Can Geoff Ogilvy win again?

Such a warning sign is of little deterrence however to the hordes of golfers who flocked to Bethpage in the lead-up to the 2002 US Open and appear likely to do the same in 2009. So aware of the demand likely to be placed on the golf course in the two months prior to the US Open from June 18th – 21st that the course’s owners, the New York State Office of Parks has taken steps to ensure that as many golfers as possible get their chance to experience the course close to its peak condition.

“With our National Championship arriving this June, we fully expect demand to play the golf course to significantly increase, paralleling demand that existed prior to the US Open in 2002,” reads the New York State’s website.

“As a result, we will be implementing the identical restrictions and tee time schedule which we established for the Black Course during the spring of 2002 until the course closed prior to the commencement of the Open.”

“Therefore, effective April 11, 2009, through May 31, 2009, a golfer may play the Black Course only one time. This includes a golfer playing under their own reservation or a reservation made by another and/or a walk-up.”

And who would blame the devoted New York golf fan or deny them the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Tiger Woods on one of the great courses of American golf, originally designed in 1936 by AW Tillinghast, especially given the more than reasonable asking price of US$60.

It was at Bethpage Black in 2002 where Tiger Woods defeated Phil Mickelson by three shots to win the first ever US Open staged on a truly publicly owned golf facility. The fact that the world number one and two finished first and second that year tells the story of a demanding layout where quality players rose to the top. Not that this year’s layout will be exactly the same as that used in 2002. The course will measure longer than that used in 2002 by some 200 yards. In 2002 the course was the longest used in US Open championship history until that point. In 2009 it will be the second longest behind Torrey Pines (South).

Rees Jones, who was involved in the significant redesign for the 2002 version of the event, has again been commissioned to work further changes and tweaking. According to Jones all holes have had some level of modification and the rough which was so prevalent in 2002 will be shortened and in some areas eliminated.

In a recent Media Day for the event the 2002 winner Tiger Woods gave his thoughts on the course then and how he sees it playing now. “Yeah, it is just a long golf course. It was long then. It wouldn’t be long if we played the same yardage, obviously but they have changed it since then. They have added length. When we played, the rough was extremely high. You had to drive it straight.

The greens were bigger than what we thought going into the week, or at least I thought they would be, but just a tremendous golf course. It played long. It was fair. A couple of holes were kind of questionable, maybe the forced carry, 10 and 12, but I think they have addressed that.

But other than that, I think the golf course played extremely fair. It was right in front of you and it was a case of come and get it.”

Bethpage Black (photo: Jim Coulton)

Each major championship has its own unique flavour and appeal and for this writer, who has attended several USGA events including US Opens, you can smell the class associated with this major championship. It is an intangible to a large extent but instantly the golf fan knows that when he is at a US Open venue he is in the middle of something very special.

Throw into that mix a New York crowd renowned for getting intimately involved when attending any sporting event and the ingredients are in place for a brilliant week. “It was a great atmosphere when we played in 2002,” added Woods. “The fans were truly into it. I think everyone was having a great time. If you made a putt, people went crazy. It was ton of fun to play in front of that, because it’s always fun to play in front of people who appreciate shots and are excited that the guys are playing well.”

So who are the players who will dominate in 2009?

There are no prizes for mentioning the defending champion. Tiger Woods is in the unique position of not only defending his 2009 title but defending his 2002 Bethpage title. As this is written in mid May there is a little concern about Tiger and his perhaps inconsistent form. Three times a winner of this event and twice runner up, there is little doubt that the USGA course set up brings Woods’ brilliance to the fore but given that he has not contended to the death at either the Masters or the Players Championship then he is no lay down misere to win the event. That will not stop him being the favourite in many people’s eyes however.

Mickelson chased Tiger all the way in 2002 and could well do the same in 2009. If they were to produce a repeat of their final day at this year’s Masters you could just imagine the hype and reaction of the New York fans. This is one major that Mickelson would dearly like to have under his belt. He has won the other two major titles in the US but for an American to win his own national open is arguably the pinnacle. He has been four times runner up and few would be surprised if he breaks through for his first here at Bethpage.

Jim Furyk missed the cut when the event was last played at Bethpage but since that he has been a winner and twice a runner up in US Opens. His game is built for US Open layouts and he has played rather well on tough golf courses in recent weeks.

Now that Henrik Stenson has broken through for a stroke-play win in the US with a stunning victory at the Players Championship, his chances at the US Open have increased considerably. His record at the US Open is not good but he is a much more all round golfer than he ever was and his first major might be the next step for the Swede.

Speaking of first time major winners then Sergio Garcia is still in the category of one of the world’s best without a major championship to his name. Interestingly Garcia finished 4th at Bethpage as a 22 year old and while his overall record at the US Open is not great he could well feature. His game is not at its peak in recent weeks but it is not so bad to believe that he couldn’t contend at least for some of the event.

At number four in the world, Geoff Ogilvy is far and away Australia’s best golfer at present and with a proven record at the US Open. While he is not at the top of his game at present Ogilvy is not playing badly and this is just the event for him to step up a gear. Do not be surprised to see Geoff Ogilvy again as the leading Australian but more importantly as the winner of his second major championship. Padraig Harrington had a good week at Bethpage in 2002 at a time when he was not considered a potential major winner. He has not been good in recent weeks but as a three time major winner and a four time top ten finisher in this event he might have a chance to make it three wins in his last four majors.

After the agony of his late demise at Augusta National, Kenny Perry again gets a chance to become the oldest player to ever win a major championship. His outstanding ability from the tee will assist him around a golf course where good driving will be prerequisite to victory. His form since the Masters has not been bad but there is perhaps some concern regarding his overall record at the US Open. In ten starts he has recorded just one top twenty, that coming when 3rd in 2003 behind Jim Furyk and Stephen Leaney. Mind you Perry’s record at the Masters was in question before this year.

Since his Lasik eye surgery in January Ian Poulter is beginning to play consistently to the level many felt he would earlier in his career. I like the way he is playing right now and while Poulter has not exactly starred in US Opens to date he is clearly a much better player now than he has been previously. He could be a very good long shot bet.

Robert Allenby is the other Australian who could do well. His major record is very ordinary for a player of his standing but he did play well at Bethpage in 2002 before a final round of 77 and does boast a major career best of 7th in this event in 2004.

With the lessons learned from their first and successful foray into staging their first US Open in 2002, Bethpage Black is sure to provide an even better home in 2009. Last year’s dramatic win at Torrey Pines by a near crippled Tiger Woods is indeed a hard act to follow but do not be surprised if Bethpage Black does just that and perhaps more.