Who To Root for at the US Open

I’m excited for this Thursday; it’s round one of the 2012 U.S. Open. Thinking back I can’t really remember the U.S. Open being this crowded with story lines. That being said let me tell you to root for and why.

Is Tiger Woods back? There’s a difference between winning tournaments and winging majors. Tiger will be the first person to tell you that’s true. For Tiger to really be back he needs to beat the best golfers on the toughest stage and he needs to do it while the world watches. Personally I think he’ll do it. His game this year has been amazing. Tiger ranks third in scoring average this year at 69.42, third in points, and now finds himself back in the top five in the world where he ranks number four. He’s also coming off of a big win at a tough course against one of the best non-major fields you’ll see this year. He’s primed. He’s ready. I hope he wins.

But if you’re not a Tiger fan who else should you root for?

Casey Martin

Martin has a birth disorder which makes it very painful on his right leg to walk and will eventually lead to amputation. He fought the PGA to allow him to ride a cart. He took his case all the way to the Supreme Court were eventually he was given the right to ride a cart. In 1998 he was in contention to win the U.S. Open before falling back and finishing in a tie for 28^th. That course he played so well at? Olympic Club. The same place they’ll be teeing it up this weekend. Casey is a fan favorite and a great story. He’ll be easy to spot; he’ll be the only player in a cart.

Andy Zhang

Zhang didn’t qualify for the Open this year; he fell just short and was named a reserve. Well someone backed out so Zhang is in. What’s so special about him? Nothing really except oh yeah, he’s 14 years old! The dude is going to hit his growth spurt on the number 12-tee box. He won’t win. He probably won’t make the cut, but can you imagine?

Any Amateur

What’s great about this tournament is that anyone can try and play. There are qualifiers all over the country. Every year there is always at least one no name that not only makes the cut, but is in contention going into the weekend. Root for that man people. You’re witnessing the best four days of his life.

Anyone who is about to become a father or who just became one.

The U.S. Open is always the weekend of Fathers Day. It usually works out that someone in contention is about to be a dad or just became one. Not sure who it’s going to be this year but it’ll be someone. It’s always nice to see an about-to-be-a-dad play well at the U.S. Open.

Enjoy the tournament friends. (Also how many of you just realized that this weekend is Fathers Day? Yeah you’re welcome)

-Jeff Kahn