Philadelphia, PA (Best E Casino) - After a long hibernation period, it's back - Five Up and Five Down.
This used to be a mainstay of the column in the week before a major championship, but it hasn't been around for a little while for various reasons.
Now it's back and here's how it works. I tab five things to like about this week at the U.S. Open and five things I don't. It's simple enough that you can all play along in the home version, coming soon to stores near you.
FIVE UP
1.) Phil Mickelson.
All the talk this season was how Tiger Woods would walk away with the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. He won there six times at the Buick Invitational so it makes sense.
Then another trip to the operating table for Woods cooled some talk.
Oh yeah, and Mickelson has won that same title three times.
Mickelson titled three weeks ago at Colonial and is playing some very solid golf this season. He is healthy, has an intimate knowledge of the course and is an elite golfer, so what's not to like?
This venue is going to play ridiculously challenging. When that happens, I always lean toward the best player. Even more to the point, I lean towards the best player who has not had knee surgery and missed the last two months of tournament golf.
That would be Mr. Mickelson. Look at the playing field for what it is and how can you not look at Lefty? A healthy Woods (more on that to come) would be the clear-cut choice, but in the absence of that, Mickelson has to be the pick.
2.) Primetime golf.
When NBC announced that the final two rounds of the U.S. Open would be broadcast in primetime, I loved the idea. What better place to see the toughest tournament in the world?
From NBC's perspective, this makes perfect sense. Ratings for Saturday night programming are traditionally lower than "Joey" reruns and this is offseason for network programming.
One problem that exists is that when the U.S. Open ends around 9:00 p.m. eastern time, there is the distinct possibility that a huge golf demographic (old men) will be snoring on the couch.
You never get golf in primetime on network television. The last time it happened was those dreadfully dull Battle at Bighorns, and surely we can all agree this will be better.
3.) Sergio Garcia.
What a difference a Players Championship makes. Before his win last month, Garcia would not have made this list, but that victory magnified what is great about the Artist formerly known as El Nino.
He is the best driver of the golf ball in the sport. Better than Woods. Better than Mickelson. Better than any long-hitter you can throw at me. Garcia is long and straight and that's a great combination.
However, if Garcia putts like the Sergio of old, this was a waste of column space. I think Garcia has a good week.
4.) Long hitters in general.
Torrey Pines will play at 7,643 yards. That's a really long course. Now factor in the speed of the greens (one person already noted they might be the fastest he's ever seen), and here's the need for length.
It's infinitely easier to hit a six-iron into a green and get it to stop, instead of a four-iron.
That brings guys like Bubba Watson, J.B. Holmes and Boo Weekley into the mix.
5.) NBC.
Roger Maltbie, Dottie Pepper and Mark Rolfing comprise the greatest on-course reporters in the game. In a U.S. Open, you need more explanation of things due to the incredibly demanding nature of the course.
Add Johnny Miller and Jimmy Roberts and you'll enjoy what you're hearing.
FIVE DOWN
1.) Tiger Woods.
Two weeks ago, I had a column in mind about the best player in the game. At his press conference for the AT&T National, Woods made some statements that made me feel he was not fully ready to go.
There have been reports that Woods has played Torrey Pines a few times and he should be ready to go. Some outlets have said Woods has a slight limp. A hobbled Woods is still dangerous, but to me the bigger issue is the layoff.
It's totally unreasonable to expect someone who has not teed it up in competition since the Masters, to walk in and win the U.S. Open. Yes, Woods would be the only man you'd consider, but remember when he took all that time off after his father's death? Woods came back and missed the cut at the U.S. Open.
That could easily happen again. The circumstances for the time off are vastly different (try playing a U.S. Open Father's Day weekend for your first tournament back since your dad's death), but a nearly two-month layoff is serious cause for pause.
And I couldn't shake these stats for a while now. Woods has not won a U.S. Open in almost six years and it's the only major he hasn't won at least three times.
2.) Jim Furyk.
I once contended that Jim Furyk would be a contender in every U.S. Open he played for the rest of his life. At over 7,600 yards, I don't see it this week.
All short hitters will have trouble this week. Length and speed of greens will be the two biggest themes of the tournament. You know you're getting gnarly, thick rough at a U.S. Open.
Remember, you want six-irons in, not four-irons.
3.) The single-season Grand Slam.
Trevor Immelman shocked the world when he won the Masters. He was a nice player, but he did not strike most as a guy who was destined for a green jacket.
Some think he could easily win another major, others aren't so sure. Drop me in the latter category.
After Immelman's green-jacket ceremony, the South African played awfully. Until this past week at the St. Jude Championship. Immelman lost a playoff to Justin Leonard, but one week doesn't change the three previous outings before that which resulted in two missed cuts and a tie for 30th.
4.) Kenny Perry.
He took the week off because he doesn't play Torrey Pines well. Perry wanted to concentrate on making the Ryder Cup team in his home state of Kentucky.
Everyone quickly tell me Jack Nicklaus' record at the Ryder Cup. Can't do it. Know how many U.S. Opens he won? Most of you know it's four.
I'm as big a Ryder Cup guy as there is, but to not play for a major, let alone your national championship, is disgraceful.
5.) Europeans.
Tony Jacklin was the last European to win and that was 1970. It's not always rocket science.
RANDOM THOUGHTS
- We're playing with the format of the column and it looks like it will be the long column and some random thoughts.
- Hands up if you thought Yani Tseng was going to win the LPGA Championship on Sunday. Thought so.
- Justin Leonard and Kenny Perry have worked their way on to the U.S. Ryder Cup team in recent weeks. What's good is that the idea behind Paul Azinger's changes is working. The hotter players are making their way on the team. The downside is that Leonard and Perry are a combined 0-5-5 in the Ryder Cup.
- I'd like Adam Scott a little this week, but getting paired with Woods and Mickelson in the first two rounds is a lot to ask of anyone.
- Michelle Wie qualified for the U.S. Women's Open. When is she no longer newsworthy? Give me the date and I will stop with her.
- Non-golf thought - Bad week to be a tomato.
