Fuente: © PGATour.com
http://www.pgatour.com/

PGA TOUR: Fantasy notes: U.S. Open

/noticias.info/ Stuart Appleby
News: Appleby's tie for 18th at the Barclays Classic was his seventh top-25 finish in 2006.

Analysis: Appleby has not fared well at the U.S. Open in the past. In nine starts he has six missed cuts with his best finish being a tie for 10th in 1998.

Nick O'Hern
News: In his six starts this season on the PGA TOUR, Nick O'Hern has three top-25 finishes and three missed cuts.

Analysis: O'Hern tied for 49th in his first career start in a U.S. Open. He is very straight off the tee and has displayed an excellent short game this season. He should make it to the weekend, but his putting may keep him out of contention.

Phil Mickelson
News: At last week's Barclays Classic, Mickelson recorded his 11th top-25 finish in 13 starts on TOUR in 2006.

Analysis: Mickelson is among the favorites this week at the U.S. Open. With the way he has been putting -- he ranks first in putting average and birdie conversion percentage -- he has a good chance of recording his third consecutive major victory.

Vijay Singh
News: Singh broke his victory drought at the Barclays Classic.

Analysis: Singh has made the cut in 11 consecutive U.S. Opens and has recorded six top-10 finishes. After last week's victory Singh should be feeling confident about his game and another U.S. Open top-10 is very likely.

Adam Scott
News: Finishing second at the Barclays Classic, Scott recorded his fifth top-10 finish in 2006.

Analysis: Scott made the cut at the U.S. Open last year for the first time in four attempts -- and he went on to make the cut at all four major championships. Look for Scott to make it to the weekend, but his scrambling (T-97th on TOUR) may keep him out of contention.

David Toms
News: Toms has finished in the top 15 in each of his last two starts and ranks among the leaders in driving accuracy and putting.

Analysis: Toms' combination of precision off the tee and on the green should make him one of the favorites heading into this week. He has finished in the top 20 the last three years at the U.S. Open and should be able to repeat his success at this year's event.

Tiger Woods
News: Woods is coming off a nine-week layoff and has not made a start on TOUR since finishing tied for fifth at the Masters.

Analysis: Woods' time away should not be a factor for him this week. He has reported that he had his putter "tweaked" which will mean trouble for the field if he starts holing more putts.

Jim Furyk
News: Furyk had to withdraw from last week's Barclays Classic due to a back injury..

Analysis: Furyk is a past U.S. Open champion and has the accuracy off the tee, short game and putting skills to add a second U.S. Open title to his resume.

Retief Goosen
News: Finishing tied for 29th at the Barclays Classic, Goosen is 10 for 10 in cuts made in 2006.

Analysis: Goosen is a two-time U.S. Open champion and played in the final group in 2005. He is putting well this season (T-29th) and he ranks 12th in scrambling. Look for Goosen to be among the leaders in the final round.

Ernie Els
News: Els has recorded three top-10 finishes in 10 starts in 2006.

Analysis: Els is a two-time U.S. Open champion, and he has only finished outside the top-25 four times in 13 career starts. Els may not have played up to his standards this season, but his experience at the U.S. Open should keep him among the top 25 this week.

David Howell
News: Opening with eight birdies in the first round, Howell tied for 13th at the Barclays Classic.

Analysis: Howell is ranked ninth in the Official World Golf Rankings and is just starting to make his impact at the majors. He finished in the top 20 in his first two appearances at the Masters and should make this week his first solid finish at the U.S. Open.

Davis Love III
News: Love has made 11 cuts in 14 starts in 2006, but has only recorded one top-10 finish.

Analysis: Love won the last major contested at Winged Foot, and he tied for sixth at last year's U.S. Open. Love is motivated to secure a spot on this year's Ryder Cup team, but will need to improve his short game (T-117th in scrambling) to get into contention.

Tim Clark
News: Clark has finished in the top 20 in four of his last six starts on the PGA TOUR.

Analysis: Clark tied for third at last year's U.S. Open and was second at the Masters in 2006. He ranks 16th in driving accuracy and is sixth in proximity to the hole. Look for Clark to have yet another strong showing at a major championship.

Justin Leonard
News: Leonard has made 11 cuts in 15 starts in 2006, including his last four straight, but he has not finished in the top 10 since February.

Analysis: Leonard was the runner-up in the 1997 PGA Championship at Wing Foot, and he has only missed two cuts in 11 career starts in the U.S. Open. Ranked 23rd in driving accuracy, Leonard could be the sleeper at this year's championship.

Ian Poulter
News: Poulter recorded his second top-10 finish in his last three starts at last week's Barclays Classic.

Analysis: Poulter ranks third on TOUR in driving accuracy, always a positive at the U.S. Open, and he has only missed the cut twice in 13 starts at major championships. notas_de_prensa_archivo