ShareThisThe U.S. Open has been slamming its door on the toes of European contenders for nearly four decades.
In fact, Sunday will mark the 39th anniversary of the last European to win a U.S. Open.
"Tony Jacklin, 1970, Hazeltine," said Paul Casey, referring to his fellow Englishman's long-ago victory in Chaska. "I don't really remember it, though. I wasn't born yet."
American Rocco Mediate, last year's runner-up, remembers. He was 7.
"Jacklin won big, didn't he?" said Mediate before being told it was a seven-shot victory over Dave Hill. "I'm surprised no other European has won since. I'm surprised (Nick) Faldo didn't win one. Then Lee Westwood (missed) a putt to get in the playoff last year. Colin Montgomerie, if he pars the (72nd) hole three years ago, he wins. They've been there. They just haven't won."
Casey could be the one.
Yeah, he has no majors. Yeah, his best U.S. Open finish in six tries is a tie for 10th. But the 31-year-old is playing as well as anyone not named Tiger. And that will be a good thing when the 109th U.S. Open begins Thursday at Bethpage Black.
"Golf has been great this year," Casey said with a big smile.
Indeed.
As the fastest-rising star in the World Golf Rankings, Casey has rocketed from No. 41 at the beginning of the season to No. 3 behind only you-know-who and Phil Mickelson.
Casey is aware of the critics who argue he shouldn't be ranked that highly. His three victories this year include two on the European Tour and his one and only career PGA Tour victory at the Shell Houston Open in April.
"I'm not the one who comes up with how the world rankings are devised," said Casey, who also lost in the finals to Geoff Oglivy at the World Golf Championships Match Play event. "Are the world rankings perfect? There's a big debate. ... But who else has won three times this year around the world?"
Now, if only Casey can overcome that European jinx thing.
When Jacklin won at Hazeltine in 1970, he was the first British player to win the U.S. Open since 1920 and the only European to do so in the post-World War II era. At 25, he was expected to win more, but he played in five more U.S. Opens, missed the cut three times and never finished higher than 40th.
A generation later, Faldo was ranked No. 1 for 98 weeks in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Yet his best U.S. Open finish was a second place after losing in a playoff to American Curtis Strange in 1988.
"It's the hardest major for a (European) golfer to get used to," Casey said. "We play narrow fairways in Europe. We also play thick rough in Europe. But if we have extremely thick rough, rarely do we play green speeds as fast as they are at the U.S. Open. So we have all the U.S. Open elements in Europe. But just not at the same time."
The United States Golf Association, which sets up the U.S. Open, has become a kinder, gentler organization since Mike Davis replaced Tom Meeks as director of rules and competitions. Davis introduced graduated rough and tee flexibility, which has improved scoring conditions.
Casey compares it to the way the PGA of America sets up the PGA Championship. European Padraig Harrington of Ireland will defend his PGA Championship title at Hazeltine in two months.
"It will be interesting to see (how Europeans fare at the U.S. Open) over the next couple years as the USGA and the PGA continue to set up their courses the same way," Casey said.
A forecast of wet conditions likely will make Bethpage play long this week. But Davis probably will move some of the tees to shorten the par 70 from its listed length of 7,426. The wet weather also will make the greens more receptive and slower, which, according to Casey's theory, would help the Europeans.
Spain's Sergio Garcia was in contention here in 2002, but finished fourth while struggling with his confidence and an energized crowd that had turned on him.
Garcia tied for third in 2005. A year later, three Europeans finished in the top six. Last year, four made the top eight.
"We have some guys who have played brilliantly," Casey said. "We have guys who are not afraid of winning and who should really give it a go this week."
(Contact Mark Craig at mcraig(at)startribune.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
Must credit Minneapolis Star Tribune
