2009 United States Open

The 2009 United States Open at Bethpage Black has been a mess so far. The two players currently in first and second, Ricky Barnes and Lucas Glover, have alot of potential but no experience leading a Major Championship. Masters Champion Mike Weir is in third place. Johnny Miller has been browbeating NBC Weatherman Al Roker on the air. There is still a chance a top "name" player like Mike Weir, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, or Tiger Woods could win the Championship.

Ricky Barnes is from Stockton California and he played golf at the University of Arizona. Barnes won the National Amateur Golf Championship in 2001. He is ranked 197th on the PGA Tour Money List for 2009. In 2008 he was ranked 25th on the Nationwide Tour Money List. Barnes is a powerful and agressive player who comes from a solid athletic family. His father was a Punter for the New England Patriots and his brother played golf at the University of Arizona in the late 1990's. His brother is his caddie this week. As a former caddie(U.S Public Links National Amateur in 1996. My player made it to the sweet 16) the importance of having a good caddie cannot be over-stated. Barnes has the pedigree, the potential, and the support to continue his success. As the pressure grows Barnes may need alot of support from his brother to remain in contention.

Lucas Glover graduated from Clemson University in South Carolina with a degree in Communications Studies. He turned professional in 2001. Glover is 32nd on the PGA Tour Money List for 2009. He had made 11 out of 14 cuts on the PGA Tour this year. Earlier this year Glover came in 2nd at the Quail Hollow Championship at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte North Carolina. Avid fans of the PGA Tour know who Glover is but he was not named as a potential winner(the pundits had given this Championship to Tiger Woods)before the tournament started. Glover has the talent to stay in contention throughout the weekend but his experience leading a Major Championship on the weekend is minimal.

NBC Golf Analyst Johnny Miller is probably the best in the business. The problem is that he knows that he is the best. At one point during the broadcast on Saturday Al Roker who was working on his day off(he explained to Johnny on the air)explained that he thought Thunderstorms would halt play in the afternoon on Saturday. Johnny said that he had a "hunch" that there would be no Thunderstorms. Roker replied in a jovial manner that he was working on his day off and that he was explaining what he was seeing on the radar. Well Johnny replied that he did not agree. Guess What . . . there were no Thunderstorms. Miller is a freak and he knows it. That is why he is so condescending to everyone on the air. He doesn't mess with Dan Hicks anymore because Hicks won Emmy's for his work doing Men's Swimming for NBA during the 2008 Olympics.

Mike Weir(-6),Phil Mickelson is (-1), Jim Furyk is (E), Geoff Ogilvy is (E), and Tiger Woods is (+3). There are several well known and exerienced players still in contention given the weather and the current leaders. Thus, there are several players who can win this championship. I do not have any inkling as to who will because everything is a mess. None-the-less the Third and Four Rounds of the 2009 United States Open will be interesting. Stay tuned or Johnny Miller may call you out. Just ask Al Roker.