The U.S. Open begins today at the iconic Torrey Pines south course. It will be a homecoming for reigning PGA champion Phil Mickelson as he’ll be playing in front of family and friends on a course he got to know as a kid. The U.S. Open is the one missing piece from Phil’s grand slam resume, and it will be fascinating to see how he does on his home course. It’s interesting to read how Mickelson hated the Rees Jones redesign of the Torrey Pines course.
Torrey Pines hosted the legendary 2008 U.S. Open when Tiger Woods won the tournament over Rocco Mediate despite having a fractured leg.
As for the odds, Mickelson is still a long shot at 50-1, while the top contenders include Dustin Johnson (16-1), Brooks Koepka (18-1) and Jordan Spieth (20-1).
Here are the odds to win the Masters title this year:
Adam Scott 10/1
Rory McIlroy 10/1
Phil Mickelson 12/1
Jason Day 14/1
Matt Kuchar 18/1
Sergio Garcia 20/1
Dustin Johnson 22/1
Bubba Watson 25/1
Henrik Stenson 25/1
Zach Johnson 28/1
I’m surprised Sergio made it that high as he’s always a lock to choke in big tournaments, but he still has talent.
The Masters won’t be the same without Tiger Woods this year, but let’s hope for a great tournament.
Here’s another example of the importance of putting.
In a duel between the young and strong, victory often goes not just to who will search for greatness successfully, but who will search for greatness without making the dooming mistake.
For Nick Watney, 29, in Sunday’s back nine of the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship on the TPC Blue Monster at Doral Resort & Spa, that calamitous error always seemed to be waiting at a tee. Yet, Watney skewered each such moment with archer-accurate putting.
That left the bad moment to be found by Dustin Johnson, 26, the 54-hole leader, on the 16th hole. Johnson’s bogey there and Watney’s flourishing finishing birdie on 18 for a 5-under-par 67 gave Watney a two-shot win with a 16-under 272 total.
