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.
New Zealander Michael Campbell held off a charging Tiger Woods to win the 105th US Open on Sunday. The 36-year-old Kiwi finished level par 70 for the day and level par 280 for the championship to beat Woods by two strokes. It was a stunning showing by Campbell, who began the day four shots back of third-round leader and defending champion Retief Goosen.
A cautious Tiger Woods withstood a first round test of patience at the US Open, the Masters champion firing a par 70 on Thursday to stay in contention at the year’s second major tournament. ”I was as patient as possible, just kept hanging in there, kept grinding,” Woods said.
Rocco Mediate insisted he never lost faith in his ability to play golf, even while chronic back trouble turned him into an also-ran on the PGA Tour. The pain is finally gone, and armed with a new swing and a fit, trim body, the 42-year-old went to the top of the leaderboard on Thursday at the US Open.
When Ernie Els last played at Pinnehurst number two, he found himself with the weekend off. Now, six years later the two-time United States Open winner has learned from his mistakes. ”In ’99 I wasn’t quite on my game and I wasn’t hitting it in the fairways and that cost me,” explained Els here on Tuesday as he prepared for the 105th US Open.