It’s that time of year that the world’s greatest golfers flock to the States to determine our National Champion. The US Open is truly what the title implies…an Open Championship. Many of the world’s top players had to submit their application to The USGA just like many talented amateurs and battle their way through local qualifiers in hopes of earning a spot in The 2010 US Open. Annually, The USGA carves its chosen venue into a true test of will, persistence, and grit. Simply, The US Open is not designed to punish but identify the world’s top players.
After nearly a decade, The Open makes its way back to Pebble Beach. Naturally, Pebble is considered one of more picturesque and respected venues in the world however many question the length of Pebble as a legitimate US Open venue. In my candid opinion, length has nothing to do with the difficulty of this venue. Most of the greens at Pebble Beach are less than 5000 square feet. Let’s not forget approximately eight holes border the ocean on the right. You miss the fairway even slightly right, you are on the beach. Many detractors of Pebble point to Tiger’s dominance in The 2000 US Open but most people forget 2nd place was 3 over par. The USGA set up is simple. The farther you miss the fairway, the higher your score will be. Steve and I were honored to have Chuck Dunbar, Head Golf Professional at Pebble Beach, on the show last Thursday. Depending on conditions, Chuck believes +2 to -2 will win The Open. I honestly believe most of the players will take their chances with even par. Even though length is not an issue, solid ball striking and scrambling will be rewarded.
Here are a few questions I have been asked regarding The 2010 US Open:
Who is the Dark Horse? I like Tom Watson mainly because of his ball striking. Taking length out of the equation will be beneficial to Watson’s chances. After his near miss at The British Open, I like his chances at Pebble Beach. Does Watson have one last dash of greatness? He is not a great putter but 18 pars will put him in contention. I may be reaching on this one but what a popular win this would be.
How will Tiger perform? I think we can all safely agree his win here in 2000 was an anomaly. Remember, he did not have a single three putt and 2nd place was +3. You may have noticed but Tiger is going through a major overhaul in personal and professional life. The question may be, will Tiger make the cut? Currently, his ball striking is erratic at best. Missed fairways at The Open this year will almost be a penalty shot. Generally Tiger can depend on strength in these situations however he is still suffering with neck and back issues. Even with Tiger’s struggles, don’t underestimate his will and competitive spirit. No one grinds it out through a tough round better than Tiger. He may not win next weekend but don’t be surprised if he is still hanging around Sunday afternoon.
Can Phil get his first US Open? This may be Phil’s time. Phil LOVES the Monterey Peninsula. He has won the AT&T which is a feat accomplished by several past US Open champions at Pebble. Phil has already arrived at Pebble to prepare for this year’s Open. If Phil can learn to occasionally play conservative (which is tough for Phil), he may avoid being a bridesmaid for the 6th time.
Will Lee Westwood win his first major? Many of the experts are picking Westwood based on his recent play. Westwood drives the ball extremely straight which will prove to be an asset at Pebble Beach. Lee’s aquiles heel will be his ability to scramble. He tends to struggle around the green on difficult chip and pitch shots. Scrambling to save par at a US Open is a requirement to be successful however Westwood has performed well at The US Open in the past. As much as I am a fan of Lee Westwood, I like his chances better at Augusta National.
My choice to win the 2010 US Open is a simple one, Dustin Johnson. This pick is in no way a bias pick. This pick has nothing to do with fact Johnson is a fellow Alum of THE COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY or South Carolinian. This pick was based on research and merit alone. After all, he has won the last two AT&T’s at Pebble Beach. Look for my fellow Chanticleer to follow up Lucas Glover’s 2009 performance and keep the hardware in the State of SC.
Listen to our interview this week with Pebble Beach Head Golf Professional, Chuck Dunbar. Many thanks to Chuck for his energy and efforts:
Please feel free to give is your insights at www.facebook.com/weretalkinggolf.
Chris Hill is the CMO of WereTalkingGolf Productions. He writes weekly several times on WereTalkingGolf.com at Bogie’s Banter. He can also co hosts 3 national golf radio shows weekly on WereTalkingGolf Radio. He can be reached via email at chris@weretalkinggolf.com
Tags: Chuck Dunbar, Dustin Johnson, Pebble Beach, tiger woods, USGA
