Players no major, but still PGA's best tourney
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Q: What's the early word on what conditions will be like at Oakmont for the U.S. Open?
— Chris R. from Fargo, N.D.
A: It will start in Western Pennsylvania and end somewhere in Ohio, or at least so it will seem because we’re talking about yet another long — make that, very long — U.S. Open. Oakmont will be played to a par of 70 at 7,230 yards. The winter was cold and never-ending in the Pittsburgh area — there was a cover of snow just a few weeks ago at Oakmont — but that should hardly hinder efforts to get the rough up, the fairways narrow and firm, and the greens vintage Oakmont fast.
No less an authority than Tiger Woods has already pronounced it a tougher set-up than Winged Foot — and that vaunted layout last summer yielded a winning score of 5-over, so it sounds like the lads should strap themselves in for a 72-hole survival test.
Q: Have we seen the last of Mike Weir winning? He says he's undergoing a swing change but he hasn't won in a few years and every time I see him on TV, he's missing another 3-footer.
— Chris, from Wilkes Barre, Penn.
A: Chris, when you glance at the resume, what strikes you about the lefthander from Canada are the venues on which he’s won — Augusta National, Riviera (twice), Champions. Shotmakers’ courses, each and every one. You can’t fake it around any of those layouts, so it goes without saying that Mike Weir has the game.
What he also has, unfortunately, are a lot of swing thoughts going through his mind, which helps explain the winless drought that dates back to February of 2004. Having made the cut in seven of his first eight stroke-play events in 2007, with top 20s at the Masters and Byron Nelson Classic, Weir appears headed in the right direction and no, we haven’t seen his final PGA Tour win. There’s too much talent, too much passion for that.
Q: Will Jean Van de Velde likely qualify for the British Open and make a return trip to Carnoustie, the scene of his famous 72nd-hole collapse?
— Jerrord Ross from Texas
A: If the folks who run the Royal & Ancient had any allegiance to theatrical drama, the Frenchman would have been extended an exemption. But, alas, there is no humor with the R&A, so as you indicate, Jerrord, it’s the qualifying route for Jean Van de Velde. That is a crapshoot, of course, so who knows? His form is hard to figure — there was a win in 2006, but in his other 19 events Van de Velde missed six cuts and was inside the top 20 just once.
As for the start of 2007, three quiet top 10s in nine tournaments could reflect positively, but in the only top-to-bottom quality field he faced (the Dubai Desert Classic) he missed the cut.
History is against a Van de Velde appearance at Carnoustie, given that he’s played in just one of the last five British Opens. Thus, if you forced me, I’d wager that we’ll play the 2007 British Open without Van de Velde, sad as that is.
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