cover story
US Open dilemma for leaders
He held a one shot lead over Hal Sutton and
Lee Trevino with Raymond Floyd three back.
David Newbery
[email protected]
S
ATURDAY is moving day for
professional golfers at tournaments
around the world.
Well, it is for those who make the cut.
The 114th US Open at Pinehurst No. 2
in North Carolina from June 12-15 is no
different.
Floyd fired a final round 66 to win and Greg
wound up with a 75 to finish six shots back.
That’s a given.
But is being atop the leaderboard after 54
holes the best position to be in at the US Open?
Statistics tells us players who are close to
the lead have a better chance of winning the
US Open Trophy.
Over the years, most (55 per cent) of third
round leaders – including Greg Norman, Phil
Mickelson, Aaron Baddeley, Retief Goosen,
Jim Furyk, Payne Stewart, Tom Lehman and
Dustin Johnson – have let the tournament
slip through their fingers.
In 2007, Baddeley held a two-shot lead over
Tiger, but, like the Shark, tumbled down the
leaderboard on the final day. His 80 left him
in a tie for 13th.
Still, Goosen, Stewart and Furyk also have
had the joy of leading into the final round
and winning.
In 2004, the Goose led into the last round
and won, but a year later he squandered that
chance when he carded an inglorious 80 to
finish in a tie for 11th.
Kiwi Michael Campbell, four off the pace,
held off Tiger Woods to win his first major.
Furyk, who won in 2003, was co-leader
entering the final round in 2012 but finished
fourth and Stewart, in 1998, led into the final
round only to finish runner-up.
Stewart didn’t make the same mistake in
1999 strolling to victory with a final round 70.
In 1986, the Shark was at the peak of his
golfing powers but he too failed to win the
US Open leading into the last day.
Argentinean Angel Cabrera, tied for seventh
going into the final round, edged out Woods
and Furyk to win his first US Open crown.
Tiger has never come from behind to win
the US Open, but he has won three titles
(2000-’02-’08) leading after 54 holes.
Ernie Els (1994) and Rory McIlroy (2011),
too, have led into the final round and won.
US Open starts
A good opening round at the US Open is
only the beginning as indicated by these
good first round and ordinary second
round scores.
Three times the former Open Championship
winner led the US Open going into the final
round and didn’t make it to the winner’s circle.
Mickelson twice has led going into the last
round and had to settle for a tie for second.
In 2010, American Dustin Johnson held
a three-shot lead over Northern Ireland’s
Graeme McDowell, but folded quickly on the
last day, triple-bogeying the second hole and
then double-bogeying the third.
There was no way back from there and he
signed for an 82. McDowell won the title with
a final round 74.
So, what drama can we expect at this year’s
US Open?
Well, what we do know is scoring won’t be
easy at Pinehurst No. 2.
When the tournament was last played there
(2005), winner Michael Campbell finished with
Back Finish
7 65
6 63
5 *75
5 *72
5 *68
5 68
4 68
4 67
4 69
4 *69
4 *73
4 *67
4 69
4 69
4 68
*Won playoff
Australian golf fans who felt Norman and
Ba