A viewer's guide to the Open
By David Kraft
ESPN.com
The basics: Tee times | TV times | Course map | History OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. -- The U.S. Open is supposed to be a test of attrition, with players brought to their knees by the unbending conditions and unparalleled pressure of major competition. And then there was Thursday at Olympia Fields. A 53-year-old man shares the lead with a guy who hasn't made a cut in two previous Opens. Right behind them are a two-time British Open champ who says that golf is second or third on his priority list and a journeyman who hasn't made an Open cut since 1993, when he tied for 62nd. What's in store for Friday? Likely plenty. Five feature pairings
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| Watson |
Tom Watson's group didn't seem like a must-see item until late Thursday, when the 53-year-old former champ mounted a memorable charge to 5-under. With the lead at the end of a round for the first time since 1994 (also Round 1), Watson will tee it up with Angel Cabrera and Scott Verplank with every sentimentalist -- and old-timer -- in suburban Chicago watching his every move. Remember -- Watson won his first-ever PGA Tour event in Chicago in 1974 (at the Western Open). Fri.: 8 a.m. ET (No. 10):
Nobody will be on the course earlier than Brett Quigley, an unlikely co-leader after 18 holes. He's in the first group of the day, along with Brian Davis and amateur Chez Reavie -- at 7 a.m. local time. The early-morning wake-up call is probably good for Quigley, who's missed the cut in his previous two Open appearances -- he won't have much time to stress the little things in his hotel room overnight. Or if he does, he'd be planning to get up early anyhow. Fri.: 1:30 p.m. ET (No. 1)
Ernie Els (1-under 69) got the best of Tiger Woods (even) and Ricky Barnes (1-over) in the first round, though none of the players in the feature group of the day generated much excitement (other than Woods' eagle at No. 6). There are 24 players ahead of Woods - he's never trailed anyone after any round in his two U.S. Open wins. That's the kind of incentive Woods tends to need.
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| Leonard |
Justin Leonard says marriage and impending fatherhood have put golf on the back burner in his life. But they'll be front-and-center here as he begins chasing the leaders -- or trying to protect a lead if Watson and Quigley have faltered. Fri.: 2:40 p.m. ET (No. 10)
Jay Don Blake has played in the U.S. Open 11 times before. He hasn't survived the cut in seven of them -- including the last four. Friday, he's among the final players to hit the course -- looking to earn himself the right to play late-afternoon rounds on the weekend, too. Keep an eye on ...
Phil Mickelson: He hit just four of 14 fairways and scrambled from the outset, making bogey on his first hole. But he finished at even-par and if the 0-for-43 streak is to end, he'll need to make some noise on Friday. The group at 2-over: It includes Kenny Perry, David Toms and Lee Janzen among the 24 players who shot 72. If Olympia Fields plays like it did on Thursday, another 72 would be very, very dangerous. And these three all had hopes of winning the title. The group at 3-over: It includes Rocco Mediate, Brad Faxon and Rory Sabbatini. None can feel comfortable, even if they shoot even par. Beware of ...
The Friday pins: The USGA doesn't like red numbers. It saw 24 of them on Thursday, with another 20 players at even par. Tournament director Tom Meeks takes pride in making the U.S. Open a test of shotmaking -- so don't be surprised if there are some pins Friday that even Houdini couldn't escape&just to keep it fair, as Judge Smails would say. Woods: It's cliche, but Woods doesn't like to lose. More specificially, he knows how to win. And he darned well knows that he can't climb over 24 players on the final day to win his third U.S. Open -- he needs to cut down on the traffic between him and the lead ASAP. With an afternoon tee time and the easier part of the golf course (the front nine) first on his agenda, don't be surprised if there's a charge in the offing. David Kraft is an ESPN.com Senior Editor.
