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Geoff Ogilvy has the great benefit of belief going into the US Open golf championship starting on Thursday.
While the US media have been understandably focused on world No.1 Tiger Woods and local glamour boy Phil Mickelson, world No.5 Ogilvy has quietly primed himself to win his second Open title in three years.
The Australian has been in excellent form recently, with top-10 finishes in his past two starts, and arrives at Torrey Pines with a comfort level that only those who have lifted major silverware feel.
The US Open has gone to the southern hemisphere the past four years – to Retief Goosen, Michael Campbell, Ogilvy and Angel Cabera – and there is no reason why the streak cannot be extended, if not by Ogilvy then perhaps by Adam Scott or even Stuart Appleby, Australia’s best major performer over the past year.
“Last year was a pretty cool feeling, coming back as defending champion,” said Ogilvy.
“I don’t think you realistically feel like a contender before you win one.
“You like to think you will be, but I don’t know if you really believe you are. Now, I’m here to win.”
Ogilvy will play alongside two-time champion Ernie Els and England’s Justin Rose in the first two rounds round.
He believes that Torrey Pines, the longest course in Open history, will favour long hitters, especially as the rough, at least that immediately adjacent to the fairway, is surprisingly short.
“The rough in spots is shorter than in the Buick (Invitational), at least just off the fairways,” said Ogilvy, referring to the US PGA Tour event held on the same course each winter.
“I’m not saying a guy who doesn’t hit it long can’t win, but length is definitely an advantage. Last year at Oakmont, you could poke some irons off the tees. There’s not much of that here.”
Ogilvy freely admits that Woods and Mickelson are the two favourites, and does not buy suggestions that Wood might not be at his best in his first start since left knee surgery two months ago.
Woods was tight-lipped about the exact state of his recovery, other than to say “come game time, I’ll be good to go.”
Ogilvy agreed: “I have no idea what’s going on with his knee. All I know is he doesn’t tee it up unless he thinks he can win.
“He turns up at Torrey Pines every year after eight weeks off and wins by six (shots).”
Ogilvy, exaggerating slightly, was referring to the Buick Invitational, which Woods has won five of the past six years, sometimes in his first start of the year.
If Woods and Mickelson falter, several other Australians are playing well enough to pounce.
Adam Scott, who has not played in more than a month due to a broken finger, is an unknown quantity, but he was firing on all cylinders during a practice round on Sunday, according to Ogilvy.
Appleby is in solid form and has posted top-20 finishes in the past two majors, while Robert Allenby is obviously in fine fettle coming off Sunday’s play-off loss in Memphis, although he has a terrible major record for a player of his calibre.
Aaron Baddeley, perhaps the world’s best putter, cannot be ignored, as he demonstrated last year when he took a two-stroke lead into the final round before melting down.
And Rod Pampling and Mathew Goggin, runners-up over the past month on the US Tour, are capable of strong showings too.
Perhaps only Craig Parry and Jarrod Lyle will tee off more in hope than expectation.
“The course is very tough for players who hit it my length,” said Parry. “There are not that many birdie chances out there.”