/ 21 June 2005

US Open: Woods was there when it mattered

Michael Campbell may have won the US Open but Tiger Woods underscored the fact that he is the best golfer in the world — by far.

Once again, Woods was the only one of the ‘Big Five’ who rose to the challenge when it really mattered — a Major.

Ernie Els was never a factor, Phil Mickelson forgot to bring his game, Vijay Singh hovered but never managed to attack, and for three days Retief Goosen looked the part of one of the ”Big Five” but then one of the biggest meltdowns in golf Major history happened.

The South African began on Sunday morning three shots in front and on his way to be the first player since Curtis Strange to win back-to-back US Opens.

The $1 170 000 cheque was all but cashed.

By the time he got to the 16th hole the money had gone, the championship had gone, his game had gone.

Goosen turned to his playing partner Jason Gore, who was also in meltdown, and suggested they play the final three holes for a five dollar bet.

Goosen at least won the game within a game but even he would never have thought that he could crash so badly. By the time he staggered off the 18th green, he had shot a humbling 11-over 81.

He reached the turn six-over par for his round and things did not get any better as he dropped another five on the long, lonely walk home.

”I’m very disappointed the way things turned out. I got off to a bad start pretty quickly. It was hard to get going. Coming down the last nine it was just getting off the course,” said Goosen.

”I played rubbish at the end of the day,” he added, in case anyone had any doubt.

Els, a two-time US champion and no stranger to the punishing way the USGA set up their courses for their national championship.

The South African lost it on the second day with a six-over 76 and although his closing level par 70 shot him up the scoreboard for a top 20 finish Els knew he had played far from his best.

So fustrated was Els, that he talked about taking a break before the British Open in July.

Nowhere in the Masters, nowhere at the US Open — not what is expected from someone in the ”Big Five” Mickelson, stripped of his tag as the best player never to have won a Major following his success at the Masters last year, came to Pinehurst number two weeks early to get a special feel for the course.

Six years ago, the last time the US Open was held here, he came second, beaten on the final hole by Payne Stewart.

The left-hander was determined to go one better this time.

”The course changed a lot from the times I spent here practising,” he explained. So much so, that much of what he did practice was of no use to him.

And he forgot to change his game.

”It was me, I didn’t adjust and you have to adjust in the Open,” he confessed.

Singh tied for sixth but simply was never a factor.

Woods, with his new swing, made Campbell fight all the way for his first Major success.

And although he didn’t win, he was proud of the second place, after all Jack Nicklaus had 19 seconds in Majors.

Woods knew he earned his second place finish.

”The two seconds I’ve had, I’ve had wonderful opportunities to win both of them,” Woods said. ”Two wonderful opportunities and I did not get it done coming down the stretch.”

But unlike the other members of the so-called ”Big Five” club — Woods was there when it mattered.

And no one doubts he will be there next month when the British Open is played at St Andrews.

And few will bet against him delivering — ahead of Els, Mickelson, Singh and Goosen. – Sapa-AFP