A few thoughts about the second round of the 2011 US Open at Congressional

• With Rory McIlroy at -11—six shots ahead of YE Yang and nine shots clear of a pile at -2—is there any suspense left for the weekend? I think all we can do is watch to see if there’s an implosion. And an implosion is the only thing that would make this interesting.
• Remember, however, that YE Yang was six shots behind Tiger in the final round of the PGA at Hazeltine and managed to pull it out.
• Before he hit that ball into the water on the last hole, Rory had achieved the mark of being the only player in US Open history to reach thirteen under.
• I don’t think Phil is ever going to win a US Open. That’s really too bad.
• I wonder if the suits at the USGA are upset that McIlroy is making a mockery of their “tough” setup. And I wonder if it won’t prompt them to try to McIlroy proof the tees and pin locations for Saturday. Of course, everyone else will suffer equally ... but at least par will be preserved!
• Lots of big names failed to make the four-over cut, including: , Jim Furyk, Ernie Els, Hunter Mahan, Adam Scott, Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose, Nick Watney, Ian Poulter, David Toms, Camilo Villegas and K.J. Choi
• I liked the marquee group coverage provided by DirectTv. It was fun to follow Phil and Rory. Dustin not so much. He was surly.
• Amateur Patrick Cantlay shot a 67 in the second round. The UCLA freshman double-bogeyed his sixth, then reeled off six birdies without a bogey over the final 14 holes. He’s even par after two.
• Sergio is looking a bit like his old self.
• World Number One Luke Donald, Number Two Lee Westwood and Number Three Martin Kaymer all managed to make the cut. They shot 72, 68 and 70, respectively. Donald is at +4, just squeezing under the line. Not the greatest showing for that trio.

It’s hard to believe, but television golf anchor Ken Venturi—and winner of the 1964 US Open at Congressional—once had an issue with stuttering. Here’s a release from the Stuttering Foundation:

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Greg Wilson
571-239-7474
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Ken Venturi: A Champion to Those Who Stutter

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (June 14, 2011) – Jane Fraser, president, the Stuttering Foundation (http://www.StutteringHelp.org) issued the following remarks concerning Ken Venturi and the U.S. Open:

“As much of the nation tunes in this week to watch the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Congressional Country Club, it is impossible not to think about our friend Ken Venturi. Ken overcame many challenges to win the Open at Congressional in 1964 and go on to become the voice of golf for more than three decades.

“However, Ken faced no bigger obstacle than stuttering. Ken Venturi is a champion to those who stutter, going out of his way to share his personal experience when consulted by a colleague, friend, or child who stutters.

“Ken was the first national spokesman for the Stuttering Foundation nearly two decades ago. As was his way, he offered to fill that role for us because his concern for those who stutter was unparalleled. He had
corresponded over several years with my father, our founder Malcolm Fraser, and said he wished to do whatever he could to help people who stutter.

“As he presents the trophy to this year’s winner, I look forward to seeing our friend Ken and hearing his smooth voice once again.”

###

About the Stuttering Foundation

Malcolm Fraser, a successful businessman and stutterer, went on to establish and endow the nonprofit Stuttering Foundation in 1947. The Stuttering Foundation provides a toll-free helpline, 800-992-9392, and free
online resources on its Website,www.StutteringHelp.org, including services, referrals and support to people who stutter and their families, as well as support for research into the causes of stuttering. Please visit us at
http://www.StutteringHelp.org.

I was born and raised in Maryland / suburban DC, so I’m happy to pass on this announcement from the Maryland State Golf Association:

Fans of the U.S. Open will have a unique opportunity to purchase a piece of memorabilia from the 2011 championship at Congressional Country Club. The Maryland State Golf Association will be auctioning off each player’s score sheet from the actual scoreboards at the 2011 U.S. Open. The individual score sheets are 10x48 inches and include the player’s name and hole-by-hole scores. All proceeds from this auction will benefit the Maryland State Golf Association Scholarship Fund. The live auction begins on Tuesday. To access the auction, go to http://www.biddingforgood.com/msgagolf. More information on the Maryland State Golf Association Scholarship Fund can be found by going to http://www.msga.org/scholarship.asp.

Thursday and Friday:

ESPN: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
NBC: 3 - 5 p.m.
ESPN: 5 - 7 p.m.

Saturday:

NBC: 2 - 8 p.m.

Sunday:

NBC: 1:30 - 7:30 p.m.

The most interesting thing I found in the odds for the US Open this week are the long shots. As in fifteen hundred to one. Take a look at this: Beau Hossler, Bennet Blakeman, Brian Locke, Cheng-Tsung Pan, Christo Greyling, John Ellis, Michael Tobiason Jr. and Ty Tryon are all 1500/1 underdogs.

I’ve at least heard of Ty Tyron.

And then there’s the crowd at 1000/1: Adam Hadwin, Adam Long, Alexandre Rocha, Andreas Harto, Andres Gonzales, Brad Benjamin, Brett Patterson, Chris Wilson, Christopher Deforest,
David Chung, David May, Elliot Gealy, Geoffrey Sisk, Jesse Hutchins, Joey Lamielle, Matthew Edwards, Matthew Richardson, Michael Barbosa, Michael Smith, Robert Dinwiddie, Russell Henley, Scott Barr, Scott Pinckney, Steven Irwin, Wes Heffernan and Will Wilcox.

I haven’t heard of any of these guys, but I’ve half a mind to find a bookie and drop ten bucks on one of the fifteen hundred to one players.

On the more positive side, Lee Westwood is the favorite at 11/1, followed closely by Luke Donald at 12/1. Phil Mickelson—my personal favorite because I think he’s due—is at 14/1. Rory McIlroy is at 16/1. He’s not going to win, so forget it. But Dustin Johnson—who nearly won two majors last year—is there at 25/1 along with a pile of other guys: Hunter Mahan, Martin Kaymer, Matt Kuchar, Nick Watney and Steve Stricker.

My fondness for Phil aside, I think the ultimate winner will come out of that 25/1 crowd.

The complete betting odds for the 2011 US Open are below, courtesy of Bodog, the world’s largest betting destination.

This year, the US Open heads to Congressional for the third time.

Here are the most frequently played courses for the US Open:

Oakmont - 8 times
Baltusrol - 7
Oakland Hills - 6
Winged Foot - 5
Inverness - 4
Merion - 4
Myopia - 4
Olympic - 4
Pebble Beach - 4
Shinnecock Hills - 4
Cherry Hills - 3
Chicago GC - 3
Medinah - 3
Oak Hill - 3
Philadelphia CG - 3
Southern Hills - 3
The Country Club - 3
Bethpage Black - 2
Canterbury - 2
Congressional - 3
Olympia Fields - 2
Pinehurst - 2

One each: Atlanta Athletic, Baltimore GC, Bellerieve, Brae Burn, Buffalo, Champions, Columbia, Englewood, Fresh Meadow, Garden City, Glen View, Interlachen, Inwood, Midlothian, Minikahada, North Shore, Northwood Club, Onwentsia, Riviera, Scioto, Skokie, St. Louis, Torrey Pines, Worcester

As it turns out, nearly half of the US Opens have been played on ten courses.

Winding up to this year’s US Open ... here’s a list of the past champions, from Graeme McDowell in 2010 to Horace Rawlins in 1895.