LA JOLLA -- Tiger Woods said he still hasn't walked a full 18 holes, but that hasn't stopped many from making him the overwhelming favorite to win the U.S. Open. This is probably due to the fact that he is the favorite at every tournament he plays.
There is also a vast group who back Phil Mickelson, possibly because he's so comfortable at Torrey Pines that he could show up and break par in his bathrobe and slippers.
So opportunities abound for anyone who wants to climb on board the Tiger bandwagon or sign up to join the club of Phil's Fans.
That's the conventional wisdom, at least before the first ball is hit Thursday. While it's not too challenging to take the favorites first, it's also not too accurate, at least lately. Michael Campbell, Geoff Ogilvy and Angel Cabrera are the last three U.S. Open champions, and the only thing they were favored to do was to make the cut.
If Tiger and Phil don't win, who does? Here are some suggestions, all of them completely non-guaranteed, so help me Big Brown.
Luke Donald
He just wrote in his latest blog that he likes the U.S. Open, but he said there are some leaks in his game, so he's going to have to plug those. But he is overdue to make a statement in a major sometime, so maybe this is the week. Plus, he can putt.
Trevor Immelman
The Masters champion is the only player in the field who still has a shot at the grand slam. He took a nose dive after the Masters but has pulled himself together lately. He knows how to get the ball on the green and how to get it into the hole.
Stewart Cink
He already should have won one, in 2001 at Southern Hills, so he may be feeling his seven-year itch. His power off the tee and ability to hit greens in regulation (he ranks fourth on the PGA Tour) are suited to Torrey Pines.
Jim Furyk
It's fashionable to underestimate him, so we're not going to do that. When he's on, he's numbingly efficient at hitting fairways and greens. He won the U.S. Open five years ago at Olympia Fields and he has a chance this week, assuming he hits it far enough off the tee and makes his share of putts.
Justin Rose
Here's another player who has had some good rounds in majors and then disappeared. But he may be the most talented of the international players who have yet to break through (see Sergio Garcia). He has two top 10s in his three U.S. Open appearances.
Sergio Garcia
