The Men's US Open returns to Bethpage Black this week for the 2009 edition of the USGA's crown jewel tournament. The week is not struggling for captivating storylines, and will be a tough tournament for the starting field of 156 golfers.
This year's edition will have a tough time living up to last year, where a hobbled Tiger Woods ripped his way through Torrey Pines, where he could have filed for permanent residence. Woods defeated Rocco Mediate in a 19-hole playoff, totaling 91 holes on the weekend before Woods was able to lift the trophy. With an improbable birdie on the 72nd hole to force the playoff, and the wince and grimace with each tee shot from Woods the entire weekend, last year's US Open was not short on drama.
Woods returns this season for a run at his fifteenth major championship of his career. He is currently four major victories behind Jack Nicklaus' total, who has 18 titles to his name. He is coming off of a victory at the Memorial two weeks ago, where he battled from a five shot deficit entering the final round to beat Jim Furyk by one stroke. In seven events so far this season, Woods has finished in the top 10 of six of them, and has two wins among those.
Woods is also trying to become the fifth man to win four US Open titles, along with Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus (all with four apiece).
The last time this course played at Bethpage, Woods won with final score of three-under-par 277 to beat Phil Mickelson by three strokes. That year, Woods was the only player to finish the tournament under par, and it very well could happen again.
The Black Course at Bethpage is one of the toughest courses in America. In 2002 it became the first municipally-owned course to host a US Open, and despite that moniker, it is still a beast of a course.
With its expansive fairway bunkers and mercilessly thick rough, it requires extremely accurate tee shots. Not only must the golfers hit it straight, but they must hit it far. In 2002 it played as the longest US Open course in tournament history. This year it is 212 yards longer, at 7,246 total, which is the seventh-longest course in major championship history. There are three par-4s that will play longer than 500 yards. The seventh hole, a 525-yard par four, is actually longer than the par-5 fourth hole, which is 517 yards.
The next storyline that the whole golfing nation will be watching is Mickelson, who will be playing in his second tournament since announcing his wife, Amy, had been diagnosed with breast cancer. After taking a month-long leave from the tour, Mickelson returned for the St. Jude Classic last weekend, where he finished one-over-par and tied for 59th.
Despite his number two worlds ranking, it may be tough for Mickelson to edge the talented field this weekend at an ultra hard course. No player in the world can match his short game, which with the tremendous amount of bunkers and killer rough, could give him one big advanage over most of the field.
No matter where he finishes, he will receive masses of support from the other players and the gallery for his family's battles, and it will surely be a great sight for the sport.
Five and a half inches of rain have fallen over the last two weeks at the course, which only seen two days of no rain in that span. Rain is forecast for all four days of the tournament, which could make for some compelling and unexpected play.
The greens will play slow and putting could be a huge factor in this tournament. Geoff Ogilvy, the 2006 US Open champion, is currently second on tour in putting average, and first on the money list. If the weather conditions prove difficult, look for Ogilvy to emerge near the top of the leaderboard with some clutch putting.
Last weekend at the St. Jude Classic, Brian Gay took the title by a whopping five strokes, earning him a spot in this week's Open. He could carry that success right over to Bethpage, where his accurate driving should keep him in the fairway more than most others, and he could find himself in one of the final groupings on Sunday.
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