Leicester Lass Posted 14 June 2011 Posted 14 June 2011 So, the second major on the golfing calendar begins at Congressional GC on Thursday. I'm hoping for a Sergio win as always, no matter how unlikely it is. Apparenty the course favours players who like to draw the ball, so I wouldn't be surprised to see McIlroy up there again tbh. Other than that, Westwood seems to be in good form going into it. The US Open is typically the most difficult set-up of the 4 majors, let's hope the course isn't set up unfairly, and let's hope for another thrilling tournament like the Masters!
Ric Flair Posted 14 June 2011 Posted 14 June 2011 Sergio qualified for this late last week didn't he? His game is starting to come together but there's still the occasional hack in there as well. Tee to green he's still up there with the best and therefore he must be considered on a track that's notoriously hard for players who struggle to be in control of their ball. Ian Poulter is another who has been let down by his putting in recent months but his long play has been spot on, this might be his best chance of a Major this year. I'll be having a tickle on Kevin Na. This lad get's the ball round nicely and is very under-rated, which is a quality seen in a lot of former US Open champions.
Bert Posted 14 June 2011 Posted 14 June 2011 Villegas 100/1, you not having a go? Like the look of Quiros.
Donut Posted 14 June 2011 Posted 14 June 2011 With a few notable exceptions, like Rocco taking Tiger all the way at Torrey Pines, Monty and Els at congressional, Payne Stewart owning Pinehurst, im not a huge US Open fan because i believe the way the courses are set up drains the excitement from the tournament. Im a believer of 'hard shots from easy lies' as far as course design goes, the US open tournament comittee seem to think the exact opposite. Its for that reason that the US Open is my least favourite major. Having said that, a typical US Open will always favour someone who can keep it straight off the tee (with useable length) and someone who has a silky touch to handle the greens that are probably stimping at 13 or more. As far as tipping goes, id stay well clear of Villegas, his game this season has gone completely missing......literally all of his stats have got worse and i cant put my finger on how such a talented player has hit problems. Kevin Na is a great shout. Hes not overly long but the fast running conditions should suit someone like him. Another player that seems to find an extra gear in majors is Brandt Snedeker, and looking at his stats, his total driving is good and he is in the top ten strokes gained/lost on the green. As an outsider, could be a decent shout for me. My personal opinion is that McIlroys major is the Masters. I dont like his high ball flight for the Open, i dont like his poor putting for the US Open. USPGA, well, thats a lottery. depends on the course. As a side note, i personally believe someone who hits a cut, rather than a draw, will prefer the US Open, particularly when it will be fast and firm like this year. Much, much easier to keep a cut shot in play than that hard running draw thatll run into the rough/be more difficult to control on the green. If Mickelson believed his own hype and played a cut shot with all his drives, hed have 8 majors by now IMO
Donut Posted 14 June 2011 Posted 14 June 2011 So, the second major on the golfing calendar begins at Congressional GC on Thursday. I'm hoping for a Sergio win as always, no matter how unlikely it is. Apparenty the course favours players who like to draw the ball, so I wouldn't be surprised to see McIlroy up there again tbh. Other than that, Westwood seems to be in good form going into it. The US Open is typically the most difficult set-up of the 4 majors, let's hope the course isn't set up unfairly, and let's hope for another thrilling tournament like the Masters! Im a sergio fan too, his ball striking is simply the best ive ever seen. He just wont be able to hole the putts. Missing some fairways and greens is inevitable in a US Open, and that will hurt him badly.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 14 June 2011 Posted 14 June 2011 Not sure who i'll have a punt on yet. But will always be cheering home the Aussies hope Day goes well again. Always love Anthony Kim and KJ Choi
Donut Posted 15 June 2011 Posted 15 June 2011 Not sure who i'll have a punt on yet. But will always be cheering home the Aussies hope Day goes well again. Always love Anthony Kim and KJ Choi Hes playing so bad its untrue
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 15 June 2011 Posted 15 June 2011 Hes playing so bad its untrue Yeah i know but i'll still be cheering him home, he is normally about 40/1 to win majors 125/1 for this one.
Donut Posted 15 June 2011 Posted 15 June 2011 Yeah i know but i'll still be cheering him home, he is normally about 40/1 to win majors 125/1 for this one. A positive for Kim is his recent record at Congressional he won the AT&T national there in 2008, and finished 2nd there in 2009 before the tournament moved to Aronimink. I thought when he MURDERED garcia in the singles at Valhalla that a star was born, but the last 18 months have been a complete mare for him. By next year, he may not be in the world golf championships.
Leicester Lass Posted 15 June 2011 Author Posted 15 June 2011 As a side note, i personally believe someone who hits a cut, rather than a draw, will prefer the US Open, particularly when it will be fast and firm like this year. Much, much easier to keep a cut shot in play than that hard running draw thatll run into the rough/be more difficult to control on the green. If Mickelson believed his own hype and played a cut shot with all his drives, hed have 8 majors by now IMO Generally I'd agree about a cut favouring a draw on US Open set-ups, but from what I've read, Congresssional is a course which requires a draw more often than a fade. Interesting point you make about Mickleson, because obviously being left-handed means that that will require a fade for him, which could play into his hands if he can control his ball-flight. Some US Opens in recent years have simply been too challenging and brutal in the way they've been set up, I hope the USGA have learnt their lesson. You can still have a great tournament that is set up fairly, they only need to see what happened in the Masters as proof of that.
Bridge Posted 15 June 2011 Posted 15 June 2011 My cash is on Luke Donald(10/1) not long but straight & he's in great form. Matt Kuchar(25/1) hits lot's of fairways & greens. Congressional is one of those tracks where it's better to hit a 7 iron from the fairway than a wedge from the rough..the long bombers will flame out here I'm afraid.
Leicester Lass Posted 15 June 2011 Author Posted 15 June 2011 My cash is on Luke Donald(10/1) not long but straight & he's in great form. Matt Kuchar(25/1) hits lot's of fairways & greens. Congressional is one of those tracks where it's better to hit a 7 iron from the fairway than a wedge from the rough..the long bombers will flame out here I'm afraid. Donald tends to struggle at US Opens because of the length though, and this is the second longest course in US Open history. Wouldn't put anything past him with the form he's been in recently though. Kuchar is a decent bet I think, especially if you're on at Betfred who are paying out for the top 6 places on E/W bets.
purpleronnie Posted 15 June 2011 Posted 15 June 2011 I'll be watching it with the volume turned down. GET IN THE HOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bridge Posted 16 June 2011 Posted 16 June 2011 I'll be watching it with the volume turned down. GET IN THE HOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! U THA MAN!!!!!
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 16 June 2011 Posted 16 June 2011 The 5 players i will centre my bets around will be Bubba Watson (leading the tour in greens in regulation), Hunter Mahan, Brian Gay (Good odds for top 25) as is Nick O'hern and David Toms. I'm just getting in to the mood by listening to this tune.
Ric Flair Posted 16 June 2011 Posted 16 June 2011 It's a bit of a myth about Donald not being a big hitter, this year he's added a good 15-20 yards on to his length from the tee and was up there with Westwood at Wentworth and was smashing it past Poulter in the Matchplay. I don't know whether it's his new driver he's using or whether he's beefed up but either way his supposed lack of distance shouldn't come in to question this week. It'll be his mentality, he's a battler but he's also got a monkey on his back when it comes to US Opens as he hasn't faired well in recent years. McIlroy to be leading after the 1st round? 25/1
Leicester Lass Posted 16 June 2011 Author Posted 16 June 2011 It's a bit of a myth about Donald not being a big hitter, this year he's added a good 15-20 yards on to his length from the tee and was up there with Westwood at Wentworth and was smashing it past Poulter in the Matchplay. I don't know whether it's his new driver he's using or whether he's beefed up but either way his supposed lack of distance shouldn't come in to question this week. It'll be his mentality, he's a battler but he's also got a monkey on his back when it comes to US Opens as he hasn't faired well in recent years. McIlroy to be leading after the 1st round? 25/1 I think he's still down at about 150th in driving distance, averaging about 280. Saying that though, most courses they play on now are incredibly long and he hasn't fared too badly recently! Donald has done an interview about his driving distance and he's placing more emphasis on accuracy and greens in regulation. Personally I think McIlroy will do better towards the end of the week as the course firms up, simply because of how high he hits the ball. Surely worth a shot at that price though. Wouldn't be surprised if one of the early starters sets the pace in the first round, as they get the best of the greens. Don't envy anyone having to start on the 10th either, can ruin the round before it's even begun!
Leicester Lass Posted 16 June 2011 Author Posted 16 June 2011 Solid start by GMac, 1 under for his first round.
Leicester Lass Posted 16 June 2011 Author Posted 16 June 2011 McIlroy to be leading after the 1st round? 25/1 Sitting pretty after 9 holes!
Ric Flair Posted 16 June 2011 Posted 16 June 2011 Sitting pretty after 9 holes! Haha! Watch him blow it on the supposed easier front 9! El Nino looking good too, want him to win so badly.
Leicester Lass Posted 16 June 2011 Author Posted 16 June 2011 Haha! Watch him blow it on the supposed easier front 9! El Nino looking good too, want him to win so badly. Can't see that happening with the way he's hitting it, been almost immaculate so far. Couple of par 5s to come too, I think he'll have his eyes set on picking up a couple more shots. Sergio looks in control too, his problems will start if he starts missing greens, cause any added pressure on his short game will make his putting crumble. How Mickleson is keeping this round going I will never know.
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