Open questions will start to be answered today
The questions in desperate need of answers in the 106th U.S. Open are as plentiful as the blades of overgrown grass lining the narrow fairways at mighty Winged Foot.
By T.J. Auclair, Junior Editor
MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- The United States Open is often referred to as the sternest test in all of golf.
The description holds true this week as the world's best players embark on Winged Foot Golf Club for the 106th edition of the U.S. Open.
With gnarly rough that is thicker and more penal than ever, a price will certainly be paid for any wayward tee shots. Winged Foot is also noted for its slick and severely undulating greens, which means even when the players get the ball on the dance floor it will be no bargain.
New Zealand's Michael Campbell returns as the defending champion after capturing the title at Pinehurst No. 2 last June by holding off a hard-charging Tiger Woods.
Since 1991, only Woods and Retief Goosen have finished better than 40th in trying to defend their Open titles. Goosen had a three-shot lead after 54 holes in 2005, but tied for 11th. Woods finished 12th in 2001 after winning in 2000 and tied for 20th in 2003 after winning in 2002.
Curtis Strange is the last man to successfully defend the U.S. Open, turning the trick in 1989.
Campbell isn't afraid of history and swears he won't let it impact his goals for this week.
"Once you get the bug, once you win your first major, in my case you want more," he said. "I'm not here to win one major, I'm here to win more than one. My plan is to be a multiple major winner. That's my goal."
While Campbell is the reigning champ, all the eyes at Winged Foot are on two other players -- Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, in that order.
This will be the first tournament Woods has played since the Masters and the death of his father, Earl. That's a nine-tournament hiatus, the longest of Woods' career.
"I took quite a bit of time off," he said. "I really had no desire to get back to the game of golf. I think one of the hardest things for me in all honesty was to get back to the game of golf because a lot of my memories, great memories that I have with my dad are at the golf course. It was hard at times going out there late in the evening like I always do, like to practice, and I remember going out there, and I remember starting back any time you take time off and start back, you always work on your fundamentals grip, posture, stance, alignment. Well, that's what I learned from Dad.
"So from that standpoint, it was certainly a little more difficult than I had expected," he continued. "But also then again, it brought back so many great memories, and every time I thought back I always had a smile on my face. As I was grinding and getting ready, it was also one of the great times, too, to remember and think back on all the lessons, life lessons Dad taught me through the game of golf. All these things come rushing back at you. It's certainly one of the things you never want to go through, but then again, it brought back so many great memories."
The only other significant stretch of time Woods has taken away from tournament play was an eight-week break between 2002 and 2003 after knee surgery. In his first event back, the Buick Invitational, he won.
"I think the two times I've taken my longest breaks have been after my knee surgery in 2002 and this past winter, taking, I guess, six weeks off or whatever it was [he won in Dubai in December]," he said. "Both times I've come back and I've won. It's just one of those things where it's your preparation, your practice, your attention to detail when you are preparing. That's something that I've learned and I've done very well, I think, in the past, and it's applied to this stretch.
"I've had plenty of time to get ready. I just didn't feel that I was ready to deal with all this and also try and prepare for the Open. I'd much rather kind of deal with it all at once and get it over with and not have to worry about, 'what are you going to do for the Open?' Well, I'm already here, so it's kind of sweet. "
While Woods commands a compelling storyline with the U.S. Open concluding on Father's Day, Mickelson is in the midst of writing an intriguing story of his own. A win at the U.S. Open would mean three consecutive major titles for Lefty. That's a far cry from the man who would always come this-close and then tank in the big ones.
"I'm just trying to win one," Mickelson said. "I'm not trying to win three, I'm just trying to win one. I've had some success in this event where I've come close, losing by a shot or two, three times finishing second. I know I can play well in this tournament, even though it doesn't necessarily fit my perception of how I've played with the thick rough and so forth. I still have had some success here, and all I'm trying to do is be successful on this one golf course at this one event."
Mickelson is noted for his lengthy breaks from golf. He was asked what it?s like returning after such a long layoff. Is it difficult? Is there a lot of rust to brush off?
"I'm curious, what was Tiger's answer?" Mickelson joked. "Does he feel like it was a problem? I'm hoping he does. I've never seen a tournament where he has not been prepared to win, unfortunately. I would expect him to be 100 percent because he's had a lot of time now to work on his game and get sharp and focus in on just this one tournament and not have to worry about others.
"I think he's going to be very sharp this week. I know how bad he wants to win another major. But they're also 155 guys in here that are going to be trying their darnedest to win it themselves."
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