Before observers started taking notice, the USGA used to have a lot of fun with with groups for the first two rounds of the U.S. Open. The best example was the annual grouping of three golfers who were among the most unpopular players in golf.
That group seems to be mostly in the past, but the organization still tries to create intriguing bedfellows. The starting times for the first two rounds of the U.S. Open have been announced, and as always, there are some eyebrow-raising grouping. Here are some of the highlights, but if you want to see all the groups, click here.
1:36 p.m (1st tee)—Lee Westwood, Ernie Els, Tiger Woods
This should be a comfortable group for all involved. They have played with each other often, and both Westwood and Els have dealt with the attention that comes with playing with Tiger, especially in majors. In fact, Els had the best seat in the house for Woods' 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble—he was his final-round playing partner. The conversation will be pleasant, but don't expect either Ernie or Tiger to bring up Woods' infamous February appearance to read a statement, the time of which Els described as "selfish."
Given his recent record in the majors (two thirds and a second in the last three) and that he has not finished worse than seventh in U.S. Opens held in California, Westwood has to be considered the leading contender out of this group and should have a good chance to win his first major.
8:06 a.m. (10th tee)—Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington, Y.E. Yang
For years, Phil and Tiger have shared opposite sides of the draw, so viewers and spectators would be able to watch both stars. Both Harrington and Yang have shown they are mentally tough (probably tougher than Mickelson), so they will be able to handle the circus and the delays that no doubt will ensue in this all-PGA-winners group after Phil hits a wayward drive and plays down a different fairway on the way to the green.
7:11 a.m. (1st tee)—Steve Marino, Gregory Havret, Charles Warren
Marino deserved a better draw than to be in the second group out with Havret, who only has played in three majors, and Warren, a journeyman whose career has been in a steady decline for the past several years. Marino, who finished 14th at the Masters, is a dark horse, not an also-ran.
7:55 a.m. (1st tee)—Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy, Robert Allenby
In this all-Aussie group, only Allenby has not won on tour this year. But he is playing the best of the three, and he can contend if he can continue to putt well.
8:06 a.m. (1st tee)—Stewart Cink, Byeong Hun An, Lucas Glover
The traditional group of the previous year's British Open, U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open winners doesn't have much history going for them:
- Last player to win the British Open and U.S. Open in successive years: Jack Nicklaus (1967)
- Last amateur to win the U.S. Open: Johnny Goodman (1933)
- Last back-to-back U.S. Opener winner: Curtis Strange (1989)
7:44 a.m. (10th tee)—Retief Goosen, Jim Furyk, Angel Cabrera
It's hard to imagine three U.S. Open champs with more divergent playing styles, although what they have in common is great putting. Goosen has been hurt, Cabrera has been indifferent, and Furyk has been playing very well and as always, should be considered among the contenders at an Open.
1:03 p.m. (1st tee)—David Duval, Tom Lehman, Ben Curtis
The USGA has brought three British Open winners (all their only major) to trade stories about the Claret jug. While Tom Lehman has been playing the best (he won the Senior PGA Championship), the best storyline is whether Duval can pull it together for another run like he had last year at Bethpage, where he finished tied for second.
1:58 p.m. (1st tee)—Martin Kaymer, Sean O'Hair, Charl Schwartzel
If you're looking for a dark-horse pick this week, it could come from this group of 20-somethings who haven't been as flashy as youngsters like Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Jason Day (the latter two of which aren't in the Open field), but are capable of the consistent golf that wins Opens.
1:36 p.m. (10th tee)—Vijay Singh, Dustin Johnson, Davis Love III
This could be the all-frontcourt group, as each member is 6-foot-4. But the real intrigue is that 47-year-old Singh received a special exemption while 46-year-old Love had to qualify. If Vijay has guts, he should wait until they tee off, then while strolling down the 10th fairway, ask Davis to recount his Sectional Qualifying rounds.
1:47 p.m. (10th tee)—Ryo Isihikawa, Rory McIlroy, Tom Watson
The USGA may have given 60-year-old Watson a special exemption, but they also made him feel very old by pairing him with 18-year-old Ishikawa and 21-year-old McIlroy. This year, McIlroy nearly shot Watson's age with a 62 at the Quail Hollow Championship, and Ishikawa bettered it with a 58 in a Japan Tour event.
1:58 p.m. (10th tee)—Kenny Perry, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Fred Funk
Watson would have been the elder statesman in any group, but he might have felt more comfortable playing with 49-year-old Perry, 46-year-old Jimenez and Funk, who turns 54 on June 14. Of the three, watch out for Perry, who is my bet to be the oldest major winner in history.
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