Spieth or Fowler win, my gut feeling is it will be either a European player like Rose or Kaymer, or South African Oosthuzen who will prevail. Keep in mind that picks on a course like Chambers Bay, with so many variables, can be as whimsical as the course and conditions will present.
Either way, this course will test every ounce of a player's skill, creativity, mental strength, stamina and patience.
Let the intrigue begin.
Follow Ann on Twitter at @AnnLiguori
