The 2012 season reaches another milestone as the 112th US Open is upon
us, as the classic Lake Course at Olympic Club in San Francisco hosts
the second major championship of the year.
Since 1895, the U.S. Open, the second oldest of the major's, has become characterised as being the toughest test in golf. The host courses are set up in a manner that places a premium upon accuracy, both from the tee and with approaches onto the greens, which are typically extremely fast and often very undulating. As a result of these penal course setups, the winning score at a U.S. Open is often around level par. The challenge of contending at this event require not just the skills needed to navigate around the courses, but to have the mental strength and composure to keep level headed when faced with adversity during the championship, as invariably you will at some stage. In the U.S. Open it's often not about the mistakes you make, but how a player recovers from them that determines the eventual champion on Sunday afternoon. This grinding and exhausting challenge is not looked upon favourably by all observors, but there can be little doubt that the man who lifts that trophy has fought and earned to have the right to be declaredUS Open champion.
Olympic Club's US Open Connection
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| Jack Fleck defeated Ben Hogan in 1955 |
Four men have previously been crowned US Open at Olympic Club. In 1955, it was an upset as
Jack Fleck defeated the legendary Ben Hogan in the Monday 18 hole layoff
by three shots. 11 years later Billy Casper won his second title after
defeating Arnold Palmer, again, as in 1955, on a Monday finish. This was
Palmer's third playoff defeat in a US Open. It was over two decades
until the championship returned to Olympic Club, but when it did we
witnessed a dramatic battle between Tom Watson and Scott Simpson, when
the much lesser known 32 year old from California, Simpson, came out on
top against the eight time major champion. Olympic's last US Open
appearance was arguably its most dramatic as Lee Janzen made a Sunday
charge, starting the day five shots behind the lead, to overhaul Payne
Stewart by one shot. It had been the second occasion that Stewart had
lost a US Open to Janzen, but he set the record straight the following
year in 1999 when he held off the challenge of Phil Mickelson during an
emotional final round at Pinehurst. Tragically Payne Stewart was not
able to defend his title the following year at Pebble Beach after he was
killed in a plane crash for months after his triumph.
Olympic Club has had it's fair collection of US Open moments, and another will be etched into the 112 year history of the Championship this week.
112th U.S. Open Contenders and Stories.
Since the fall of Tiger Woods, the battle for the top has been largely contested between Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy. However, the spectre of Tiger has returned recently with his victory at the Memorial Tournament, where he tied Jack Nicklaus' PGA Tour wins total of 73 at Jack's own event. Tiger has been exceptionally unpredictable, but he looked to have full control of his long game at Muirfield Village, and if he can maintain that this week, then there is a real opportunity for Woods to win his fourth US Open and 15th Major Championship, the first since 2008 when he dramatically defeated Rocco Mediate in sudden death at Torrey Pines.
For Luke Donald, being number one in the rankings hasn't brought with it the traction that you would expect, as he has come into this week somewhat under the radar despite his win at the BMW PGA Championship last month. Luke does not have the greatest record in this event, with his best finish being a tie for 12th in 2005 at Pinehurst. However, with his calm demeanour and sound putting touch, it's hard to overlook Donald as having the potential to become the first English US Open champion since Tony Jacklin in 1970.
Perhaps for those reasons, Lee Westwood will come in as the most fancied player from England as he looks to finally win a major and become the oldest wnner of this championship since Payne Stewart in 1998. He is coming into the event in fine form having won his 22 European Tour event on Saturday at the Nordea Masters in Sweden. However, no one has ever won the US Open coming off a win the previous week, but all hoodo's are there to be broken, and Westwood without question has the game to tackle any challenge presented to him. He has an impressive recent record in the event with his last four finishes being T3, T16, T23, T3. He also has history at this venue having finished in a tie for 7th back in 1998. At 39, as each major passes by, his chances of winning one decrease, but his ability and career sorely deserves one, and this might just be the week.
It's been a strange year for defending champion Rory McIlroy. After breaking numerous US Open records last year at Congressional, including his own as the week progressed, he followed it up with wins in Hong Kong, and then at the Honda Classic in March when he became the world's top ranked player. But since then Rory has been dissapointing, following up a poor Masters with three consecutive missed cuts at Sawgrass, Wentworth and Muirfield Village. Many theories have been presented as to explain the reasons behind this form, most notably his relationship with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, and he has admitted himself that he has "lost focus" recently. However, he did add the Fed Ex St Jude Classic to his schedule this week, finishing in a tie for 7th, after being in contention for most of the event. While he didn't look 100% comfortable with his game, it was a very positive performance for Rory and it'll give him a little bit of optimism as he looks to become the first player to successfully defend the US Open since Curtis Strange in 1989. But, it remains an awfully difficult task for the 23 year old coming into an event of this stature not quite at the top of your game.
Other names that will attract attention will be record 5 time runner up Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Hunter Mahan and Jason Dufner. The latter two have won twice this season, while Dustin won in Memphis after returning from a six week injury layoff. Length will not be a noteworthy advantage at a course that will play just over 7150 yards and the winner will likely be a player who plots his rounds well and keeps himself in play, while also retaining composure when things don't go quite to plan.
In the end the US Open is probably the hardest major to predict, and this year is no exception, with a few dozen players being touted as being realistic winners. But it'll be intriguing, exciting and enthralling to see exactly who does lift that trophy at the end of this, the 112th United States Open.
Olympic Club has had it's fair collection of US Open moments, and another will be etched into the 112 year history of the Championship this week.
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| The Olympic Club has previously hosted 5 US Open's |
112th U.S. Open Contenders and Stories.
 |
| It was vintage Tiger at Memorial |
Since the fall of Tiger Woods, the battle for the top has been largely contested between Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy. However, the spectre of Tiger has returned recently with his victory at the Memorial Tournament, where he tied Jack Nicklaus' PGA Tour wins total of 73 at Jack's own event. Tiger has been exceptionally unpredictable, but he looked to have full control of his long game at Muirfield Village, and if he can maintain that this week, then there is a real opportunity for Woods to win his fourth US Open and 15th Major Championship, the first since 2008 when he dramatically defeated Rocco Mediate in sudden death at Torrey Pines.
For Luke Donald, being number one in the rankings hasn't brought with it the traction that you would expect, as he has come into this week somewhat under the radar despite his win at the BMW PGA Championship last month. Luke does not have the greatest record in this event, with his best finish being a tie for 12th in 2005 at Pinehurst. However, with his calm demeanour and sound putting touch, it's hard to overlook Donald as having the potential to become the first English US Open champion since Tony Jacklin in 1970.
Perhaps for those reasons, Lee Westwood will come in as the most fancied player from England as he looks to finally win a major and become the oldest wnner of this championship since Payne Stewart in 1998. He is coming into the event in fine form having won his 22 European Tour event on Saturday at the Nordea Masters in Sweden. However, no one has ever won the US Open coming off a win the previous week, but all hoodo's are there to be broken, and Westwood without question has the game to tackle any challenge presented to him. He has an impressive recent record in the event with his last four finishes being T3, T16, T23, T3. He also has history at this venue having finished in a tie for 7th back in 1998. At 39, as each major passes by, his chances of winning one decrease, but his ability and career sorely deserves one, and this might just be the week.
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| Europe's "Big Three" will compete together |
It's been a strange year for defending champion Rory McIlroy. After breaking numerous US Open records last year at Congressional, including his own as the week progressed, he followed it up with wins in Hong Kong, and then at the Honda Classic in March when he became the world's top ranked player. But since then Rory has been dissapointing, following up a poor Masters with three consecutive missed cuts at Sawgrass, Wentworth and Muirfield Village. Many theories have been presented as to explain the reasons behind this form, most notably his relationship with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, and he has admitted himself that he has "lost focus" recently. However, he did add the Fed Ex St Jude Classic to his schedule this week, finishing in a tie for 7th, after being in contention for most of the event. While he didn't look 100% comfortable with his game, it was a very positive performance for Rory and it'll give him a little bit of optimism as he looks to become the first player to successfully defend the US Open since Curtis Strange in 1989. But, it remains an awfully difficult task for the 23 year old coming into an event of this stature not quite at the top of your game.
Other names that will attract attention will be record 5 time runner up Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Hunter Mahan and Jason Dufner. The latter two have won twice this season, while Dustin won in Memphis after returning from a six week injury layoff. Length will not be a noteworthy advantage at a course that will play just over 7150 yards and the winner will likely be a player who plots his rounds well and keeps himself in play, while also retaining composure when things don't go quite to plan.
In the end the US Open is probably the hardest major to predict, and this year is no exception, with a few dozen players being touted as being realistic winners. But it'll be intriguing, exciting and enthralling to see exactly who does lift that trophy at the end of this, the 112th United States Open.
