Writing the Pine

The U.S. Open has returned to New York’s Bethpage Black Course again with the last time being in 2002, when Tiger Woods finished the tournament clad in his customary Sunday-red attire holding up yet another trophy.

Will history repeat itself? (AP Photo)

After last year’s dramatic playoff victory over Rocco Mediate, will Tiger defend his title for back-to-back U.S. Opens? Regardless of his performance, the dramatics of last year’s sudden death duel will be hard to match, let all alone surpass.

So let’s look at some of the favorites that might win at the “People’s Country Club”:

Sentimental Favorite – Phil Mickelson

(Hans Deryk/Reuters)

Normally a fan favorite in New York anyhow, this San Diego native has always had the support of gallery here in Bethpage and other NY tournaments.

Now, with his wife Amy’s recent diagnosis of breast cancer, I would not be surprised if a throng of pink ribbon wearing fans cheered him throughout the tournament.  Having shed his reputation as one of the best ever not to win a major championship since the U.S. Open was here last, Phil has the physical tools to conquer the tall grasses of Bethpage.

However, the real question is if Phil can focus on golf throughout the weekend and his emotional and mental status on the weekend rolls on.  More than any other sport, golf is often a stuggle against oneself and can quickly deteriorate into an unmitigated disaster.  (Think Greg Norman or Jean van de Velde.) And now he has the added pressure of trying to win one for his wife before he takes an expected long lay-off to be with his wife.  If you thought the crowds were behind Phil last time he was here, I can’t imagine what they’ll be like this time around.  Lefty, we’ll be cheering for you here too.

The Dark Horse – Geoff Ogilvy

Look at that sexy Puma shirt.

While his game was perfectly tailored for Winged Foot, where he won the 2006 Open, Ogilvy is quietly gaining momentum as someone that could take charge and distance himself from the rest of the field.  It’s hard to imagine labeling the 5th ranked player in the world as a “dark horse” especially when this guy won the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship earlier this year, but when you’re going against Tiger, pretty much everybody is an overwhelming underdog.  Andy North of ESPN picked him as his dark horse and you know what, we agree with that choice.

Additionally, he will have a group of supporters, the Puma Brigade there to support him at every hole.

(Editor’s note: TheWritingIllini and FiveToolPlayer have been invited to join the Puma Brigade and watch the Open unfold live from the gallery by Ogilvy’s GREAT sponsor, Puma.  We have graciously accepted and expect a post on the entire experience soon.  And now you know why he’s our dark horse.)

Screw it. What am I even thinking.  This is Tiger’s tournament to lose and he will be going out of his way to prove and naysayers and critics wrong about the inevitable decline of Eldrick Tiger Woods.  Ultimately, the biggest factor of this year’s Open may be out of the player’s hands.  Mother Nature has decided to let the course play longer than normal and the greens slow as molasses unless the weather prediction for the weekend changes.  (By the way, you can follow all the action by using the U.S. Open widget at the top of the sidebar over there.)

So there you have it.  We’re picking Tiger to win it but we’ll be cheering for Phil and Geoff (literally).  We will be back soon with update on the tournament from the Puma Brigade.