I really can't remember the last time I've found the U.S. Open more enjoyable. A tournament that usually has people looking like the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, the course has been fair and the players have appreciated the set-up.Also, it never hurts when Tiger Woods, after eight weeks off from competitive golf, is one shot back, making fist-pumping eagles and shooting a completely alien five-under 30 on the back nine yesterday.
You've had Phil Mickelson do things that, well, don't surprise you from Phil, Ernie Els bring form to the U.S. Open that we haven't seen since Brett Favre was winning a Super Bowl and even a caddy--spectator fight!
Before you tune in to coverage this afternoon, check the list of players in the top-10, their current position, some facts about them and the FanHouse odds on them winning.Luke Donald -- t-9 -- The quintessential golfer you expect to be on more major leaderboards but isn't, Donald has done exactly what major championships ask for with consecutive rounds of even par. In third rounds this season, Donald has only broke 70 twice in six tries. -- 8-1
Robert Allenby -- t-9 -- Wow, talk about two completely different rounds of golf. On Thursday Allenby made five birdies negated by four bogeys, and Friday just pounded out par after par, making just two bogeys and a birdie. With only one solid U.S. Open finish, Allenby looks like a guy that will get lost in that even par crowd this afternoon. -- 8-1
Geoff Ogilvy -- t-9 -- Been here, done this. Ogilvy has looked extremely solid all week, even when he didn't bring his best stuff to Torrey Pines, like yesterday. A round that could have slipped away, Ogilvy held it together with a two-over 73 to sit at even par. This is the guy I think has the best chance to win next to that Woods fella everyone keeps talking about. -- 5-1
Ernie Els -- t-9 -- Wow, did anyone see this coming? A win at the Honda Classic earlier this year broke a three year winless streak on the PGA Tour, but he has failed to ring any bells since. If you're going to walk Torrey today, Els paired with Ogilvy is almost a can't miss. -- 6-1
Carl Pettersson -- t-9 -- He was hot coming in, and has continued his run of late. A top-10 at the Memorial followed by medalist at the sectional qualifying in Ohio, Pettersson is playing his best golf all season. His best finish in a U.S. Open was last year, so maybe the Swede is figuring this crazy game out. -- 8-1
D.J. Trahan -- t-5 -- The Clemson All-American has always showed he has game, winning two PGA Tour events at just 27, but his major experience is lacking. Never a cut made in a major, this will just be a stepping stone for a guy that will contend in majors eventually, but not this weekend. -- 10-1
Davis Love III -- t-5 -- I just had to stand up, walk over to the calender by the Barista stand and check the calender, just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. Yep, DLIII is in the hunt at a major for the first time since 2005 after having to qualify. He's 44, two years younger than Jack Nicklaus at Augusta in 1986, so I guess it's possible (holds back laughter, spills coffee). -- 7-1
Lee Westwood -- t-5 -- Westwood was a factor in two U.S. Opens, but they were in 1998 and 2000. He's obviously got it going this week, but it will be interesting to see how he handles the crowds when he can't fly under the radar. He's won 27 times worldwide but never a major, and only once in America. -- 6-1
Miguel Angel Jimenez -- t-5 -- You have to love the USGA a little for that pairing this week. Jimenez, Boo Weekley and Shingo Katayama? Really? If they could have thrown in a gorilla from South America and Johnny Depp, I would have bought a ticket to San Diego in an instance. His only time in contention at this tournament was in 2000, and he has a ponytail. Also, he's 44. -- 6-1
Robert Karlsson -- t-2 -- On moving day, Karlsson has done very little moving, shooting just two rounds this year on the European Tour below 69. He's second on the Order of Merit over the pond, but has yet to win. Very little experience in major championship pressure, Karlsson will be trying to pull some Masters karma up, where he finshed in in a tie for 8th this season. -- 4-1
Rocco Mediate -- t-2 -- I do love me some Rocco and this is his favorite major, but do you really see a 45-year-old golfer turned broadcaster turned golfer again contending in this thing over the weekend? It might not be the likeliest of stories, but it sure would be fun. He stumbled some yesterday, getting to four-under before coming back to the field with a back nine 38. -- 4-1
Tiger Woods -- t-2 -- Seriously, this guy isn't human. He isn't. You cannot convince me that a human, made from the same stuff I'm made up of, can take eight weeks off and do the stuff he's doing right now. Of all the praise we give Woods, he has been hitting that "hard to get over to his left side" push that has become his bad shot, similar to the Mickelson shot at Winged Foot only about 50 yards closer to the fairway. I know the knee talk has to become moot now that he's one shot off the lead at the U.S. Open, but this is day three on that pesky injured limb and I'm not saying I believe it's going to affect him, but you never know. Also, I'm convinced Barrack Obama should nominate Tiger's putter as his vice president hopeful. That thing is never wrong. -- 1-3
Stuart Appleby -- 1 -- Solid, solid, solid so far from the Australian, his long birdie putt on the last yesterday to take the lead outright made a lot of people at eight-over a touch less rich. Appleby has played well in third rounds this season, averaging 70.4 on moving day. He hasn't won since 2006 and the U.S. Open is his least favorite major by results, so the odds might not be with him. Also, the last time Appleby was in the hunt at a major, he shot 73-75 at the Masters in 2007. -- 3-1
