McIlroy can make major move

THERE was a time not so long ago when Tiger Woods ruled the majors and picking a winner was easy. You didn’t have to get it right but few would argue with your selection.

Yet as the Tiger has gone into decline, the playing field has been levelled considerably and one need look no further than the evidence of 10 different winners of the last 10 majors to underline the point.

Of those 10, the only one likely to stop the run stretching to an 11thdifferent winner at this week’s US Open at Congressional Country Club is Phil Mickelson, the last American to win a major when he donned a Green Jacket for the third time in his career at the 2010 Masters.

Yet still, picking the 111th US Open champion seems to be as futile as sticking a pin in the field for the Grand National.

The US Open is widely regarded as the toughest challenge of all four majors due to the US Golf Association’s preference for keeping the winning score as close to par as possible by setting up the courses with firm, narrow fairways, penal rough and lightning fast greens that this week will measure 14 on the Stimpmeter.

Those testing conditions on a difficult and long layout like the 7,574-yard, par-71 Blue Course at Congressional will thus produce a champion who is accurate off the tee, has a great short game and is a confident and fluent putter — and that still leaves plenty of contenders.

The world rankings’ current top three — Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer, who will play together for the first two rounds — fit the bill and a compelling case can be made for each.

Donald is the hottest, most consistent player on the planet right now, fully justifying his top ranking with victories at the WGC-Accenture Match Play and the BMW PGA Championship this season and eight top-10 finishes in nine starts on the PGA Tour, while his two European Tour appearances have produced that Wentworth victory and a runner-up finish at the Volvo Match Play.

That form sees him top both Tours’ money lists, the FedEx Cup table and the world rankings and Donald is in confident mood.

“It’s dangerous to go and expect too much and come to a tournament expecting to win,” the Englishman said. “But I expect to do what I know I can do. And obviously the goal is always to have a chance on Sunday and to contend.

“I’ve been doing that a lot lately, and there’s no reason why I can’t do it this week.”

Yet both Westwood and Kaymer think the same and so will plenty of others who see the wide open field as an opportunity for the taking this weekend. Like Steve Stricker, fresh from his Memorial Tournament victory. Or Players champion KJ Choi.

Maybe a resurgent Adam Scott or American hotshots Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Hunter Mahan and Bubba Watson.

Mickelson’s love for his national championship and his five runner-up finishes certainly make him a live contender and although his form is far from his stellar best, he too is bullish.

And yet for all the promise of American golf right now it is four European Tour players who currently hold the major titles.

Graeme McDowell will defend this week, 12 months on from his Pebble Beach heroics and talking of feeling unburdened by the act of handing back the trophy, but it is another Irishman who seems to promise most this week.

Rory McIlroy’s talent has never been in doubt and he will tee off alongside US rivals Dustin Johnson and Mickelson this afternoon having played into form with a fifth place at the Memorial.

More importantly, the 22-year-old appears to have emerged mentally unscarred from that terrible final-round 81 at the Masters in April when a lead held for 63 holes was blown with one wild shot on the 10th tee. McIlroy moved quickly on from that but also seems to have acknowledged the flaws that produced those moments of madness.

Which means his impressive record in the majors, with three third places, a 10th and a 20th from eight starts before his tie for 15th at this year’s Masters, amounts to a preparation for the next big leap.

McIlroy seems well equipped to take it.