It is finally that weekend in late June. Father's Day weekend. Not only is this a great time to play golf, grill out, or spend time with your dad with whatever it is you both enjoy to do. It is also time for the US Open. The US Open is America's Golf Championship. Similar to the NBA Finals, The Super Bowl, The World Series, etc. The only difference is for Golf's National Championship the conditions are much more difficult. The USGA does a great job of making it a truly the most difficult test of golf. There is nothing else like it. When Kobe and Pierce faced off just recently in the NBA Finals they did not raise the rims to 15 feet, the USGA would. Last October, when Jeter and the Yankees took on Howard and the Phillies, they did not move the mound up to 45 feet, the USGA would. I would like to see how good that Saints offensive attack would be had they been playing 11 on 15. The best thing one could say about America's National Championship is the best golfer did win. It is always a very tight field where going into Sunday there are more than a handful who could easily be the last one standing. This year proves to be no different. Currently Graeme Mcdowell is that one guy who is -3 and has been playing great golf the last two days. The fact is, there is going to be a difficult day for every golfer, and if you have not had yours yet, beware.
This is why it is looking up for Phil Mickelson, he is playing textbook Mickelson golf, living on the edge whacking his driver around, and of course he posted the two most inconsistent rounds yet, 75 and a 66.
Then there is Tiger who just can not get everything together. Thursday he hit his first 10 greens, and went on to hit 14/18 greens, but he countered that with 34 putts and made zero birdies for the day. I do not see him getting it together this weekend and winning the championship. He always has the artillery to do so, so I will not be surprised. I am just saying my money is not on him. Now who I really do like this weekend is Ernie Els. I picked him this week as my A Player for the SBR US Open and he has not failed to impress yet. Ernie is currently tied for second and his playing great golf. He is also putting as well as he did at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando back in March. He won that tournament by three strokes. Ernie is definitely going to be there because he will not beat himself. The big easy will always been in every hole, and will always make shots. He displays great course management and he knows what it takes to be a US Open champion, as he already won in 1994 and 1997. 13 years later Ernie is prime and ready for the hat trick to take his third US Open.
