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TOP CONTENDERS
K.J. ChoiAfter a subpar 2009the PGA Tour, he competence have re-ignited his career with an Asian Tour feat in Malaysia last October. To wit, he has cashed in all thirteen of his PGA starts this season, 7 being top-25 finishes together with a tie for fourth at the Masters. He didnt validate for a U.S. Open until "01, but he has competed in the ATT Pebble Beach National Pro-Am 9 times, together with a T21 in February. At 40 years old, he knows that an Asian-born player can win a major, pleasantness of Y.E. Yangs new thing at last years PGA Championship. Choi is prolonged and correct off the tee and sits sixth in greens hit.
Luke DonaldHes the voluptuous pick, the preference du jour. Thats what happens when you come in a majora run of 3 true top-3 finishes. But theres more. He leads the PGA in scrambling, silt save commission and three-putt avoidance, all of that will come in accessible in 4 loops of Pebble Beach. Donald additionally accomplished a two-year interregnum from the ATT Pebble Beach National Pro-Am this year, and accomplished T16. He has 4 tip 20s in 6 starts at the event. His nemesis will be a clever breeze in the wrong directionthe prolonged standard 4s, but the 32-year-old couldnt be in a improved place in his career right right away for a critical breakthrough.
Jim FurykAll that has altered this year is that the 40-year-old has returned to the prize presentation. And twice at that. Otherwise, hes the same, gritty, grinding, devoted aspirant we"ve regularly enjoyed watching. Hes fifththe PGA Tour in scrambling and fourth in scrambling from the rough, critical numbers deliberation the small greens of Pebble Beach. The 2003 U.S. Open hold up placed 60th here in 2000. In fourteen starts at the annual debate stopthe peninsula, he has posted 7 tip 25s and longed for the cut usually once. Hes additionally one of the lower-hitting ball-strikers, that will good his diversion if the winds collect up as they mostly do along the coast.
Phil MickelsonSo small to share that you dont already have tip of mind. Of course, this is the critical that continues to evade him. As a five-time runner-up, hes secondthe all-time income list in the U.S. Open. Hes a three-time leader of the ATT Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and sits No. 1 in all-time gain at that event. Leftys liaison is putting outward five feet, as hes no improved than 110th in any range larger than that sorcery number, but hes 20ththe PGA Tour from inside 5 feet and ninth from 3 feet to 5 feet specifically. With small greens that extent long-range putts and Leftys short diversion and his experience at the course, we usually competence be articulate "MickelSlam" in a integrate of days. This is additionally the site of Tiger Woods" initial of 3 U.S. Open titles. Its environment up that proceed for Mickelson, whose 40th birthday is Jun 16.
Lee WestwoodNow 37, the worlds No. 3 golfer sits atop majority lists of the most appropriate active golfer never to have won a major. Of course, he has experienced his satisfactory share of razor-close calls in the last integrate years. There was Torrey Pines in 2008, where he was one cadence as well high to stick on Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate in the playoff; Turnberry in "09, where he bogeyed the 72nd hole and accomplished one cadence out of that playoff; and the Masters in April, where he hold a share of the 36-hole lead and solitary receive of the 54-hole lead, usually to get dusted by Phil Mickelsons 67 to finish second after a shutting 71, 3 swings adrift.
IN THE RUNNING
Ernie ElsThere are college-bound teenagers right right away that have 0 correlation of The Big Easy receiving home dual U.S. Opens in 4 years (1994, "97). And to cite that he was a co-runner-up here in 2000 is merely fact. The oppressive being is that he co-led the B Flight (with Miguel Angel Jimenez) at the back of Tiger Woods" record-setting, 15-stroke plastering. Els right away leads the PGA in gain and FedEx Cup points, but you have to consternation where he"d lay if the worlds No. 1 was scandal-free. Els" pretentious hold around the greens will be critical if hes to settle a new era of believers.
Dustin JohnsonAs the reigning two-time leader of the ATT Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, he is as accursed as he is honourable of guarantee entering this major. D.J. has forged out a niche as a foul-weather stud, so whilst the breeze could yield a challenge, a comfortable and balmy march will feel opposite to him; that is, 4 months after the PGA stop in mid-February. And even if he manages to win this week, cynics will wish to see him win somewhere else.
Nick WatneyEn track to a piece for one person seventh at the Masters -- his career-best finish in a critical -- he drew the indebtedness of writer Bobby Clampett, who likely Watney would win a Masters one day. That stays to be seen, but the 29-year-old is essentially a glorious fit for Clampetts home digs of Pebble Beach. While he has cashed in the last 6 editions at the annual PGA stop, Watney leads the circuit in greens in law and ranks fifth in GIR from lies off the fairway. He additionally possesses the area and arena off the tee (one of the lowest), and hes had a plain season, with 4 tip 10s in fourteen starts. The kicker: he already has a victoryPoa annua greens (2009 Buick Invitational).
Tom WatsonHe is creation his initial coming in a U.S. Open given 2003 by trait of a special call in from the USGA, and he deserves it. Watson scarcely done story at Turnberry last year, losing to Stewart Cink in the playoff for the British Open, and afterwards certified his resurgence by opening this years Masters with a bogey-free 67 (he accomplished T18). Watsons sole U.S. Open pretension came famously at Pebble Beach in 1982, when he all but clinched a two-stroke feat with a chip-inthe 71st hole -- job his shot to boot. He accomplished T27 here as a 50-year-old in 2000, and should contendmoxie alone. As one of the most appropriate breeze players ever, that element, dependingits direction, will be his most appropriate crony or his misfortune rivalry this week.
Tiger WoodsNow that the hiss from the liaison has subsided, the about time for Woods to contend. Really, thats all thats blank from the equation. Since his T4 at the hermetically hermetic Masters, he has left longed for cut-withdraw-T19 in public. By in large, galleries have taken the high road, but his execution inside the ropes has not. He gets the prejudiced good of the disbelief here given he is who he is, not given he trounced the margin by fifteen strokes 10 years ago.
LONG SHOTS
Lucas GloverSo most was done of the hideous go on at Bethpage State Park a year ago that it is mostly ignored that the hold up benefited from his incidentally reserved mark in the late-early draw. Indeed, Tiger Woods "won" the early-late pull and he accomplished T6. Glover hasnt had a bad 2010, but he has been inconsistent. However, he accomplished T9 at Torrey Pines, that facilities Poa annua greens as well. Hes a career 0-for-3 at the ATT Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, but hasnt teed it up in that eventuality given "05. The dignified of the story is that even though hes the fortifying champion, hes still a sleeper this week.
Padraig HarringtonHard to hold that he hasnt won anywhere given the 2008 PGA Championship, but he competence need to for miserly cynics to eventually remove the asterisk from that win as well as his "08 British title, both but Tiger Woods in the field. The Irishman used to ramp in to the greatest events, and new teenager knee surgery singular this one to a begin in Memphis only. If anything, Pebble Beach will merely go on his prep for St. Andrews subsequent month.
Hunter MahanThe subsequent tip 10 he posts in California will be his first. Whether the the Poa annua greens, his traditionally delayed begin to each season, or a multiple of factors, the Golden State has been all but for the 28-year-old. Mahan went 2-1-1 at Harding Park in last years Presidents Cup but unequivocally didnt explain any repairs until the singles matches when his dabble got prohibited in a feat over Camilo Villegas. And therein lies the problem. Mahans common short diversion puts proceed as well most pressurehis putting. Hes all or nothing, and with small to show for his experience.
Rory McIlroyHis 62 to close out the Quail Hollow Championship for his initial PGA Tour feat is the things of legend, usually we"re still as well close to the eventuality to entirely conclude it. The 21-year-old hasnt played a veteran eventuality in California and his experiencePoa annua is extremely limited. The vistas at Pebble Beach will remind him of his local Northern Ireland, but the nuances need experience. It wouldnt take but a integrate of wrong misses for any one in the margin to swallow a big number, generally for a first-timer. McIlroys energy and correct iron fool around should get him to the weekend, but he"ll be chalking anything he can get as piece of the guidance curve.
Ian PoulterIn the short-term, you competence as well throw darts in the dim with a blindfold on. The Englishman has proven hes an in-the-moment kind of guy, and his Twitter celebrity supports it. Poulter doesnt have as well most repsPoa annua, but hes an assertive dabble anyway, so he will need to be correct off the tee and have his area carry out dialed in to have a critical run. With his initial PGA Tour feat in the bag and a left knee damage a thing of the past, his certainty wouldnt be lacking, not that it ever is. He would"ve warranted some-more care as a contender if he had been personification improved golf lately.
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