Leading player profiles for the US Open Golf

 

By Doug Ferguson, 11 Jun 2008 Doug Ferguson is a Roar Rookie

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A capsule look at 10 top players who could contend in the US Open, to be played June 12-15 at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

TIGER WOODS
Age: 32.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 1.
Highest finish at Torrey Pines: Won the Buick Invitational six times and a Junior World Championship once.
Highest finish at the U.S. Open: Won.
Majors: Masters (4), U.S. Open (2), British Open (3), U.S. PGA Championship (4).
Worldwide victories: 75.
Best U.S. Open moment: Winning by 15 shots at Pebble Beach in 2000.
Worst U.S. Open moment: Missing the cut at Winged Foot in 2006 after a nine-week layoff.
Noteworthy: A victory would give him the career Grand Slam three times, joining Jack Nicklaus.

ERNIE ELS
Age: 38.
Country: South Africa.
World ranking: 4.
Highest finish at Torrey Pines: Tied for 6th in the 2005 Buick Invitational, his only appearance.
Highest finish at the U.S. Open: Won.
Majors: U.S. Open (2), British Open (1).
Worldwide victories: 60.
Best U.S. Open moment: Winning a three-man playoff at Oakmont in 1994 that lasted 20 holes.
Worst U.S. Open moment: Shooting 80 in the final group at Shinnecock Hills in 2004.
Noteworthy: Trying to become only the sixth player with at least three U.S. Open titles.

RETIEF GOOSE
Age: 39.
Country: South Africa.
World ranking: 33.
Highest finish at Torrey Pines: Has never competed.
Highest finish at the U.S. Open: Won.
Majors: U.S. Open (2).
Worldwide victories: 28.
Best U.S. Open moment: One-putting the final six greens to win in 2004 at Shinnecock Hills.
Worst U.S. Open moment: Three-putting from 12 feet on the 18th hole to fall into a playoff in 2001 at Southern Hills.
Noteworthy: Has only two top-10s – both victories – in his 10 appearances at the U.S. Open.

PHIL MICKELSON
Age: 37.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 2.
Highest finish at Torrey Pines: Won the Buick Invitational three times.
Highest finish at the U.S. Open: Runner-up four times.
Majors: Masters (2), U.S. PGA Championship (1).
Worldwide victories: 35.
Best U.S. Open moment: Opening with a 68 at Pebble Beach in 1992, his professional debut.
Worst U.S. Open moment: Making double bogey on the 18th hole at Winged Foot in 2006 to finish one shot behind.
Noteworthy: Tied with Sam Snead for most runner-up finishes (4) without winning.

ANGEL CABRERA
Age: 38
Country: Argentina.
World ranking: 22.
Highest finish at Torrey Pines: Missed the cut in 2003, his only appearance in the Buick Invitational.
Highest finish at the U.S. Open: Won.
Majors: U.S. Open (1).
Worldwide victories: 18.
Best U.S. Open moment: Tee shot on the 18th hole at Oakmont in 2007 that split the middle of the fairway and led to his victory
Worst U.S. Open moment: Finished 22-over 302 at Bethpage Black in 2002, his only U.S. Open score over 300.
Noteworthy: He has never missed the cut in a U.S. Open.

GEOFF OGILVY
Age: 31.
Country: Australia.
World ranking: 5.
Highest finish at Torrey Pines: 67th in the 2003 Buick Invitational.
Highest finish at the U.S. Open: Won.
Majors: U.S. Open (1).
Worldwide victories: 4.
Best U.S. Open moment: Making a 6-foot par putt on the 18th hole at Winged Foot that ultimately brought him victory in 2006
Worst U.S. Open moment: He has never broken par at the U.S. Open.
Noteworthy: Has broken par only twice in 10 rounds at Torrey Pines.

JIM FURYK
Age: 38.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 8.
Highest finish at Torrey Pines: A tie for 37th at the Buick Invitational this year.
Highest finish at the U.S. Open: Won.
Majors: U.S. Open (1).
Worldwide victories: 16.
Best U.S. Open moment: Tying the U.S. Open scoring record of 272 in 2003 at Olympia Fields.
Worst U.S. Open moment: Making bogey on the last two holes to settle for a share of the scoring record.
Noteworthy: Played Buick Invitational this year for the first time since 2001. This is not his favorite golf course.

SERGIO GARCIA
Age: 28.
Country: Spain.
World ranking: 11.
Highest finish at Torrey Pines: With a share of the 54-hole lead, he closed with a 75 and tied for 8th.
Highest finish at the U.S. Open: Tied for 3rd in 2005 at Pinehurst No. 2.
Majors: None.
Worldwide victories: 17.
Best U.S. Open moment: Playing with Tiger Woods in the final group at Bethpage Black in 2002.
Worst U.S. Open moment: Shooting the bird to fans at Bethpage Black who were heckling him.
Noteworthy: Has missed the cut in his last two U.S. Opens.

VIJAY SINGH
Age: 45.
Country: Fiji.
World ranking: 10.
Highest finish at Torrey Pines: Tied for 11th in the 2002 Buick Invitational.
Highest finish at the U.S. Open: Tied for 3rd in 1999 at Pinehurst No. 2.
Majors: Masters (1), U.S. PGA Championship (2).
Worldwide victories: 53.
Best U.S. Open moment: Tying a major championship record with a 63 in the second round at Olympia Fields in 2003.
Worst U.S. Open moment: One shot out of the lead, bogeyed the final three holes of the third round to fall five behind in 2003.
Noteworthy: Has gone more than a year since his last U.S. PGA Tour victory, 2007 at Bay Hill.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON
Age: 37.
Country: Ireland.
World ranking: 14.
Highest finish at Torrey Pines: Has never competed.
Highest finish at the U.S. Open: Fifth at Winged Foot in 2006.
Majors: British Open (1).
Worldwide victories: 19.
Best U.S. Open moment: Shot 68 in the rain at Bethpage Black to earn a spot in the last group of the third round with Tier Woods.
Worst U.S. Open moment: One shot out of the lead in the third round, took triple bogey on the 18th hole at Winged Foot in 2006.
Noteworthy: Has not won a tournament since the British Open.