Open course has turbulent history
Upsets common at Olympic Club
SAN FRANCISCO — There are always surprises when the U.S. Open goes to The Olympic Club.
Instead of a record fifth U.S. Open for Ben Hogan, Olympic delivered Jack Fleck in one of golf’s biggest upsets. Arnold Palmer turned his pursuit of a record score into a royal collapse. Tom Watson had his heart broken in San Francisco when Scott Simpson ran off a late string of birdies.
The way this year is unfolding, Olympic seems like the ideal location, since hardly anything has gone according to plan.
Tiger Woods already has won twice this year, most recently two weeks ago at the Memorial with a ball-striking clinic and a chip shot that brought back some of that magic. That made him the betting favorite to end his fouryear drought in the majors with a record-tying fourth U.S. Open. But it’s not that simple. Two months ago, Woods won Bay Hill by five shots and became an instant favorite at the Masters. Instead of slipping on the green jacket, he had his worst performance as a pro at Augusta National, starting the worst three -tournament stretch of his career.
“He goes to the Masters and he fell apart because of nerves for the first time in his career,” Johnny Miller said. “So I don’t When: Thursday-next Sunday Where: Olympic Club, San Francisco Length: 7,170 yards Par: 34-36—70 Defending champion: Rory McIlroy TV: Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., ESPN; 2-4 p.m., WMC Channel 5; 4-9 p.m., ESPN. Saturday, 3-9 p.m., WMC Channel 5. Sunday, 3-9 p.m., WMC Channel 5. know what to think of Tiger Woods at the Open. I don’t know if that was learned from Augusta, or something he can’t control.”
Rory McIlroy, the defending champion, returned to No. 1 in the world just over a month ago and looked like the player to beat until the 23-year- old from Northern Ireland missed three cuts before rebounding in Memphis, heading into today’s final round one stroke off the lead at the FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind.
Rickie Fowler, finally a winner on the PGA Tour, seemed poised to take his popularity to new heights until he shot 84 at Muirfield Village playing in the second-to -last group with Woods. Left-hander Phil Mickelson played in the last group of the Masters and fell out of contention when he hit consecutive shots from the right side. The green jacket went to another lefty, big hitter Bubba Watson.
“You think about the past national Opens here that have been played ... and in some ways you think, ‘Geez, you remember more about who didn’t win — what great legend didn’t win an Open here — versus who did win,’ ” USGA executive director Mike Davis said.