Tiger and Watson to play in US Open

[DavidFehertysBike]

Not really a surprise for either. Though i am interested if Tiger will play again before Pebble. I think Watson will play well again and make the cut provided the course plays firm.

I give Tiger a 98% chance of winning, Phil 1% and the field gets 1% . I just have a feeling he is going to own that tourney.

[colin007]

not with the swing he had last week. and believe me, i would love to see him win it as much as anyone, but i dont think he has it yet.

[Chilli Dipper]

I'll say it right now: Tiger Woods has no chance at victory on a US Open setup, especially not at Pebble Beach. The Pacific Ocean waits to claim his wayward drives, and the greens are too small for his approaches from the deep rough to hold. I'll give Tom Watson a better chance right now; at least Tom would be playing from the fairway on most of his second shots.

[Zeph]

If he hits mostly 3-wood and stops hitting it fat, he can definitely win at Pebble.

[sonicblue]

Don't underestimate the psychological benefits of playing at (what may very well feel like) Tiger's home course. As I proved in another thread, Tiger virtually ALWAYS find the top part of the leaderboard. A lot of other guys, on an off week, are out of it...out-out of it. Even when Tiger's game is a mess, he's near the top. Even as bad as he swung the driver at Augusta, and even including donking a 12" putt, he was just a couple shots out (takeaway Phil's miracle, one-in-a-trillion shot, he's even closer). If even a little bit of 'comfort' puts Tiger in the fairway, say, 6 more times over four days, he most decidedly has a chance, if not becomes the overwhelming favorite. Remember, last week, he had a MOUNTAIN of reasons to shoot 74-75 and go home on Friday, and there he was Sunday right to the end. If he takes a tournament or two to fine-tune his swing and mental game, and goes into the US Open with a little less doubt and weight on his shoulders, look out....

[DavidFehertysBike]

I'll say it right now: Tiger Woods has no chance at victory on a US Open setup, especially not at Pebble Beach. The Pacific Ocean waits to claim his wayward drives, and the greens are too small for his approaches from the deep rough to hold. I'll give Tom Watson a better chance right now; at least Tom would be playing from the fairway on most of his second shots.

I dunno. Tiger owns that place. His masters performance prives he can still compete dispite inactivity and rust. Tiger will have a long time to sort out his timing issues and the new wedges. Its his tourney to lose, IMO.

[Greg]

So how many tournaments does he play between now and the US Open? Im guessing his next tournament will be the Players in May, im assuming he wont miss that one, maybe one more between then and the US Open. Everyone else has had all year to play with the new grooves and the Masters was Tigers first tournament using them, so it might take a while to to adjust. His swing looked forced at times, even chunking his 3 wood off the tee once, but still came in 4th at far from his best. By the US Open at his favorite course he should be much sharper, the rest of the field needs to practice harder to compete.

[dblbgy17]

just a couple shots out (takeaway Phil's miracle, one-in-a-trillion shot, he's even closer)

i know this isn't the thread to address this but phil's shot was not one in a trillion. he would hit the green 75% of the time from that spot b/t the trees and birdie it 90% of the time. now putting the ball on the short side is an awesome shot but he took away a birdie, he would prob do that every time.

[Chilli Dipper]

I dunno. Tiger owns that place. His masters performance prives he can still compete dispite inactivity and rust. Tiger will have a long time to sort out his timing issues and the new wedges. Its his tourney to lose, IMO.

But Tiger doesn't own Pebble Beach; that's a false legend. His resume there is making a run on the back nine to beat Matt Gogel (who?) and catching a break in the weather to make the US Open a coronation ceremony before Saturday; both of those items happened during the year he was essentially invincible. He hasn't even played at Pebble in eight years. He owns Torrey Pines, he owns Bay Hill, he owns Firestone; he may even own the Old Course at St. Andrews. But Pebble? Not so much.

Regardless, players who are as wayward off the tee as Tiger Woods was last week, and since his return from knee surgery in general, don't win US Opens. He may be able to scramble to a top-ten finish, like he did last year at Bethpage, but I don't expect the Tiger we've seen of late to be in contention on Fathers' Day.

[BallStriker]

Even when Tiger's game is a mess, he's near the top. Even as bad as he swung the driver at Augusta, and even including donking a 12" putt, he was just a couple shots out (takeaway Phil's miracle, one-in-a-trillion shot, he's even closer). .

I agree, Tiger performed pretty well without his top game. It's funny, just last night a friend and I were talking about how impressed we were that Phil managed to win with his own troubles hitting the driver -- crazy to think about how many shots would he have won by if he was driving the ball better?

[yimpydimpy]

Seems to me people overrate driving accuracy. Look at AK's win two weeks ago, worst accuracy in the field yet he won? Phil and tiger shaky off the tee but 1st and 4th respectively. Its all about the short game, 100 yards and in.

[spitz20]

Im axious again to see tiger 3 putt from 6feet :D GO PHIL!

[Doctorfro]

To Tiger's own admission: "Tiger Woods...you suck!" Sorry, could help myself.

Seriously, I think Tiger will contend. Win? The cards have to fall into place. He's not going to dominate until he gets some mileage back under his belt.

[Clambake]

I feel like Rip Van Winkle, waking up after a 40 year nap. When I was in high school I would watch Tom Watson in his prime take on the PGA tour, and now here I am at 51 watching Tom Watson in his prime taking on the PGA tour.

Pebble isn't too long, and with his game and knowledge of Pebble, I think Watson can truly contend.

[zeg]

I'm utterly thrilled to hear this news, going to be attending Saturday and Sunday at the US Open this year. First golf tournament I've been to, and I was really dreading the possibility that Tiger wouldn't show. To have Watson there as well is icing on the cake.

[Titleist_ProV1x]

I'll say it right now: Tiger Woods has no chance at victory on a US Open setup, especially not at Pebble Beach. The Pacific Ocean waits to claim his wayward drives, and the greens are too small for his approaches from the deep rough to hold. I'll give Tom Watson a better chance right now; at least Tom would be playing from the fairway on most of his second shots.

Agreed 100% .......And I give Dustin a high finish, might even win it

[Zeph]

Seems to me people overrate driving accuracy. Look at AK's win two weeks ago, worst accuracy in the field yet he won? Phil and tiger shaky off the tee but 1st and 4th respectively. Its all about the short game, 100 yards and in.

It's all about the approach shots, which are directly affected by the drives. We see a lot of long putts go in on TV, but they don't know the putts that don't go in, except for the leader groups.

[dhanson]

I don't think the 2000 US Open at Pebble has been mentioned, so I'll mention it now.

He won by 15 strokes, the largest margin of victory in the history of major championships. His total 272 strokes ties the all-time low in the US Open, and his -12 is the only double-digit under par score in US Open history. While he might not "own" Pebble, he has won both US Opens he's played at there. He'll be on the top page of the leader board, if not hoisting the US Open trophy on Sunday.