Phil finally pulls it out (Congressional 2011)?...

[senorchipotle]

... I'll be the first one to admit, I'm not the biggest P Mick fan, but I really hope he pulls it out this year. Given that Tiger won't be in the field, he's the one guy I'd really like to see win this thing. His game isn't getting any better, and it seems that with each tournament he's becoming less and less of a favorite. I think this might be his last best change to win this thing.

[jamo]

For Phil's sake, I hope he doesn't do it this year. He'll hear "He did it the year Tiger was out" for the rest of his life. Next year.

[senorchipotle]

if tiger stays healthy, i think tiger wins it next year. this is his only chance.

[clubchamp]

Originally Posted by jamo

For Phil's sake, I hope he doesn't do it this year. He'll hear "He did it the year Tiger was out" for the rest of his life. Next year.

Was Tiger ever in it? I mean lets be honest here I know everyone says "he always steps it up for the majors" but he would have been ate alive at congressional. I'm not knocking Tiger but his game is still not there and this will be a lot more to handle than Augusta.

In Phils case if he is driving it well he will have a very good chance to win between his length and short game. If he doesn't drive it well he will be lucky to see the weekend.

[jamo]

Originally Posted by clubchamp

In Phils case if he is driving it well he will have a very good chance to win between his length and short game. If he doesn't drive it well he will be lucky to see the weekend.

Something tells me this just isn't Phil's major to win. He had all the good mojo in the world at Augusta and that was a lackluster showing at best. He's ridiculously talented, so he still has a chance, but I'd be surprised if he won, frankly.

[Chilli Dipper]

Something tells me this just isn't Phil's major to win. He had all the good mojo in the world at Augusta and that was a lackluster showing at best. He's ridiculously talented, so he still has a chance, but I'd be surprised if he won, frankly.

That begs the question: if Phil can't win at Congressional, then when, and where? If he's running out of time to win a US Open (as many say, though I don't agree with it), this year might be his last great shot. Next year's Open is at Olympic, a course that puts such emphasis on precise driving accuracy that he is unlikely to contend there. Merion in 2013 will likely have a similar setup. Now, Pinehurst in 2014 would be a perfectly-suited venue to his gambling style (the renovations on the No. 2 taking out all the rough), and it would bring his story at the Open full-circle from the last-round battle with Payne Stewart in 1999, but he'll turn 44 during that tournament, and one just has to wonder.

[senorchipotle]

Originally Posted by clubchamp

Was Tiger ever in it? I mean lets be honest here I know everyone says "he always steps it up for the majors" but he would have been ate alive at congressional. I'm not knocking Tiger but his game is still not there and this will be a lot more to handle than Augusta.

you mean like tiger wasn't supposed to be in contention last year?

i'm calling it now, if phil doesn't win at congressional this year, he doesn't win a u.s. open at all.

[B-Con]

For Phil's sake, I hope he doesn't do it this year. He'll hear "He did it the year Tiger was out" for the rest of his life. Next year.

That's a good point. Considering their rivalry, Phil winning while Tiger is out would be ripe for that sort of commentary. I still hope he does win, though, because I don't think he has many more good chances at a US Open. Better to win and have a few diminish the accomplishment than to not win at all.

[NI4NI]

All this emphasis on Eldrick is moot.  Winning on the PGA Tour means enough.  I am sure that all who enters a tournament has a goal to win it - the $ and standing points should be reason enough.

[newtogolf]

Phil has a shot, I just hope he doesn't go with 2 drivers again, that didn't work to well for him last time.

[clubchamp]

Originally Posted by senorchipotle

you mean like tiger wasn't supposed to be in contention last year?

i'm calling it now, if phil doesn't win at congressional this year, he doesn't win a u.s. open at all.

Pebble was playing right around 7,000 yards and Congressional will be right around 7,500 yards again I say this year will be a beast. Tiger also wasn't trying to play with an injury that cause him to shoot a 42 on the front 9 at tpc sawgrass at Pebble last year. I would say it's clear you are a huge tiger fan but a spade is a spade he's just not what he was a few years ago. I'm not saying he won't comeback but right now his game is not all there.

Also if Phil doesn't win at congressional why wouldn't he have another chance at another US open?

[ghalfaire]

Well I'm a big Phil fan and I hope he does it this year.  If he doesn't he'll hear "the best golfer to never win a US Open" for the rest of his life (assuming he doesn't win a later US Open).  As to Tiger, you can only beat the folks that show up to play and as best I know it wasn't Phil that caused Tiger's problems.  So I see no shame in winning just because Tiger isn't there nor would the win be diminished in my mind.

[Elvisliveson]

Originally Posted by ghalfaire

Well I'm a big Phil fan and I hope he does it this year.  If he doesn't he'll hear "the best golfer to never win a US Open" for the rest of his life (assuming he doesn't win a later US Open).

I hear what you're saying, but unless Phil wins about 33 more tournaments including 4 more majors, that title of best golfer to never win a US Open will continue to reside with Samuel Jackson Snead.

[senorchipotle]

did somebody say samuel jackson?

[Elvisliveson]

LOL, good one senorchipolte!

[clubchamp]

That was a great line to an otherwise terrible movie...

[ghalfaire]

Can't argue with that!

Originally Posted by Elvisliveson

I hear what you're saying, but unless Phil wins about 33 more tournaments including 4 more majors, that title of best golfer to never win a US Open will continue to reside with Samuel Jackson Snead.