Left field

Europeans seek breakthrough at U.S. Open

Europe’s undistinguished record at the U.S. Open over the last 40 years has been puzzling to say the very least but several signs indicate it could change for the better at Pebble Beach this week.

Seven Europeans lie in the world’s top 14 for the year’s second major where the spectacular par-71 layout on California’s Monterey Peninsula is running fast and firm in the style of a British Open links course.

While American world number two Phil Mickelson was regarded by several leading bookmakers as the tournament favourite before struggling in the first round, third-ranked Briton Lee Westwood has attracted strong backing.

The Englishman is arguably the best player in the game from tee to green, has recorded top-three finishes in the last three majors and arrived at Pebble Beach fresh from a playoff victory at the PGA Tour’s St. Jude Classic on Sunday.

Other Europeans expected to flourish this week include British world number eight Ian Poulter, 10th-ranked Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy and three-times major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland. No European has won the U.S. Open since Britain’s Tony Jacklin at Hazeltine in 1970 but Harrington regards this simply as a coincidence.

“That’s all it is,” the Irishman said before Thursday’s opening round. “There’s nothing more to it. The U.S. Open is no more tougher a major to win.

“If Europeans had won the last 39 U.S. Opens, would it be that Europeans are going to win this week? No. It doesn’t. It’s the best player going out this week, regardless of where he’s from.”

Should golf be back on the Olympic schedule?

Friday’s announcement in Copenhagen that golf would be added to the Olympic schedule from the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro sparked joyous reaction from players past and present, along with a few dissenting voices.

World number one Tiger Woods declared it “a perfect fit” while fellow great Jack Nicklaus voiced his pride over golf’s united front on “a great day” for the sport.

“I think it’s great for golf,” 14-times major champion Woods told reporters before Friday’s foursomes matches at the Presidents Cup team competition in San Francisco here the U.S. are taking on the Internationals.

“It’s a perfect fit for the Olympics, and I think we are all looking forward to golf getting into the Olympics. Having talked to other athletes who have gotten a chance to experience the Olympics, they have absolutely loved it and had the greatest time.”   

Nicklaus, winner of a record 18 majors, said in a statement: “This is a great day for the game of golf. “It is obvious that the unified voice of golf was not only heard but embraced by the International Olympic Committee. Now the sport I have always called the greatest game of all can be shared with the rest of the world on the greatest stage in sports.”

Triple major winner Padraig Harrington, who was part of golf’s presentation team in Copenhagen, was also excited about golf’s return to the Olympic arena after an absence of more than a century.

Has golf found the right end-of-season format at last?

After two successive years of tweaking the points structure for the lucrative FedExCup playoff events, the PGA Tour’s blockbuster finale appears to be close to finding the ideal recipe.

When the season-long series was first launched in 2007, the points system was too rigid, leaving players with far too much ground to make up on the leaders going into the final stretch.

Last year, there was much more volatility but the last of the four playoff events proved to be anti-climactic with Vijay Singh merely needing to show up for the Tour Championship to clinch the trophy and pocket the $10 million bonus.

What had been dubbed as the PGA Tour’s much-trumpeted new era at the start of 2007 ended limply in 2008 as Fijian Singh simply needed to complete the final round at East Lake Golf Club after winning the first two playoff events

This year, however, has been a very different story with every player in the elite field of 30 at East Lake having a chance to seal FedExCup honours.

The Tour’s bold attempt in 2007 to breathe fresh life into its late-season events with a NASCAR-style finale has finally caught the attention of the fans and especially the players.

“There’s a lot of excitement this year, a lot of anticipation,” said Steve Stricker, who was second behind Tiger Woods in the points standings going into the Tour Championship.