The Favorites and the Dark Horses for the 2006 U.S. Open
Of course, for any Major Tiger has to be considered one of the favorites and Phil must be on the short list given his success in recent years. However Colonel Bogey thinks that the odds on favorite for the 2006 U.S. Open should be Vijay Singh and not just because he won last week at Westchester. It is because Vijay’s play at Westchester is the kind of play needed to win at Winged Foot.
First, as to Tiger and Phil: Tiger has done well in the past when coming off a sizeable layoff and the emotion of winning one for his late Father on Father’s day is certainly a strong incentive. But it may be too strong. Phil has not played the way he needs to play to win a Major in his most recent outings. It looks like the old Phil has returned. At Westchester Phil had 13 birdies and an eagle giving him the same Gross Negative Score (bogeys and worse) as the winner, Vijay but Phil finished tied for 18th place. The difference: Vijay had just five bogeys; Phil had 12 bogeys and one double bogey.
Which brings us to why Vijay should be a strong favorite to win this week. First, this is a U.S. Open and the setup will require really smart play, the kind of play Vijay showed last week. Second, Winged Foot is the same kind of course as the Westchester Country Club. On the doglegs the big bombers cannot just fire away and many of them are incapable of doing anything else. For example last week Robert Garrigus was No. 1 in driving distance. He tied for 66th place with 12 birdies, 17 bogeys and 2 double bogeys. Bo Van Pelt was No. 2 in driving distance and tied for 18th with 17 birdies, 14 bogeys and 1 double bogey. Adam Scott was 3rd in driving distance and could have easily won the tournament with his 16 birdies and 3 eagles but for his 10 bogeys and 2 double bogeys.
Now for the dark horses, Brett Quigley and Billy Andrade, two names not often mentioned when favorites for a U.S. Open are discussed. So why here? Two reasons. First, like Vijay both showed last week at the Barclay that they have the kind of game needed for a course like Winged Foot. Second, both have been on the Tour long enough to have learned that the secret to golf is patience and that this is especially true at the U.S. Open.
Of course, for any Major Tiger has to be considered one of the favorites and Phil must be on the short list given his success in recent years. However Colonel Bogey thinks that the odds on favorite for the 2006 U.S. Open should be Vijay Singh and not just because he won last week at Westchester. It is because Vijay’s play at Westchester is the kind of play needed to win at Winged Foot.
First, as to Tiger and Phil: Tiger has done well in the past when coming off a sizeable layoff and the emotion of winning one for his late Father on Father’s day is certainly a strong incentive. But it may be too strong. Phil has not played the way he needs to play to win a Major in his most recent outings. It looks like the old Phil has returned. At Westchester Phil had 13 birdies and an eagle giving him the same Gross Negative Score (bogeys and worse) as the winner, Vijay but Phil finished tied for 18th place. The difference: Vijay had just five bogeys; Phil had 12 bogeys and one double bogey.
Which brings us to why Vijay should be a strong favorite to win this week. First, this is a U.S. Open and the setup will require really smart play, the kind of play Vijay showed last week. Second, Winged Foot is the same kind of course as the Westchester Country Club. On the doglegs the big bombers cannot just fire away and many of them are incapable of doing anything else. For example last week Robert Garrigus was No. 1 in driving distance. He tied for 66th place with 12 birdies, 17 bogeys and 2 double bogeys. Bo Van Pelt was No. 2 in driving distance and tied for 18th with 17 birdies, 14 bogeys and 1 double bogey. Adam Scott was 3rd in driving distance and could have easily won the tournament with his 16 birdies and 3 eagles but for his 10 bogeys and 2 double bogeys.
Now for the dark horses, Brett Quigley and Billy Andrade, two names not often mentioned when favorites for a U.S. Open are discussed. So why here? Two reasons. First, like Vijay both showed last week at the Barclay that they have the kind of game needed for a course like Winged Foot. Second, both have been on the Tour long enough to have learned that the secret to golf is patience and that this is especially true at the U.S. Open.