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Mickelson: potential winner?

If I were to ask all of our Sky Sports golfing viewers, would they like to see the games big three head to head, what would they say? There is only one answer, a resounding, yes.

Ewen Murray
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What a pity Austria suffered such poor weather ahead of their national championship.

Nevertheless, the three rounds that were able to be completed were entertaining and produced some of the lowest scores of the year so far. After two second places, it was third time lucky for India's Jeev Milkha Singh.

I was also pleased for his caddie, Janet Squire who has caddied for our own Mark Roe and Jamie Spence. For a woman, the tour can be lonely but Janet copes well and is immensely popular with all of her colleagues.

Behind every success story there is another side. Jeev's regular caddie, Max Cunningham decided to take a week off last week, not a great decision. The last time Max did that, he was caddying for Brett Rumford. Max missed the Swiss event, Brett won in Crans sur Sierre!! Never mind Max, it happens.

Transformed

So to the year's second major set among the Torrey Pines that give this municipal golf course its name. The nearby villages of Vista and La Jolla will be transformed for a week as America's greatest golfing show comes to San Diego.

It was in August 1971 I left Turnhouse airport by Edinburgh in tears after saying goodbye to my parents, Joan and Jim, bound for the promised land of the United States. It was the first time I had left our shores.

As Scottish boy champion, I had qualified to play in the World Junior Championship held at Torrey Pines. First stop was London's Heathrow airport, much bigger than Edinburgh I thought, then onto the Pan Am 747 and before you get any ideas, it was not the one that landed on water!

After passing the Rockies, Los Angeles was below us and looking out of the window, I was overwhelmed by its size. Another flight and destination San Diego was reached.

All this was done in carefree days with no guardian. How things have changed today. I stayed with Mr and Mrs Lumsden and their two sons in Vista and had the time of my life.

The winner of the World Junior that year was none other than "The Walrus" Craig Stadler. Others who have gone on to win their age section are Dale Hayes, Nick Price, Trevor Immelman and one, Tiger Woods. The tournament still operates today.

Change

So much of course will have changed in these nearly four decades, but the main lay-out of the South course still stands, although much length has been added to make this year's US Open test one covering 7,608 yards

The draw for the first two rounds have raised much discussion around the clubhouses and indeed throughout the press previews during the last few days.

The top grouping play together for the first time in the history of the championship, Tiger, Phil and Adam, the world's top three ranked players.

Mike Davis, Director of Operations for the USGA said it was time to try something different and "to heck with the television people". Where has Mike been recently? Does he not think television wants to see Woods, Mickelson and Scott play together?

If I were to ask all of our Sky Sports golfing viewers, would they like to see the games big three head to head, what would they say? There is only one answer, a resounding, yes.

There are other many attractive groups for you to watch over the 30 plus hours of live coverage on Sky Sports.

If it's consistency you want to enjoy, K.J.Choi, Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker will provide that. Cink, Garcia and Vijay Singh provide class and three Masters champions join together in the shape of Mike Weir, Trevor Immelman and Zach Johnson.

Davis Love came through the pre-qualifying to make his 18th consecutive US Open start and he is alongside the defending champion, Angel Cabrera and our Open winner last year, Padraig Harrington .

If it's a big hitting three-ball you are on the lookout for, then J.B.Holmes, Bubba Watson and Brett Wetterik will oblige.

America's national network of NCB is the host broadcaster and I hope they respect the draw initiative of Mike Davis and his colleagues and give our viewers a good look at the match involving, Paul Casey, Luke Donald and Ian Poulter. If not we will send our own cameras there should they feature on the leader board.

Test

The US Open has become a must-watch championship for there is no doubt, it is the ultimate test of skill, nerves patience and endurance and, its puts a premium on accurate driving.

The one thing I hoped they would change was the awful thought of going back to the course next Monday for the dreaded 18 hole play-off.

The Masters continue along the lines of tradition with their sudden death format and the USPGA copied the R&As idea of three or four hole loop to decide their championships.

If the other three majors did as the USGA do, it would take much away from their events. The 18-hole Monday play-off should be condemned to the history books, for it is something nobody wants, it's outdated, useless, and unnecessary.

Who will win? Tiger comes back after a lengthy lay-off due to arthroscopic surgery on his knee. The respected and successful chiropractor in London and keen golfer, Antoni Jakubowski, says Tiger should be fine as it was a routine procedure.

I'm sure Tiger would not play unless he had confidence that the knee will not affect his swing. Is two months too long to be away from competition? I think it is, but we are talking about the world's finest sportsman.

However, I would be surprised if Woods makes it major number 14 and US Open number three next Sunday despite his impressive record at Torrey Pines.

Key

This is Phil Mickelson country and I think he is ready to go three quarters of the way to the Grand Slam and claim his first US Open.

Driving will be the key for Mickelson. If he keeps the ball in play, he has everything else he needs to succeed. I think he and Sergio Garcia will be there or thereabouts going into the last nine.

A good outsider for you may well be young Anthony Kim. Fresh off his first win on the PGA Tour this year, he partners Andres Romero and Ryuji Imada, who have also enjoyed success this season.

I think Lee Westwood is our best hope. He is a fine driver of the ball and there has been improvement in his pitching and chipping. Harrington will always give his best and like the Masters, he should contend.

The pictures from around the Canyon and out to the shores of the Pacific will be presented in High Definition, so relax, burn the midnight oil and take in all the drama this great championship will produce.

Ewen replies to your comments

Thanks for the great coverage you guys are providing this year! I was at the Welsh Open on Sunday and one item you did not report on was the terrible behaviour of one Colin Montgomerie (again), on the 18th green when he full view of the gallery he vented his spleen at David Livingstone and yourself. Why you keep praising this chap is beyond me. His sets a terrible example and should be held accountable. No doubt you would say that he does a lot of positive things which are unseen, but no doubt the vast majority of the field also do so, and they are able to behave like adults. As much as I want to like him I find it very hard to do so. Nick Smith

Ewen replies: Dear Nick, How I wanted to report on Colin Montgomerie's sad behaviour that you witnessed at Celtic Manor. Unfortunately, it would only have drawn attention to the Sky Sports team and taken away what we are at tournaments for, that is to cover them to the best of our ability for the viewers.

I was not present at the 18th when Colin launched into his tirade of abuse at David Livingstone and Richard Boxall. I was however watching it on the preview monitors in the commentary position. Off the course, Monty's behaviour is very different to on it, that's all I will say in his favour. His display at Celtic Manor was all too familiar. He has been allowed to get away with it with for too long. I can tell you, he's lucky David and Richard were on air, otherwise Colin would have got what he should have got many years ago, a severe dressing down in public leaving him embarrassed and ashamed.

After watching the recent event at Celtic Manor I am a bit concerned at the way the course played. With a winning score of more than 20 under par is this course really tough enough to host a Ryder cup. Although the standard of golf played by Strange and Karlsson was outstanding, I feel the course will need to play much harder to pose a stren enoough test for the best golfers in the world and to do justice to the Ryder cup competion as a whole. Kristian Icely.

Ewen replies: Dear Kristian, I understand your concerns about the new 2010 course at Celtic Manor and also agree Scott Strange and Robert Karlsson had extraordinary weeks. The course will be much tougher with the rough grown in and hopefully no preferred lies will be needed. The pin placements will also be more testing. As I said last week, the course is no longer the prime requisite for a Ryder Cup. The event has grown beyond all expectations in the last two decades, so the infrastructure is number one on the list. Like you, I would love to see the Ryder Cup played on some of the traditional old courses, but quite simply, most of them don't have the room. Celtic Manor will be good, and with over two years to mature, the 2010 course will provide a fine examination.

Thanks for taking the time to write, and best wishes for the rest of the season.

Ewen Murray