Woods on more level field at U.S. Open
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Sports Writer
BETHESDA, Md. (AP) - As Tiger Woods embarks on the second leg
of the Grand Slam today, the reasons why he should win the U.S.
Open are as numerous as the reasons why he won't.
Woods was truly the Master at Augusta National in April. But
this tournament is truly open.
Since Jack Nicklaus won his fourth U.S. Open in 1980, there
has been only one player who has won this tournament more than
once - Curtis Strange in 1988 and 1989.
The 97th U.S. Open began today at Congressional Country Club
under a cover of thin clouds with a chance of some showers in
the afternoon. Brad Bryant became the first casualty when he withdrew
because of the flu. He was replaced by Steve Hart.
Woods, defending champion Steve Jones and Tom Lehman had a
noon tee time.
Woods may have a game from another world, but there may not
be another course anywhere more suited to his game than Augusta,
where drives so wild they wind up in another fairway can still
leave open shots to the green.
Congressional, the longest course in U.S. Open history at 7,213
yards for par 70, is another story.
"At Augusta, it was like a driving range, bombs away on
the driving," Woods said. "You've got to be in the short
grass here. This is a very demanding driving golf course."
Woods never needed more than a 4-iron to reach par 5s in two
at the Masters - he used a wedge on No. 15. At Congressional,
he hasn't even bothered trying to reach the two par 5s, measuring
607 and 583 yards.
A walk through U.S. Open rough produces the constant sound
of grass whipping the tops of shoes. The longest grass at Augusta
couldn't hide a toothpick.
"Here, it is different," Scotland's Colin Montgomerie
said of Woods' chances at Congressional. "It takes possibly
his greatest asset, which is length, more out of the equation
and gives us mere mortals more of an opportunity to compete."
The conditions of the U.S. Open are so demanding that no one
has won by more than two strokes since David Graham in 1981.
"It's going to be tough to win by 12 shots," Lehman
said.
But it's Woods' 12-stroke victory at the Masters, a record-setting
18-under-par 270, that make him a factor anywhere.
Woods is trying to become the first player since Nicklaus in
1972 to win both the Masters and the U.S. Open. No one has won
the four majors that make up the professional Grand Slam - Ben
Hogan came the closest in 1953, winning the Masters, U.S. Open
and the British Open. His legs, battered from a car crash, did
not allow him to play in the PGA Championship.
"It's realistic because it's possible," Nick Faldo
said. "It's pretty difficult because nobody has done it.
The pressure of just getting your game timed right to win one
major is pretty impressive."
But the allure of Woods is his ability to thrive under any
conditions, topping even the wildest of expectations.
"When you think about favorites, you've got to realize
that guys who are good can play any course," Lehman said.
"You can put him on the moon, he can still play good golf.
Tiger is no different.
"So, to say he's not one of the favorites is ridiculous."
Still, Woods won't be the only favorite. No one can play Augusta
like Woods, but U.S. Open venues bring a lot of others into the
hunt.
Ernie Els, the 1994 U.S. Open champion, has the length off
the tee and the brute strength to power the ball out of the rough.
Montgomerie plays well in this tournament because he consistently
hits the ball straight.
There's also Nick Price, Greg Norman, Phil Mickelson and Davis
Love III. Jones was nobody's favorite last year. For the last
five winners of the U.S. Open, it was their first and only major
championship.
It's also the one that Faldo wants more than any of them.
"It's going to demand a lot of good, solid play for the
whole week," Faldo said. "It's as simple as that."
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