|
Torrey awaits Woods and Mickelson showdown
2008-06-08
In the eyes of many, next week's U.S. Open at Torrey Pines outside San Diego is likely to shape up as an effective head-to-head between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, the top-ranked players in the game. They have both played the venue regularly since their junior days and, between them, have won eight of the last 10 Buick Invitational tournaments staged there. For world number one Woods, Torrey has been a remarkably successful hunting ground. The 13-times major champion has clinched the Buick title there for the last four years and a record six times overall. Although the set-up of the South Course will be different when the U.S. Open features its traditional tight fairways, penalizing rough and lightning-fast greens, Woods's comfort factor will still apply. "I've always felt comfortable coming down here and playing, ever since my junior golf days, even though the golf course has been redesigned," the twice U.S. Open champion said, referring to changes made to the South Course in 2001. "After the redesign, I picked up on the greens pretty quickly and I've had success ever since then." The biggest question mark over Woods is that he will tee off in Thursday's opening round at Torrey having not played competitively since finishing second at the Masters in mid-April. He had surgery on his left knee two days after the Masters ended and will return to action for the second major of the year following an eight-week break. Two years ago he had a nine-week layoff while coping with the death of his father Earl before missing the cut in a major for the first time as a professional in the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. World number two Mickelson, who lives at nearby Rancho Santa Fe, also enjoys an extraordinary comfort level at Torrey where he has played countless rounds. However, the par-72 South Course layout has been amended to a par-71 for next week and stretched to 7,643 yards, making it the longest to host a major championship. HARDEST COURSE "I think Torrey Pines is the hardest golf course in the country because it's more than 7,600 yards, at sea level, with no bail-out on any hole," three-times major winner Mickelson said. "I think it's going to be a great championship, because the course is so hard as it is," added the American left-hander who won the Buick Invitational in 1993, 2000 and 2001. "With its length and difficult pin placements, you really don't need to do too much to it to make par a good score." American Johnny Miller, U.S. Open champion at Oakmont in 1973 and now a noted analyst for NBC television, is among those eagerly awaiting a thrilling showdown between Woods and Mickelson. "A few things could work in Phil's favor," he wrote in Golf Digest magazine. "For one, San Diego is Phil's hometown and the majority of fans will be rooting for him. It's the one course where he won't feel Tiger has an advantage. "If Phil's game is sharp, he has his best chance to win his first U.S. Open. Nobody knows the course better than Phil, nobody putts fast greens better when he's on, and he's Tiger's equal around the greens." As ever at a U.S. Open, the ability to grind out pars and to stay patient when the going gets tough will be defining traits in the make-up of next week's champion. Woods and Mickelson do not hold a monopoly in those departments, however, and no American has won the title since 2003 with South African Retief Goosen, New Zealander Michael Campbell, Australian Geoff Ogilvy and Argentina's Angel Cabrera the last four champions. (Editing by Ed Osmond)
| 
