Mighty Oakmont (Part one)

SINCE Tiger Woods blew the field away at the USPGA last August, Oakmont had been pencilled in as the stage on which to complete a second Tiger Slam.

However, events at the Masters failed to materialise as most had predicted.

Woods didn't make mincemeat of Augusta for a fifth time, in fact he was unable to break par in any of the four rounds, and it is a testament to his outstanding ability that he could play so badly and still tie for second.

That, of course, let in Zach Johnson for a hugely unexpected victory and left most of the golfing world scratching their heads. The scoring at Augusta had played more like a US Open and if the field was unable to break par there, then what hope would they have at the USGA's showpiece?

Judging by the comments of the world's best player, very little.

Woods paid a couple of visits to Oakmont in April, having never previously played there, and is preparing for something a little bit out of the ordinary.

"The greens are like nothing I've ever seen before. They're totally different than Augusta, they're all pitched," he explained. "Once you get to the greens, boy, that's the challenge right there - trying to putt these things with the right speed because you're coming over so many different mounds and angles. It's going to be one great test."

Given that Woods is probably the most underrated long putter, and best clutch putter, in the game then the trickier the putting surfaces are, the better his chances. He has also already prevailed three times in 2007, including the opening WGC event of the year at Doral, and all have been carried out without hitting his very top form.

Other than a burning desire to close further on Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 Major titles, there will be other factors pushing the 31-year-old on towards a 13th big one. Woods has 'only' captured his national Open twice, compared to four Green Jackets, three Open Championships and three PGAs, and has not triumphed since Bethpage in 2002.

He will also be keen to put right the missed cut of last year. Then Woods had taken nine weeks off to be with his dying father and mentor, Earl, and returned to miss his only cut as a professional in a Major to date. Woods watched the last two rounds on television, as a punishment, and even he would have been carried away with the drama of it all.

We could be coming into Oakmont with a European defending the title for the first time since 1971 but three late bogeys by Padraig Harrington and, shortly after that, a calamitous six-iron by Colin Montgomerie to the last green that resulted in a double-bogey six saw to their chances.

But not many would have foreseen Phil Mickelson's meltdown. Needing a four to tie Geoff Ogilvy, the left-hander sliced his drive, failed to pull off a miraculous recovery and wound up with a six to match Montgomerie and Jim Furyk at six-over.
Afterwards there was little doubt as to what he thought of his efforts at the last.

"I am such an idiot," he admitted.

Having gone 46 Majors without a single victory he finally broke his duck at Augusta in 2004. Had he closed it out at Winged Foot his tally would have moved on to four and he would then have travelled to Royal Liverpool needing that for the 'Mickel-slam'.

Instead, with that double bogey came the predictable questions over his temperament and the rest of the year fell away in dramatic fashion as Woods assumed control again. In the week of the championship Mickelson may well have to field even more questions over what went wrong but he maybe has all the answers.

This season the 36-year-old has revamped his game, losing 25 pounds in his time away, replacing it with 15 pounds of muscle, as well as making strenuous efforts to tighten up his accuracy. The latest of these changes has seen Mickelson join forces with Woods' former coach Butch Harmon.

Having spent much of his career with Rick Smith, the two-time Masters champion is now working full time with Harmon and the early signs look very promising. Their first three tournaments together have produced two top threes and a maiden win at The Players Championship - a venue where he has struggled in previous years.

But this year he kept it on the short stuff, en route to a two-shot win, and his confidence appears to be on the up and up. And there was only one thing dominating Mickelson's thoughts coming away from Sawgrass.

"I think if I keep working at these things and progressing I should be ready to take on the ultimate tough challenge at Oakmont. I can't wait because that's the tournament where I want to make a statement that last year didn't affect me. I want a victory."

To read part two click here