Our regular columnist, Martin Vousden, golf writer and former editor of Today’s Golfer, gets a few things off his chest about the the recent US Open…
“Anti-climax
The US Open was certainly different but of all the likely outcomes of the final round, the one we got was the least exciting possibility. A Tiger charge never materialised; Ross Fisher couldn’t find a putting stroke to match the rest of his game; Phil Mickelson (again) couldn’t carry the burden of expectation when it really mattered, although that’s not surprising given his circumstances; David Duval fell just short of the most remarkable comeback since Lazarus picked up his bed and walked, and Rickety Barnes, once he started going backwards, was never likely to get out of reverse.
This is not to denigrate the victory of Lucas Glover, which was thoroughly deserved and he held his nerve while others crumbled around him, it just meant the championship ended with a whimper rather than a bang. Any of the potential stories mentioned above would have added a healthy slice of drama but sadly, it was not to be.
But at least we didn’t have to face the USGA nonsense of an 18 hole playoff, so I suppose we should count our blessings.
A few other US Open thoughts
– Tiger played like a donkey and putted like a dog, yet still finished tied 6th, the highest of any of the players who got the wrong end of the draw and had to endure the worst of the weather.
– Phil Mickelson’s 2nd shot to six feet at the par five 13th, which is over 600 yards long, setting up an eagle in the final round, was by far the shot of the championship – until Ross Fisher matched it a few minutes later.
– Barnes was never going to win – US Opens don’t get handed out to people in a milkman’s hat who look as if they’re about to burst into a chorus of ‘Ernie, the fastest milkman in the west’.
– American galleries in general, and New York crowds in particular, are truly obnoxious. Surely it’s time to get some extra stewards who can eject anyone who screams ‘Get in the hole’ the instant the ball leaves the clubface.
– With his cheery grin and thumbs up to the galleries, Phil Mickelson is becoming the US version of Paul ‘Macca’ McCartney.
– The 18th at BethPage Black must be the weakest closing hole in Major championship golf – apart from St Andrews, of course.
– It was noticeable that when the champion holed his final putt, the raucous galleries were appreciative and respectful, in contrast to the screaming banshees they were for the rest of the week.
– The second Major of the year has become a little more watchable since Mike Davis took over from Tom Meeks as USGA’s senior director of rules and competition, and therefore the person most responsible for course set-up. Davis at least gives the players a fighting chance.”
For more from Martin on the GoKart blog, click here or here
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