http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Golf/PGA/USOpen/2011/06/13/18275626.html
June 13, 2011
Congressional poised to bare its teeth
By TIM McKAY, QMI Agency
There were two different Graeme McDowell takes on his first run at Congressional, home of the 111th U.S. Open, back in early May.
The defending champ, who won the Open at Pebble Beach in 2010, reported his first-impression on this year's course to his followers via Twitter:
"Congressional 7,574 yards Par 71 U.S. Open set up. No one will break par."
Later, in the clubhouse for the media day news conference, after having played the Blue Course, McDowell had somewhat softened his stance.
"Like I was Tweeting out there today, it's nearly 7,600 yards, if (USGA executive director Mike Davis) wants to play it all the way back, which I hope he doesn't. It's a great golf course," McDowell said. "Esthetically it's beautiful, real old school, great trees, great definition, really well bunkered, great greens, I mean, big, undulating. It's going to be a great test."
That's pretty much what you'd expect a player to say during a news conference for the USGA, but the course setup will be--like it always is--a storyline when the players arrive this week to play the third U.S. Open at Congressional.
And, for its part, the USGA has trotted out its standard response, a sort of back and forth that adds to the intrigue of second major of the season.
"This philosophy is, in short, the U.S. Open should be the most rigorous, the most difficult yet fair test in championship golf, an examination which tests both the players' physical capabilities, including all shotmaking, and also tests the players' mental capabilities and tenacity," the USGA's Tom O'Toole said. "We want well-executed shots rewarded and poorly executed shots penalized."
Congressional is a long course and will favour long hitters who are accurate and able to avoid what is sure to be some gnarly rough.
"When I think of Congressional, I think, first of all, it's a big golf course. It has always been that way. You know, if history tells us anything, you'd say, somebody that's got the ability to really move the ball out a pretty good distance and then bring their approach shots in with a high ball flight would do well at Congressional. Look who has won here in the past. You've had Greg Norman a couple times, Craig Stadler won the Kemper Open a couple times, again, when he was a long-ball hitter. You've had Tiger Woods win here, you've had Sergio Garcia win here...
"And it doesn't mean somebody that hits it short is not going to be competitive because that's simply not the case. You saw John Mahaffey win the PGA Championship here in '76 and Ken Venturi when he was playing wasn't overly long, but there certainly is that advantage."
The super-private track-- its membership consisting of Washington D.C. power-players-- has twice hosted the U.S. Open. In 1964, Venturi overcame high temperatures (topping 37 C) to win at two-under par. In 1997, Ernie Els edged out Colin Montgomerie and Tom Lehman for his second U.S. Open title.
Congressional, which also has hosted the PGA Tour's AT&T National, Booz Allen Classic and Kemper Open, has actually gone from par-70 in those incarnations, to par-71 for this week's U.S. Open.
"In '97 and also in 1964, as well, and for that matter, when the AT&T, the Tour event was played here, it played to a par-70. We're going to play it to a par-71," Davis said.
"Let me repeat that. The USGA is actually making par go up, not down."
Still, it won't be easy, and players are going to have to come prepared.
- - -
KEEP AN EYE ON THESE GUYS
Phil Mickelson
Age: 40
World Rank: 5 Major victories: 4
Mickelson looks for his first u.S. open championship after finishing second five times. With Woods out of the way, he'll have to keep it in the fairways.
Dustin Johnson
Age: 26
World Rank: 9 Major victories: 0
Supposedly the breakout player of 2011, we're still waiting for it. The bomber might be able to overpower a long Congressional course.
Bubba Watson
Age: 32
World Rank: 12 Major victories: 0
He's long off the tee and has the ability to be creative with shots, two things that should help him around Congressional.
Lee Westwood
Age: 38
World Rank: 2 Major victories: 0
The best player without a major would dearly love to change that moniker. a good driver of the ball, he will need to do so to contend.
Luke Donald
Age: 33
World Rank: 1 Major victories: 0
Recently crowned world no. 1 would like to bolster that claim with a major victory. If his hot play continues this week, look for him at the top.
Graeme mcDowell
Age: 31
World Rank: 8 Major victories: 1
The defending champion deserves mention for that reason alone. He has struggled of late but maybe he can find inspiration.
Rory McIlroy
Age: 22
World Rank: 7 Major victories: 0
Let's hope he learned something from his final-round debacle at the Masters. Seems to elevate his game for majors and looks poised to win one.
Matteo Manassero
Age: 18
World Rank: 30 Major victories: 0
a first-timer at the u.S. open, this kid continues to astound. not likely to win, but it would be a great story.
- - -
ADAM HADWIN
Age: 23
Hometown: Abbotsford, B.C. Career highlights:
Two Canadian Tour victories (2011 Pacific Colombia Tour Championship, 2010 desert dunes Classic).
WES HEFFERNAN
Age: 34
Hometown: Calgary, AB Career highlights:
Made it into 2001 u.S. open at Southern Hills, missing the cut (+16); Three Canadian Tour victories (2006 Players Championship, 2007 northern California Classic, 2008 Canadian Tour Players Cup)
JON MILLS
Age: 33
Hometown: Oshawa, Ont. Career highlights:
Tied for 36th at the 2008 u.S. open at Torrey Pines; Two nationwide Tour victories (2005 Canadian PGa Championship, 2007 Boise open); Made the cut in half of his 32 starts on the PGa TouR in 2008.
June 13, 2011
Congressional poised to bare its teeth
By TIM McKAY, QMI Agency
There were two different Graeme McDowell takes on his first run at Congressional, home of the 111th U.S. Open, back in early May.
The defending champ, who won the Open at Pebble Beach in 2010, reported his first-impression on this year's course to his followers via Twitter:
"Congressional 7,574 yards Par 71 U.S. Open set up. No one will break par."
Later, in the clubhouse for the media day news conference, after having played the Blue Course, McDowell had somewhat softened his stance.
"Like I was Tweeting out there today, it's nearly 7,600 yards, if (USGA executive director Mike Davis) wants to play it all the way back, which I hope he doesn't. It's a great golf course," McDowell said. "Esthetically it's beautiful, real old school, great trees, great definition, really well bunkered, great greens, I mean, big, undulating. It's going to be a great test."
That's pretty much what you'd expect a player to say during a news conference for the USGA, but the course setup will be--like it always is--a storyline when the players arrive this week to play the third U.S. Open at Congressional.
And, for its part, the USGA has trotted out its standard response, a sort of back and forth that adds to the intrigue of second major of the season.
"This philosophy is, in short, the U.S. Open should be the most rigorous, the most difficult yet fair test in championship golf, an examination which tests both the players' physical capabilities, including all shotmaking, and also tests the players' mental capabilities and tenacity," the USGA's Tom O'Toole said. "We want well-executed shots rewarded and poorly executed shots penalized."
Congressional is a long course and will favour long hitters who are accurate and able to avoid what is sure to be some gnarly rough.
"When I think of Congressional, I think, first of all, it's a big golf course. It has always been that way. You know, if history tells us anything, you'd say, somebody that's got the ability to really move the ball out a pretty good distance and then bring their approach shots in with a high ball flight would do well at Congressional. Look who has won here in the past. You've had Greg Norman a couple times, Craig Stadler won the Kemper Open a couple times, again, when he was a long-ball hitter. You've had Tiger Woods win here, you've had Sergio Garcia win here...
"And it doesn't mean somebody that hits it short is not going to be competitive because that's simply not the case. You saw John Mahaffey win the PGA Championship here in '76 and Ken Venturi when he was playing wasn't overly long, but there certainly is that advantage."
The super-private track-- its membership consisting of Washington D.C. power-players-- has twice hosted the U.S. Open. In 1964, Venturi overcame high temperatures (topping 37 C) to win at two-under par. In 1997, Ernie Els edged out Colin Montgomerie and Tom Lehman for his second U.S. Open title.
Congressional, which also has hosted the PGA Tour's AT&T National, Booz Allen Classic and Kemper Open, has actually gone from par-70 in those incarnations, to par-71 for this week's U.S. Open.
"In '97 and also in 1964, as well, and for that matter, when the AT&T, the Tour event was played here, it played to a par-70. We're going to play it to a par-71," Davis said.
"Let me repeat that. The USGA is actually making par go up, not down."
Still, it won't be easy, and players are going to have to come prepared.
- - -
KEEP AN EYE ON THESE GUYS
Phil Mickelson
Age: 40
World Rank: 5 Major victories: 4
Mickelson looks for his first u.S. open championship after finishing second five times. With Woods out of the way, he'll have to keep it in the fairways.
Dustin Johnson
Age: 26
World Rank: 9 Major victories: 0
Supposedly the breakout player of 2011, we're still waiting for it. The bomber might be able to overpower a long Congressional course.
Bubba Watson
Age: 32
World Rank: 12 Major victories: 0
He's long off the tee and has the ability to be creative with shots, two things that should help him around Congressional.
Lee Westwood
Age: 38
World Rank: 2 Major victories: 0
The best player without a major would dearly love to change that moniker. a good driver of the ball, he will need to do so to contend.
Luke Donald
Age: 33
World Rank: 1 Major victories: 0
Recently crowned world no. 1 would like to bolster that claim with a major victory. If his hot play continues this week, look for him at the top.
Graeme mcDowell
Age: 31
World Rank: 8 Major victories: 1
The defending champion deserves mention for that reason alone. He has struggled of late but maybe he can find inspiration.
Rory McIlroy
Age: 22
World Rank: 7 Major victories: 0
Let's hope he learned something from his final-round debacle at the Masters. Seems to elevate his game for majors and looks poised to win one.
Matteo Manassero
Age: 18
World Rank: 30 Major victories: 0
a first-timer at the u.S. open, this kid continues to astound. not likely to win, but it would be a great story.
- - -
ADAM HADWIN
Age: 23
Hometown: Abbotsford, B.C. Career highlights:
Two Canadian Tour victories (2011 Pacific Colombia Tour Championship, 2010 desert dunes Classic).
WES HEFFERNAN
Age: 34
Hometown: Calgary, AB Career highlights:
Made it into 2001 u.S. open at Southern Hills, missing the cut (+16); Three Canadian Tour victories (2006 Players Championship, 2007 northern California Classic, 2008 Canadian Tour Players Cup)
JON MILLS
Age: 33
Hometown: Oshawa, Ont. Career highlights:
Tied for 36th at the 2008 u.S. open at Torrey Pines; Two nationwide Tour victories (2005 Canadian PGa Championship, 2007 Boise open); Made the cut in half of his 32 starts on the PGa TouR in 2008.
