The U.S. Open is, without a doubt, the most difficult golf of the year. The USGA holds close to it’s heart the ideal that a course should be well defended against advances in both equipment and talent. Birdies should be a luxury, not an guarantee. It is certain that USGA officials will be smiling as they smoke their post-third-round cigars tonight because only one player is below par: Retief Goosen. The USGA can safely say that Pinehurst No. 2 has teeth and is defending itself against the best in the world.
Retief Goosen, Pinehurst’s second round co-leader, is this year’s U.S. Open “ice-man” keeping a cool head through three rounds with course conditions that can easily rattle the very best in the world. Goosen has long been misunderstood because of his retiring and quiet nature, but what he make lack in personal flair he makes up for in grit and determination.
After faltering today on holes 12 and 13 with a bogey and a double bogey he fought back with birdies on 15 and 16 to maintain a three-stroke cushion going into Sunday. Goosen’s monotone personality seems perfect for the U.S Open: nerves of steel, patience, and an aloof but serious nature. He’s been able to, in the words of Happy Gilmore’s zen-master Potter, “Harness energy, block bad.” Well, skill may have something to do with it too but the energy is there.
Jason Gore and Olin Brown both has similar results today, dropping two shots to fall three strokes behind Goosen. Gore, who’s rotund body one radio commentator openly examined from waistline to multiple chins in his serious “commentator voice” didn’t have the round of his life but is certainly within striking distance after round three. It sounds to me like this commentator thinks he could take Gore in a fist-fight.
Brown, who is tied for second, said of his play tommorrow, “I need to find the fairway with my tee shot and if I do I think I’ll be alright.” An obvious statement, but true, considering how much the rough penalizes players at just about any U.S. Open venue.
Gore had captured the lead midway through round three but fell behind with a double bogey on 14 and Goosen’s two birdies.
When the smoke cleared in 1999 and Payne Stewart had secured his U.S. Open victory, he was the only player to have broken par that year finishing the tournament at 1-under. The trend towards scoring close to par seems to be holding but Retief Goosen is in good shape to better Stewart’s fine performance if he plays another round of one-over or better on Sunday.
You know its a U.S. Open when a player moves up the leader-board by posting a round at even par. David Toms did just that today by posting an even-par 70 and moving up 11 places. He didn’t let his disappointing bogey and double-bogey finish during round two rattle him too much and was able to capitalize on the failure of others to stay at even-par for the day. Toms said, “It just seems like you can’t be aggressive at all. As soon as you try and do something you make double or you get in a bad spot to try to have to make a par.”
Tiger Woods’ two-over 72 put him six strokes off the lead. Putting is killing Tiger in this Open. He doesn’t sound confident on the putting greens and that is almost the lone factor in preventing him from being in Goosen’s shoes. Tiger needed 36 putts to complete his round today and was one of many who struggled on these firm “turtleback” greens. “Most of my putts I’m defensive because they’re uphill and going strait away from me,” said Tiger. “If you get a hair aggressive they’re off the green. I’m just lagging most of the putts.”
Tiger is averaging 14 GIR per round which isn’t too shabby. He hit 16 greens on Saturday but was unable to capitalize because the greens give you the feeling you’re putting on glass. Precarious is a good word for Pinehurst’s greens.
Peter Jacobsen posted the first ever ace at a U.S. Open at Pinehurst. Jacobsen, along with Goosen posted the only under-par rounds of the day, both shooting a one-under 69.
Should Goosen hang on to his lead he’ll become the first player since Curtis Strange in 1988-89 to win back-to-back U.S. Opens and be only the sixth player to have multiple U.S. Open wins. He’s chasing history. The way that Pinehurst No. 2 is playing, anything can happen so make sure and stay glued to the tube.
Pos Player Tot R1 R2 R3 1 Retief Goosen -3 68 70 69 T2 Jason Gore E 71 67 72 T2 Olin Browne E 67 71 72 T4 Michael Campbell +1 71 69 71 T4 Mark Hensby +1 71 68 72 6 David Toms +2 70 72 70 T7 Peter Hedblom +3 77 66 70 T7 Tiger Woods +3 70 71 72 T7 Lee Westwood +3 68 72 73 T7 K.J. Choi +3 69 70 74
Photo Credit: © Ann Heisenfelt, AP.
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