One of golf’s greatest tests to bring out the best in showman Poulter
IF YOU were to rank the Majors in terms of importance and prestige then I’d have no problem putting the US Open in there just behind our Open as the second most significant event on the golfing calendar.
A number of the world’s leading players have described this tournament as the ultimate test and from personal experience I can confirm that’s the case.
As well as dealing with an ultra competitive field, which isn’t always the case at the Masters or the US PGA, the courses are exceptionally demanding and require thought, imagination and discipline.
There’s been a lot made of the course having been lengthened since the tournament was last played here in 1997. It makes for a talking point but it really won’t be of concern to the shorter hitters, who still send the ball miles in relative terms.
Power off the tee is not a prerequisite for success at Congressional; hitting it straight certainly is. The rough will be thick and unforgiving and you’ve got to get the ball on the fairway if you want to impart the spin that is key in keeping it on greens that are normally firm.
Success at the US Open depends on playing great golf, of course, but also resisting the temptation to get sucked into taking chances. That’s why you don’t get many surprise winner of this event and consistency is normally rewarded.
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IT’S pleasing to see the likes to Lee Westwood and Luke Donald at the head of the betting for the second Major tournament of the year and they’re there on merit.
They’ll undoubtedly mount strong challenges over the course of the weekend and I don’t buy into the fact either of them have got a mental block when it comes to winning one of the big four events.
They’ve both got enough titles under their belts to know how to handle pressure. A big tournament is a big tournament, it’s just that some have got the word ‘Major’ in front of them. It won’t make a difference to either of them and I know they’ll have their preparations spot on.
Few people win the US Open two years on the trot but Graeme McDowell has the game to do well here, while fellow Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy won’t let his final round Masters capitulation cloud his mind.
Having said that, I expect Ian Poulter to mount the strongest British challenge at Congressional. He’s normally immaculate from tee to green, hits it long and straight and when he does find himself in a bit of trouble, as you invariably will round here, he’s got a super short game to dig him out of trouble.
Without Tiger Woods in the field the tournament does lose a bit of its lustre. He’s probably the best golfer I’ve ever seen and he leaves a massive gap that not even Phil Mickelson can fill.
In the absence of the former world No1 I see Matt Kuchar leading the American charge. He’s risen quietly to sixth in the rankings and if his putting, which can be his downfall, is on the money he’ll go close.