Twenty of the top players
in the 101st U.S. Open, which runs Thursday-Sunday at Southern Hills Country Club.
Tiger Woods
Age: 25.
PGA Tour victories: 28.
World ranking: 1.
Majors: Masters ('97, '01),
U.S. Open ('00), British Open ('00), PGA ('99, '00).
U.S. Open appearances: 6.
Best finish: Won.
Last year: Won.
Backspin: Trying to become
the first repeat champion since Curtis Strange in 1989. Has won five of his last
six tournaments, the last two by four and seven shots. Southern Hills is the site
of his worst score ever as a pro (78) and the memory of his father having a heart
attack during the 1996 Tour Championship. A victory here could send him on his
way to a real Grand Slam.
Phil Mickelson
Age: 30.
PGA Tour victories: 18.
World ranking: 2.
Majors: None.
U.S. Open appearances: 10.
Best finish: 2.
Last year: T16.
Backspin: The closest competition
to Woods this year, with a bizarre victory in San Diego and eight top-3 finishes.
Mental capacity in question because of three blown chances in the final round.
Had best Masters opportunity this year, but was stuck in neutral on the final
day. Finished third at Southern Hills in the '94 PGA Championship.
Tom Lehman
Age: 42.
PGA Tour victories: 5.
World ranking: 14.
Majors: British Open ('96).
U.S. Open appearances: 12.
Best finish: T2.
Last year: T23.
Backspin: In the hunt just
once this year, runner-up by four strokes in Honolulu. A solid U.S. Open player
because of his driving and ball-striking, played in the final pairing four straight
years ('95-'98) without winning. Best tournament he ever played was Southern Hills
at '96 Tour Championship, a 12-under 268 to win by six.
Vijay Singh
Age: 38.
PGA Tour victories: 9.
World ranking: 4.
Majors: Masters ('00), PGA
('98).
U.S. Open appearances: 7.
Best finish: T3.
Last year: T8.
Backspin: Best player without
a victory this year, with seven top-10 chances. Putting has vastly improved, but
what makes him a threat at the U.S. Open is his driving, iron play and patience.
Strong player who can handle the rough. Key to his week will be his chipping.
Colin Montgomerie
Age: 37.
PGA Tour victories: None (29
worldwide).
World ranking: 9.
Majors: None.
U.S. Open appearances: 9.
Best finish: 2.
Last year: T46.
Backspin: After losing his
reign in Europe, Monty is off to his worst start in years. Hasn't seriously contended
in a major since '97 U.S. Open at Congressional. Southern Hills a perfect fit
for his precision game. How he fares this week could determine whether he ever
threatens in another major.
Ernie Els
Age: 31.
PGA Tour victories: 8.
World ranking: 3.
Majors: U.S. Open ('94, 97).
U.S. Open appearances: 8.
Best finish: Won.
Last year: T2.
Backspin: Once one of the best
in the world, now one of the biggest enigmas. Runner-up four times to Woods last
year, which seemed to take an emotional toll. Squandered two good chances to win
early in the year, and has played poorly the past month. Always a threat in the
U.S. Open but has never played Southern Hills particularly well.
Lee Westwood
Age: 28.
PGA Tour victories: 1 (24 worldwide)
World ranking: 6.
Majors: None.
U.S. Open appearances: 4.
Best finish: T5.
Last year: T5.
Backspin: Missed the Masters
because of the birth of his first child, and a slow return so far in Europe. Has
never played Southern Hills and won't get to Oklahoma until the week of the U.S.
Open. Accurate driver who can get hot with the putter. Could be peaking just in
time to make a serious bid for his first major.
David Duval
Age: 29.
PGA Tour victories: 12.
World ranking: 5.
Majors: None.
U.S. Open appearances: 8.
Best finish: T7.
Last year: T8.
Backspin: Once again, will
be rested coming into a major. A wrist injury kept out four weeks before the Masters,
and he nearly won. Will have three weeks off before Southern Hills, and should
be riding positive vibes from his Augusta experience. If he's driving the ball
well, he'll be there on Sunday.
Scott Verplank
Age: 36.
PGA Tour victories: 3.
World ranking: 26.
Majors: None.
U.S. Open appearances: 9.
Best finish: T15.
Last year: T46.
Backspin: Most prominent Okie
in the field, but hardly a home-course advantage since Verplank rarely plays Southern
Hills. Health problems under control, has been steady by going over $1 million
in earnings three of the past four years. Good control of his game, which will
be critical.
Nick Price
Age: 44.
PGA Tour victories: 16.
World ranking: 17.
Majors: British Open ('94),
PGA ('92, '94).
U.S. Open appearances: 14.
Best finish: 4.
Last year: T27.
Backspin: Even Price wonders
how many chances he has left. Feels he is a victim in the equipment revolution,
losing his advantage as a pure ball-striker. Dominant performance in winning '94
PGA at Southern Hills, but finished last a year later in the Tour Championship.
He should be a contender, but nothing more unless he holes a few putts.
Mike Weir
Age: 31.
PGA Tour victories: 2.
World ranking: 12.
Majors: None.
U.S. Open appearances: 2.
Best finish: T16.
Last year: T16.
Backspin: Canada's best player
has shown he has the game to win, holding off Woods and others in Spain last year.
Next step is to put together four good rounds at a major. Very patient player
who hits the ball cleanly. Short game will hold the key to his success at Southern
Hills.
Jim Furyk
Age: 31.
PGA Tour victories: 6.
World ranking: 13.
Majors: None.
U.S. Open appearances: 6.
Best finish: T5.
Last year: 60.
Backspin: Returned from wrist
injury to win season-opening Mercedes, and has added three other top-10s this
year but no serious chances of winning. Ignore the unconventional swing because
he's an accurate driver and has a strong head for the U.S. Open.
Sergio Garcia
Age: 21.
PGA Tour victories: 1.
World ranking: 7.
Majors: None.
U.S. Open appearances: 1.
Best finish: T46.
Last year: T46.
Backspin: Comeback victory
at Colonial was huge for his confidence, and makes him believe - if he didn't
already - that he can win on any stage. Powerful game with wonderful touch, the
only thing that gets in his way is inconsistency. He is either on his game or
is back in the pack.
Thomas Bjorn
Age: 30.
PGA Tour victories: None (7
worldwide).
World ranking: 16.
Majors: None.
U.S. Open appearances: 4.
Best finish: T25.
Last year: T46.
Backspin: A rising star from
Denmark who stared down Woods for a huge victory in Dubai. Preceded that by finishing
second to Woods in the British Open and third in the PGA Championship. Acknowledges
Woods as the best player, but not afraid of him.
Darren Clarke
Age: 33.
PGA Tour victories: 1 (9 worldwide).
World ranking: 10.
Majors: None.
U.S. Open appearances: 5.
Best finish: T10.
Last year: T53.
Backspin: A powerful player,
frequent practice partner with Woods and one of the few who have gone head-to-head
and beat him ('00 Match Play). Streaky with the putter, disdains any kind of diet
or workout routine. One of the most colourful personalities in golf, but the Northern
Irishman has had problems lately with his temper.
Scott Hoch
Age: 45.
PGA Tour victories: 9.
World ranking: 37.
Majors: None.
U.S. Open appearances: 18.
Best finish: T5.
Last year: T16.
Backspin: If he wins, he could
be the only player to finally win a major and complain about how the course was
set up. Speaks his mind and pays the price as a whiner, but doesn't get enough
credit as a solid player. Good driver of the ball and likes hot weather. Victory
in Greensboro was his first in four years.
Davis Love III
Age: 37.
PGA Tour victories: 14.
World ranking: 8.
Majors: PGA ('97).
U.S. Open appearances: 12.
Best finish: T2.
Last year: MC.
Backspin: Figured to be a strong
favourite, especially after winning Pebble this year to end 0-for-62 drought on
tour, and playing great on the West Coast. Now faces his worst bout of neck and
back problems and will come into the Open having not played in two months. Hey,
it worked for Duval at the Masters.
Jesper Parnevik
Age: 36.
PGA Tour victories: 5.
World ranking: 21.
Majors: None.
U.S. Open appearances: 4.
Best finish: T14.
Last year: MC.
Backspin: Wears clothes that
won't make Oklahoma's fashion scene for at least 40 years. Not a particularly
good U.S. Open player, but when his game comes around he can challenge anywhere.
Won the Honda Classic in the wind, but hasn't had another top-10.
Justin Leonard
Age: 28.
PGA Tour victories: 5.
World ranking: 25.
Majors: British Open ('97).
U.S. Open appearances: 6.
Best finish: T15.
Last year: T16.
Backspin: For someone who figured
U.S. Open was his best chance in the majors, it has become his least successful
one. Revamped his swing under Butch Harmon, and the changes are starting to pay
off. This could be the year he gives himself a chance.
Hal Sutton
Age: 43.
PGA Tour victories: 14.
World ranking: 11.
Majors: PGA ('83).
U.S. Open appearances: 15.
Best finish: T4.
Last year: T23.
Backspin: Won in Houston this
year, his sixth victory since turn 40. An excellent driver, which should give
him a chance in the U.S. Open. This is the major he wants more than any, but time
is running out. Has dealt with nagging injuries the past year.
