U.S. Open at Merion Looks Wide Open
For a few weeks, it appeared as though Tiger Woods would be the runaway favorite in the U.S. Open as it headed to the East Course at Merion Golf Club in the Philadelphia area. The East Course is known as a short, tight course that will test accuracy both off the tee and on approach shots to its well-guarded greens.
Prior to last weekend, Woods had won in three of his last four starts, taking the top spot in The Players Championship, the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard and the World Golf Championships – Cadillac Championship. Even the lone exception was a fourth place finish at the Masters. But after finishing 65th at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance, Woods’ game has been called into question. Of note is a third round 79 that included an opening nine score of 44, his worst nine-hole score as a pro.
Still, Woods remains the favorite at 7-2, while Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott and Matt Kuchar are his nearest competition, according to Las Vegas. Kuchar’s odds are boosted by his win at the Memorial and a second place finish two weeks ago. His steady game could be a good fit at Merion.
Driving accuracy is going to be vital, which could be big for Graeme McDowell, who leads the PGA Tour in that category at 71 percent. McIlroy ranks 106th at 59 percent and Kuchar ranks 134th at 57 percent. Many members of the field may be forced to use irons and 3-woods off of the tee in order to keep the ball in play, as the rough is sure to be penal.
Jim Furyk could be in the mix in the U.S. Open again this year, as he ranks seventh on the PGA Tour, hitting more than 70 percent of his fairways.
In addition to the challenge the venue presents to the players, the East Course at Merion doesn’t have a lot of room for spectators. As a result, tickets could be extremely tough to come by as the event draws near and hype builds. Don’t wait until the last minute and miss out; get your tickets today!
Categorized in: PGA