On Any Given Sunday...

Filed in archive Golf News on June 18, 2007

Courtesy: AP

Yes, I am, indeed, a monkey's uncle (see yesterday's post). And as I said to my nephew, the chimp, this morning, it's a track record of blown predictions like yesterday's that keeps me out of the casinos.

I also wish to thank Mike from Australia who had the good grace to admit that his pick - Aaron Baddeley - was also amiss after reminding me of my own DNA difficulties.

But on any given Sunday, a golfer who has never won in America or overseas can put together four days of phenomenal golf and win the toughest of golf's four majors.

On any given Sunday, the world's number one player can fail to come up with miracles on demand.

On any given Sunday at a major championship with conditions like Oakmont's, egos and swings can shatter like a crate of wine glasses falling off the back of a truck.

On any given Sunday, on a course as tight as Oakmont, length and power off the tee can prove to be an asset and not a liability.

On any given Sunday, a guy with a lowly world ranking can vault himself into the top 20; Angel Cabrera is now ranked 17th in the world.

On any given Sunday, a guy with a torso like a wedge and a shirt that looks spray-painted onto a body with 2% body fat can succumb to a guy with 15 pounds to lose and a cigarette dangling from his lips.

On any given Sunday, a cool head will always prevail when all around are losing theirs.

On any given Sunday at the US Open, confidence - and the lead - can disappear with the first swing on the first hole. Just ask Aaron Baddeley.

Yes, these are some of the unseen challenges to my otherwise well-thought-out prediction. Golf is a game of chance at the level we saw at this year's US Open.

Tiger proved that with the unlucky bounces, slight mistakes and putts that shaved the holes.

What Tiger really has to do is figure out why he can only win majors when he's leading after three rounds.

That's a unique problem that only Tiger shares. Other golfers have the opposite problem; they struggle to hang onto a lead in the final round of a major.

Having said all this, what a US Open it was. I take my hat off to the USGA.

Come to think of it, I did offer a prediction last Wednesday; I said this year's Open would be an exciting one to watch on television.

It was that.