I, like most of the people in the world who are familiar with the game of golf, am picking Tiger Woods to win the U.S. Open beginning Thursday at Bethpage Black. So I'll also pick a few players I think will give Woods a run for his ever-accumulating money.
Contenders:
Geoff Ogilvy: The Aussie has been lights out this year and his win at the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot proved he has a game for the event. Ogilvy hasn't missed a cut in 12 starts in 2009, and his two wins this year came in big events _ the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship and WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.
Hunter Mahan: The 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup Team member tied for 10th at the Masters and his finishes show he likes the U.S. Open setup. In the past two years at Torrey Pines and Oakmont he's tied for 18th and 13th. Though he hasn't won this year he's consistently been in the mix, having made the cut in all 14 of his PGA Tour starts with eight top-25 finishes.
Paul Casey: The Englishman has risen to No. 3 in the world based on three wins this year _ more than anyone else on either the PGA or European tours. Though he's still seeking his first major win, he's show he can play in U.S. Open conditions. Casey authored the round of the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont with a 66 in the second round that was 11 strokes better than the day's average. He tied for 10th that year. Who cares that a European hasn't won America's Championship since Tony Jacklin in 1970.
Darkhorses:
Brian Gay: He has battled injuries this year, but when he's been healthy he has hardly missed a shot. Gay has two wins in his last five events _ by a combined 15 shots over the runners-up. He won the Verizon Heritage in Hilton Head by a record 10 strokes, and smoked the field by five last week at the St. Jude Classic.
Sean O'Hair: The 26-year-old ranks first in the PGA Tour's all-around ranking, which shows he has the total package of skills. He's one of three players under 30 to have three PGA Tour titles, and showed his resiliency by winning in Charlotte three weeks after losing a five-shot lead in the final round at Bay Hill.
One top player who won't contend is 2008 Masters winner Trevor Immelman. He was forced to withdraw due to a wrist injury, which was originally diagnosed as tendinitis. Doctors have since detected two small tears in the left wrist as well as some damage to the bone, in addition to the tendinitis. Immelman underwent a CT scan early Wednesday and was awaiting the results.
