Remember when it seemed like everyone was wondering what was wrong with American golf? Who were the young stars that were going to fill in as Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods got a little older? I think we can safely say now we don’t have to wonder anymore. With the emergence of Rickie Fowler, Keegan Bradley’s win at last year’s PGA and now with former Wake Forest star Webb Simpson winning at the U.S. Open American golf is good hands. All of these players are under the age 30. Simpson is only 26. He came from 4 strokes down today to win the year’s second major.
Should we have really been all that surprised that Simpson contended though? He finished number 2 on the money list year. He was ranked 14th in the world coming into this major, and he won twice on tour last year. I get the feeling this won’t be the last we’ll hear from Webb Simpson. What are the other thoughts that I’ll take away from this year’s 2nd major?
- Jim Furyk is a Hall of Famer or he should be. He was the best golf for 80% of this tournament, but he just couldn’t close the deal and ended up T4. Had he won he would have been a certain Hall of Famer. With 1 Major to his credit among his16 wins, he’s been one of the World’s Best Golfers for the better part of the last 15 years. At 42 years of age, it’s hard to say if he’ll have many more chances to win another major as good as this one.
- Lee Westwood finished in the top 10 of a major again. He didn’t win again.
- Ernie Els finished 9th this weekend and had several opportunities to really make a run at his third U.S. Open title. Are we seeing a trend here? A couple of 40 something players looking to bookend their careers let a great chance at major slip away.
- Who played the weekend in 8 over to shoot himself right out contention? Tiger Woods that’s who. Woods has gotten his game together. That’s a fact, but I’m not seeing anything to make me believe he has 5 more majors in him to surpass Jack Nicklaus’s record. People just aren’t concerned when his name is on the leaderboard at a major anymore.
- Phil Mickelson had a forgettable tournament finishing an indifferent T65. Mickelson can certainly contend at the Masters and the PGA Championship, but I don’t really see him making another legit run at a U.S Open. He’s just become to erratic off the tee these days.
- Graeme Mcdowell is one the World’s elite golfers. He nearly won his 2nd U.S Open, but fell just short. He’s as gritty as player as you’ll find, and he loves the tough golf courses. He’ll win another major, mark it down.
- The British Open returns to Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Club for the first time since 2001 in July and we’ll do it up again.
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