Who’s Hot? Auclair identifies five on fire

By T.J. Auclair, PGA.com Interactive Producer

Here’s a look at five players who come into the U.S. Open riding plenty of momentum:

TIGER WOODS. We had questions about how the surgically repaired left knee would hold up. So far, the short answer is: very well. In seven starts during this season, Woods already has two dramatic four-stroke come-from-behind victories -- one at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and most recently at the Memorial Tournament, where a final-round 65 at Muirfield Village enabled him to win there for the fourth time in his career. The prospects of a successful U.S. Open defense for Tiger -- which once seemed as foggy as that “marine layer” at Torrey Pines -- are now clear. As usual, he’s the odds-on favorite to win at Bethpage Black.

GEOFF OGILVY. The Aussie has established himself as a big-tournament player with one major to his credit -- the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot -- and three World Golf Championships titles, two at the Accenture Match Play Championship and one at the CA Championship. Over the last few years, Ogilvy has become a threat to win virtually every time he tees it up. He’ll roll into Bethpage Black riding the momentum of four top-10 finishes, highlighted by two wins in 2009. He hasn’t missed a cut all season and in his final start before the U.S. Open, Ogilvy tied for 10th at the Memorial. 

ZACH JOHNSON. Johnson is making fools out of those who may have thought his win at the 2007 Masters was of the flash-in-the-pan variety. Johnson has racked up four more wins since that major triumph, including two in 2009 and he leads the FedExCup race. While Johnson isn’t the biggest of hitters, he gets the most out of his strengths -- ball-striking and around the greens. He won’t overpower Bethpage Black, but he won’t let the course do the same to him, either. History in the U.S. Open is the only thing Johnson has going against him -- three missed cuts in five starts with a career-best finish of a tie for 45th, which came in 2007. That shouldn’t matter, as he’s a more complete player than ever.

PAUL CASEY. The Englishman was long considered a win-waiting-to-happen on the PGA TOUR. That finally came the week before the 2009 Masters at the Shell Houston Open. The win in Houston, along with two big victories in Europe this season, catapulted Casey to a best ever No. 3 spot in the Official World Ranking, just behind Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Casey’s confidence has never been greater and with a major record that includes four top-10 finishes, he could very well contend at Bethpage Black.  

PHIL MICKELSON. He’s a fan favorite everywhere he tees it up -- particularly in New York -- and the No. 2 player in the world will also be the sentimental choice at Bethpage Black. Mickelson recently took a break from the TOUR after his wife, Amy, was diagnosed with breast cancer. He opted to come back and play in the U.S. Open, though, after doctors assured the couple the cancer was caught early and the start of treatment was delayed until July. What could make Mickelson dangerous at Bethpage is the fact that he won’t be over-thinking shots -- and there’s no way he would tee it up if he didn’t think he could win.