On a possibly wind-swept course on Puget Sound, the best golf tournament in the world will begin Thursday with two stories overwhelmingly taking the lead.
They are also stories we may well hear for the last time.
It’s the U.S. Open tournament, being held at Chambers Bay, a layout that overlooks the sound near Tacoma, WA.
Annually, the open is the toughest tournament of the year. The United States Golf Association likes to set up the course as a brutal test. The organization likes to see a score right around even par with the tournament. It has always been thus.
The two big stories at the tournament are both questions.
Can Phil Mickelson finally win an open after finishing second six times (in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2013)? It is the only major he hasn’t won. Last year, he finished tied for 28th.
The other question is whether Tiger Woods can still play golf.
Mickelson is the hard luck story of the open. Some of the problems have been of his own making, with his gambling personality taking charge when a bit of caution might have won a trophy.
His first runner up performance came in 1999 and his last just two years ago. Still, he is 44 years old now, and his game doesn’t seem nearly as sharp as it has been in the past. Time is running out.
Gary Van Sickle, a senior writer at Sports Illustrated who cut his teeth working at the old Milwaukee Journal, says that the fact that Chambers Bay is a wide open course off the tee could benefit Mickelson.
"I give him a chance because it’s a big ballpark," Van Sickle said. "I wouldn’t bet him, though."
The odds would seem to be stacked against Mickelson.
As for the other question. When last we saw Tiger Woods, he was staggering away from the Memorial Tournament after shooting an 85. Let’s repeat that. He shot an 85 and finished in 71st place.
The last time he won a tournament was in August of 2013. In 2014, he played seven tournaments and withdrew twice, was cut twice and finished 25th, 69th and 80th. This year he’s played five tournaments and withdrew once, got cut once and finished 17th, 69th and 71st.
Woods is going through a swing change with a new coach, but it’s becoming apparent he needs a new mind rather than another new swing.
Woods is only 39 years, but he’s an old 39. His body has betrayed him frequently in the last several years, and he seems unable to recover from the injuries, both physical and emotional.
These two players were the last of the major rivals that the PGA has had. The efforts to find new rivals (Rory Mcllroy and Jordan Spieth) have yet to bear fruit and seem a bit forced. Even finding a new star alone has been a struggle for the PGA. McIlroy and Spieth are strong players, but not the kind that have made the sport appointment viewing the way Woods and Mickelson could in the past. Young guns like Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler and Jason Day have caught people's attentions, but not quite enough consistent wins to stay in the public mind. And can you name who won last year's US Open? If you guessed Martin Kaymer, congratulations.
For golf – and for us – it wouldn't be unwelcome to see Woods or Mickelson competitive going into the final day.
The television viewing schedule can be found here.
With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.
He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.
This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.
Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.
