Breaking down the U.S. Open Pairings
June 10th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
The pairings are out for next week’s U.S. Open, and the USGA has gotten quite creative with this year’s groups. Examples include the Italian group featuring Matteo Manassero and the Molinari brothers, or the group featuring Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer, the current top three players in the world. Here is the Essex Golf breakdown of the groupings.
The long-hitting Johnson is sure to excite at next week's U.S. Open
Most Exciting Grouping: Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson
If fans want to see safe, conservative play, this is not the group to watch. Johnson will be his typical long-bomber self, and expect Mickelson to hold nothing back as he searches for his first U.S. Open win. McIlroy has proven that he can go extremely low in the majors, and fans should expect nothing less from him at Congressional. Expect this group to put up a large number of birdies, and maybe a double bogey or two.
Least Exciting Grouping: Matt Kuchar, Paul Casey, K.J. Choi
While many other groupings will have less star power, this may be the group that scores the best with the least followers. All three of these players are exceptional and currently playing well, and yet this group is like the tortoise. For these three, slow and steady wins the race. This may be a good opportunity to get close to the ropes to see some really good, solid golf.
Most underrated group: Nick Watney, Lucas Glover, Geoff Ogilvy
Don’t be surprised if the winner comes out of this pairing. Watney is on fire as of late, and Glover has somehow managed to stay under the radar while being extremely consistent this season. Ogilvy already has one U.S. Open under his belt, and he should factor into this one too.
Group for the ladies: Camilo Villegas, Aaron Baddely, and Brandt Snedeker.
This group barely beat out the Watson-Scott-Karlsson pairing, but Adam Scott was shouldering too much weight. If you want to know there the females are at any given golf tournament, a good shot is probably whichever group Adam Scott is playing in. However, Camilo and Aaron Baddely have shown themselves to be fan favorites, and Snedeker’s easy-going personality has won him quite a few fans.
Best group to listen to: Miguel Angel-Jimenez, Sergio Garcia, Alvaro Quiros
Anybody who has ever seen these three in person knows that their galleries will be in for a treat. Sergio is nothing short of boyish on the course, and his shouts of Andale! can often be heard from up to fifty yards away. Quiros has garnered a reputation as one of the Tour’s longest hitters, and along with Jimenez, this should be one of the most verbally entertaining groups on the course.
Best Group that Nobody has heard of: Marc Leishman, Alex Cejka, Kevin Streelman
Three very good players who have yet to make a large impact on the tour. Expect at least one of these players to put up a good round or two. They may have nobody following them, but this grouping should produce some good golf.
