It’s time for golf’s second major tournament of the year with the 112th U.S. Open, which kicked off today, Thursday, June 14 from The Olympic Club in San Francisco, California.
This marks the fifth time the U.S. Open will be held at The Olympic Club following tournments in 1955, 1966, 1987, and 1998. This year’s Open will hosted by the Lake Course which offers some of the toughest holes in golf as well longest hole in U.S. Open history with the 670 yard 16th hole.
According to Businessweek, when describing the Lake Course executive director of the U.S. Golf Association Mike Davis stated, “The first six holes are going to just be brutal.” When asked about the challenges ahead at the Open, golf’s biggest name Tiger Woods said, “It’s going to be a hell of a test.”
The 2012 U.S. Open course competition includes notable names Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Bubba Watson. USGA officials have paired the trio of iconic golfers, possibly creating the most competitive grouping in U.S. Open history. Another pairing to watch consists of 2011 defending champion Rory McIlroy, world’s No. 1 Luke Donald, and Lee Westwood. Other notable American golfers include Jason Dufner, Hunter Mahan, and Matt Kuchar.
McIlroy and Westwood will attempt to create history at the U.S. Open — both competitors are coming into the Open with successful tour event victories. Westwood recently won the Nordea Masters title in Sweden and seeking the first major of his PGA career.
Rory McIlroy 2011 winner of the U.S. Open set a record (-16) in the 2011 U.S. Open. McIlroy is riding a wave of momentum after winning the St. Jude Classic. Recent tournament victories posted by Westwood and McIlroy will be historic if one of the two leading competitors are victorious in the tournament. According to Bill Hanstock of SB Nation, “No golfer in history has ever won a tour event and the U.S. Open in back-to-back weeks.”
Rory McIlroy (2011) and Graeme McDowell (2010) became the first pair of non-American golfers to win back to back U.S. Open’s since Fred Mc Leod completed a run of 8 straight U.S. Open wins for Scotland in 1908. Americans will be looking to Woods, Mickelson, or Watson to stop the international reign and bring the trophy stateside. According to the USGA website, there are limited U.S. Open 2012 gallery tickets available for the championship round which began today, June 14 and ends Sunday, June 17.
A search for U.S. Open 2012 championship session tickets on Stubhub.com resulted with tickets priced from $199. As the tournament continues ticket prices should continue to rise, if Woods is in contention prices could jump considerably.
