Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have combined to win nine times at Torrey Pines and will tee off together (with Adam Scott) for the weekday rounds of the US Open. Tiger and Phil are the field favorites, but heading into the 108th US Open, which of the world's top two players has the advantage?
Woods hasn't played in over two months since having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on April 18 (days after the Masters), but I don't expect that to stop him from challenging for the lead on Sunday. I believe that Woods would have been able to make a return earlier if he really needed the FedExCup points or the money, but we all know that he needs neither (first in points, billionaire). But the real reason he's ready to play is because no one loves Torrey Pines more than Tiger -- having won six of his past 11 starts, including four in a row.
Mickelson has been able to capture three wins and six other top 10 finishes at Torrey Pines and given that Tiger isn't 100%, Mickelson could take advantage this weekend. A head-to-head pairing with Woods would normally make a golfer cringe, but not Mickelson. The last time that these two battled together in a big event was at the 2007 Deutsche Bank Championship where Mickelson walked off with the trophy. Unlike Tiger, Mickelson has been playing and playing well. He won the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial three weeks ago and not to mention the fact that Phil has a house in San Diego and has been known to be a frequent guest of the US Open course over the last few months. Many experts feel that Mickelson, not Woods, knows this course best.
Woods, Mickelson and Scott (Ranked 1-2-3 in the world) will play the first two rounds together. The only time Woods and Mickelson played together early in a major was the PGA Championship two years ago due to tradition. The PGA Championship always puts together the three major champions of the year (Mickelson won the Masters, Woods the British and Ogilvy the U.S. Open).
Maybe Tiger and Phil won't be competing with each other, but rather competing against the course. In what is thought to prevent a regular man from shooting under 100, a US Open course is set-up to give even the world's best players a pounding headache. Golfers will face firmer ground, narrower fairways, higher rough and faster greens than they did at the tour's Buick Invitation hosted on the same course back in January.
Mickelson recently played the Open version of the course and declared it the "hardest course in the world," predicting that the winning score won't even be close to par. Mickelson has been the US Open runner-up four times, while Woods as won twice and finished second twice. "On paper, either Tiger or Phil should win the US Open," said Steve Stricker. "But they could feel more pressure because of their success there. It will be interesting to see how they do."
You might be thinking, where is the love for the field? Am I just ignoring the possibility that Scott, Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh, Steve Stricker, Geoff Ogilvy or anyone else couldn't outlast the great Tiger Woods or improbable Phil Mickelson? Or what about Sergio "Best Player Never to Have Won a Major" Garcia, isn't he due?
Well, I understand the thought that it could be someone other than the big two, but how can you bet against either Woods or Mickelson hoisting the trophy? "I think that on Sunday, both [Tiger and I] will have a chance," Mickelson said.
I realize that Woods hasn't won this major since 2002 and his knee might enough of a concern to hold him back. I also realize that Mickelson has never won this major and that his last two outings have been disastrous (Winged Foot in 2006, MC at Oakmont last year).
But just look at Tiger's track record on this course. We all know that if he gets an early lead -- the rest of the field will be thinking, "Here we go again." And Mickelson has motivation coming from the hometown crowd not to mention he's playing well coming into the event. As an avid follower of the PGA Tour, I'm under the impression that toughest competitors show up on the toughest courses -- in this case for this course it's of course Tiger and Phil.
I'm picking Phil Mickelson to win the 2008 US Open. I've given Mickelson the advantage because he knows the course and has the desire to win his first US Open.
So I ask you, which player has the advantage? Tiger or Phil?
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