2007 US Open Golf Preview

After a fairly disappointing Masters in Augusta, the best golfers in the world will take aim at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, PA, in hopes of capturing the 2007 US Open (June 14-17). Before we break down the favorites, let's take a look at the course.

The last US Open to be played at Oakmont was in 1994, with "The Big Easy" Ernie Els taking the victory. If the players had trouble at Augusta this year, just wait until they hit Oakmont. Believed by many to be the toughest course in North America, Oakmont serves up 180 deep bunkers, extremely fast greens, thin fairways, and deep, thick rough. Oakmont was home to one of the most famous rounds in US Open history back in 1973, when Johnny Miller shot a 63 on Sunday to take the 1973 US Open title. Oakmont will punish any golfer that doesn't hit fairways, and will also hurt those golfers who are not extremely careful around the greens. Like many recent US Opens, the winner may not need to be under par this year, depending on the weather leading up to the tournament.

Tiger Woods is coming of what may be the most upsetting major of his career. For the first time as a professional, Tiger had a lead on Sunday at a Major and didn't seal the deal. Is this going to affect Tiger? Has he lost his mojo? The answer to both of these questions is a resounding no. Nobody has ever done as well as Tiger has on Sundays at majors (perhaps Nicklaus), and Augusta was just a quick reminder that Tiger is a human being. He's got enough game to win on any golf course, and he remains the favorite to win this year (he is getting 5/2 odds in Vegas). Tiger has two other US Open titles on his record, back in 2000 and 2002.

Last year was a tough one for Phil Mickelson fans as he slowly melted down on the 72nd hole of the tournament to finish second. After taking out his driver on 18, a move which his caddy should have talked him out of, he bounced his drive off a roof, proceeded to chunk a shot out of the rough.....it's actually too painful to re-live right now. Phil also had a disappointing Sunday at Augusta, as he never recovered from a triple-bogey on the first hole. Phil has the long drive and enough creativity around the greens to take home the crown, however, if his driving accuracy isn't there, Phil will have no chance. In Vegas, Phil is currently sitting at a 10/1 shot to win.

Retief Goosen, who has been playing as well as anyone lately, has emerged as the fashionable pick to win, although the fashionable pick is not always the smartest pick (much like the Arizona Cardinals were the fashionable pick to make a run at the Super Bowl in 2006). "The Goose" finished in a three way tie for second at the Masters (along with Tiger, and Rory Sabatini), and has historically performed well at the US Open, taking the title in 2004 and 2001. One area of his game that will need to improve if Goosen wants to have a chance this year is his driving accuracy. After five events this season, Goosen ranked 157th on the tour in driving accuracy. Goosen, much like the Florida Gators in basketball this year, is the type of player that can look horrible in smaller tournaments that don't mean much, then turn it on when he needs to in the Majors. Goosen is posted at 16/1 odds in Vegas.

As mentioned previously, Ernie Els won this tournament the last time it was held at Oakmont, and there's no reason to believe he won't do so again. Els is playing very well this season, ranking 1st on the tour in putting average and puts per round, and 3rd in scoring average. So far this season Ernie has played in six events, with one second place finish and one third place finish. "The Big Easy" has two factors working against him as he heads into this years tournament. First off, he never recovered at the Masters this year after a double-bogey on the first hole, as he finished his first two rounds 10 over par with only two birdies and failed to make the cut. His second problem is his GIR (greens in regulation) percentage this year. After six events, Els is hitting only 58.95% of his greens in regulation, which ranks him at 174th on tour. Combined with the fact that he is 135th on tour in driving accuracy this year, and it could be a long day for Ernie. He currently sits at 18/1 odds.

The last time Vijay Singh took time off from golf was well....never. The hardest working man is golf has played in eleven events this year, whereas most of the heavy hitters have played in five or six. Vijay was ruined at the Masters by a third-round 79, and finished in a tie for 13th. Vijay ranks first this season in the FedEx points standings, mainly because he has played so many events. Despite taking home two victories at the Mercedes-Benz Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Vijay has only finished in the top ten one other time in eleven events this year. His statistics this year show no glaring strengths or weaknesses, as he ranks in between 15th and 79th in every major category. Like Els, Vijay sits at an 18/1 shot to win in 2007.

Other top prospects to win this year at Oakmont are Jim Furyk (20/1), defending champion Geoff Ogilvy (25/1), Adam Scott (33/1), Padraig Harrington (33/1), and Henrik Stenson (33/1). Masters champion Zach Johnson currently sits at 50/1.