Par at US Open may be good enough to triumph
Source: Agencies |
June 17, 2012, Sunday
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THE one thing everybody could agree on heading into the US Open is that par would be a good score in any round at the unforgiving Olympic Club course in San Francisco.
Just ask Tiger Woods, David Toms and Jim Furyk now.
The trio of major champions entered yesterday's third round tied for the lead at 1 under, a rather ordinary number in any other week. Not even one other player in the field that began at 156 cracked par, which is shaping up to be a final score that might be all it takes to win.
"I don't see it getting much away from that," said Graeme McDowell, the 2010 champion at Pebble Beach who is two shots back of the leaders. "As this golf course gets firmer and firmer, there's no rain forecast. It's up to the USGA, really. They can have whatever they want with it."
Nobody has had their way with Olympic, including defending champion Rory McIlroy.
The Northern Irishman set a US Open record last year at Congressional with a 131 through 36 holes. He was 19 shots worse at Olympic, with a 73 giving him a two-day score of 150 to miss the cut for the fourth time in his last five tournaments.
"They set it up like a real classic US Open," McIlroy said.
Those who have adjusted are the ones still around for the weekend.
Woods survived a patch of bogeys early in his round for an even 70 that took him another round closer to that elusive 15th major title. Furyk rolled in a 40-foot birdie putt from off the third green in the morning for a 69. Woods and Toms, who showed a steady hand with the putter for a 70, joined him in the afternoon when the conditions were fiery and emotions were frayed. They were the only ones to beat par for 36 holes at 1-under 139.
"This tournament, you're just plodding along," Woods said. "This is a different tournament. You have to stay patient, stay present, and you're just playing for a lot of pars. This is not a tournament where we have to make a bunch of birdies."
Also leaving San Francisco far earlier than anyone expected were Luke Donald, the world's top-ranked player, Masters champion Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson, coming off a win last week at the St Jude Classic.
McDowell dropped three shots on his last four holes for a 72. Even so, he was very much in the hunt two shots behind at 141, along with recent LSU alum John Peterson (70), Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium (69) and Michael Thompson, the first-round leader who followed his opening 66 with a 75.
"It's just tough to have fun out there," McDowell said.
Just ask Tiger Woods, David Toms and Jim Furyk now.
The trio of major champions entered yesterday's third round tied for the lead at 1 under, a rather ordinary number in any other week. Not even one other player in the field that began at 156 cracked par, which is shaping up to be a final score that might be all it takes to win.
"I don't see it getting much away from that," said Graeme McDowell, the 2010 champion at Pebble Beach who is two shots back of the leaders. "As this golf course gets firmer and firmer, there's no rain forecast. It's up to the USGA, really. They can have whatever they want with it."
Nobody has had their way with Olympic, including defending champion Rory McIlroy.
The Northern Irishman set a US Open record last year at Congressional with a 131 through 36 holes. He was 19 shots worse at Olympic, with a 73 giving him a two-day score of 150 to miss the cut for the fourth time in his last five tournaments.
"They set it up like a real classic US Open," McIlroy said.
Those who have adjusted are the ones still around for the weekend.
Woods survived a patch of bogeys early in his round for an even 70 that took him another round closer to that elusive 15th major title. Furyk rolled in a 40-foot birdie putt from off the third green in the morning for a 69. Woods and Toms, who showed a steady hand with the putter for a 70, joined him in the afternoon when the conditions were fiery and emotions were frayed. They were the only ones to beat par for 36 holes at 1-under 139.
"This tournament, you're just plodding along," Woods said. "This is a different tournament. You have to stay patient, stay present, and you're just playing for a lot of pars. This is not a tournament where we have to make a bunch of birdies."
Also leaving San Francisco far earlier than anyone expected were Luke Donald, the world's top-ranked player, Masters champion Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson, coming off a win last week at the St Jude Classic.
McDowell dropped three shots on his last four holes for a 72. Even so, he was very much in the hunt two shots behind at 141, along with recent LSU alum John Peterson (70), Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium (69) and Michael Thompson, the first-round leader who followed his opening 66 with a 75.
"It's just tough to have fun out there," McDowell said.
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