2012 US Open: The Return of Tiger?

An event that is truly open to any player in the United States.  By winning regional sectionals, qualifiers and other rounds, any average Joe Schmo can play in the US Open.

Boo Weekley 20 years ago ... just kidding, just Joe Schmo

Thanks to Mr. Paul Casey Casey Martin (thank you J.Lau) dropping, Andy Zhang, age 14, will be teeing it up with the likes of Bubba Watson, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy.

He gets to play with Bubba on Tuesday.  Welcome to the US Open, kid.

Traditionally, the US Open is one of the toughest events to play.  Average scores are in the black (over par for you non-golf savvy fans), and it is not uncommon to find 4-day scores hovering around even par, with the exception of 2000 and 2011.  The Olympic Club has hosted the US Open four times, with the latest one in 1998 won by Lee Janzen.

Since Tiger's stunning/apocalyptic/meteoric fall from the top, we all have been wondering when he will return to his powerful self.  For the past year, we have seen glimpses of the old Tiger, most recently at the Memorial.  After holing out a 50-foot chip on the 16th green, flashbacks of vintage Tiger in his red Nike shirt, fist pumping his way to the trophy came across my mind.  Tiger is back, right?

At 7:33AM, that question will begin to be answered as Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods begins his quest for a 4th US Open title, inching closer and closer to "The Golden Bear"and his 18 major titles.  Playing with him will be Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson; probably one of the best threesomes you'll ever get to witness, but Group 8 is not the only threesome to keep an eye on.

Tiger's amazing 50ft hole out on 16

Korea's finest sits at Group 18 with Houston's own KJ Choi, Y.E Yang, and Kyung-Tae Kim.

Team Great Britain at Group 35 is composed of the top 3 players in the world with Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, and Luke Donald.

I personally will have my eye on Group 44 with Rickie Fowler (America's answer to Ian Poulter), Ryo Ishikawa, and Dustin Johnson -- three of golf's brightest young stars looking to make their mark.

Tiger's pursuit back to the top begins tomorrow.  He won't be alone, but I'd say he looks primed and ready.



Photos courtesy of electronicfarmyard.com, ballerssports.com, golfgymblog.blogspot.com, and www.golfandcourse.com