Ten who could give Tiger a run for his trophy
When it comes to golf’s major tournaments, it often seems like Tiger Woods against everybody else. Well, that was literally the case with the Las Vegas books late last week, when the current odds had Woods as a 5/2 favorite to win the U. S. Open. What odds would you get if you bet the rest of the field: The same 5/2. ¶ It’s easy to pick Tiger in a major, or in any tournament nowadays. The trick is sifting through the list of competitors and finding which player might be ready to rise up and beat the world’s greatest golfer. Is there a Michael Campbell in this year’s field? Is there another Rocco Mediate story waiting to emerge next weekend at Bethpage Black? Here’s a list of 10 players who could deny Tiger a repeat at this year’s Open, with the approximate odds:
Phil Mickelson
Odds: 7-1
Mickelson finished second to Woods at Bethpage in ’02, but won the hearts of New York fans, who cheered his every move and sang Happy Birthday to him on Sunday. If it’s possible, Lefty will be even more of a favorite this year in his quest for a first U. S. Open title. He recently discovered that his wife, Amy, is suffering from breast cancer. Mickelson returned from his “indefinite leave” after getting reports that Amy’s illness was detected early. He’s ranked No. 2 in the world behind Tiger, but is he ready to perform at a high level?
Henrik Stenson
Odds: 30-1
The best player you’ve never heard of. For a while, Stenson was best known for stripping to his underwear and golf glove to hit out of the water at Doral. That changed in May, when he shot a flawless 66 in the final round to win the Players Championship. It’s not as if Stenson came out of nowhere. The Swede made the winning putt for Europe in the 2006 Ryder Cup. He beat Ernie Els and Woods head-to-head at Dubai in 2007. Still, the announcer called him “Stevenson” at the ’08 Ryder Cup. Everyone will know his name if he breaks Europe’s drought next weekend.
Geoff Ogilvy
Odds: 12-1
Yeah, he’s the guy who took home the cup when Mickelson booted it away in ’06. But Ogilvy, who just turned 32, is a rising star in the sport, one of the most consistent players in the world. He leads the PGA money list and has four Top 10s in 12 tournaments this year. Won twice this season, including the World Match play. Has been a bit wayward off the tee, which could be his undoing at murderous Bethpage. But if he can control the driver, Ogilvy has the high, majestic iron shots that hold greens and allow you to contend in this event.
Camilo Villegas
Odds: 35-1
The native Colombian has been named sexiest player on tour by Golf Digest. Villegas, 27, is a fashion plate who represents the J Lindeberg line. GQ said he has “more screaming female fans than Justin Timberlake.” He has a lot more game than Timberlake, too. Villegas was fourth in the PGA Championship last year and ninth in the U. S. Open at Torrey Pines. He had a record-breaking 65 in the second round of the British Open at Royal Birkdale. He’s so popular in Colombia, they’re televising 30 PGA events. Watch the girls swoon if he wins a major.
Jim Furyk
Odds: 15-1
Furyk’s looping swing makes you cringe. Then you see the ball soaring straight down the fairway. He’s straighter than a monk, which makes him a perennial threat on an Open layout. Furyk, who won the Open in ’03 at Olympia Fields, hasn’t won in 22 months. But he has six Top 10s this year, including a fifth in the Players and second to Tiger at the Memorial. He’s rediscovered his putting stroke and feels the Bethpage setup is more suited to him than in ’02, when he missed the cut. Is a second major in the offing?
Zach Johnson
Odds: 40-1
Johnson is second on the money list, first in the FedEx Cup standings. He has five Top 10s this year. He won in Hawaii and Texas. He won the 2007 Masters. So why doesn’t he get more love (and I don’t mean Davis, who failed to qualify)? Well, maybe it’s because he’s short off the tee, which could be an issue on the longest U. S. Open course in history. Johnson missed the cut at Torrey Pines. Of course, he was reeling from the news that his hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was dealing with the worst flood in its history.
Padraig Harrington
Odds: 18-1
Two years ago, the Dubliner was perhaps the best player never to have won a major championship. He’s won three of seven majors since, including the last two British Opens. But no European has won the American Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970, and Harrington might not be ready to break the streak. He has missed four of 11 cuts on the PGA Tour and was 35th in the Masters. He admits he fiddled too much with his swing in the offseason. “I have become addicted to my golf swing and need to get rid of that,” he said. He’s playing with Woods the first two rounds.
Hunter Mahan
Odds: 50-1
Not the PGA’s favorite son, by any means. Mahan, 27, ripped the Ryder Cup in Golf Magazine, saying players were basically slaves that week. Of course, he’s never been good enough to be invited. Mahan has a lot of game and is hitting his prime. He has eight Top 25s in 14 tournaments. He tied for 10th in the Masters and tied for 13th and 18th in the last two U. S. Opens. Mahan, who plays a left-to-right fade, is one of the best drivers on tour. If his putter is cooperating, he could make a run at Bethpage.
Paul Casey
Odds: 25-1
You could have guessed Tiger and Phil were ranked 1-2 in the world. Bet you didn’t know Casey was third. Some golf critics can’t figure it out, either. The Englishman was hotter than Susan Boyle in May, when he won the European PGA Championship and shot up the rankings. But he’s never won a major, or even finished in the top five. Casey, 31, had the lowest round in the Open two years ago at Oakmont, but faded to a tie for 10th. He was no factor at Torrey Pines a year ago and admits he feels a sense of “urgency” now.
Tim Clark
Odds: 60-1
Best golfer never to win a major? No, but Clark is the richest never to win a PGA event. Clark, 33, has earned $13.3 million on tour, the most ever by anyone who hasn’t won a PGA tournament. He came close at the Colonial two weeks ago, but blew a two-shot lead on Sunday and lost in a playoff. The South African has won three times in Europe. He was second in the ’06 Masters, third at the ’03 PGA and ’05 U. S. Open. He’s one of the straightest hitters around, and a very good putter. Bethpage’s length will be an issue, though. –Jerry Sullivan
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