Day 1 - Oakmont

By Kim Metsgar
June 15, 2007

The U. S. Open is tough again this year. After the first round there are only two players, Angel Cabrera and Nick Dougherty, who managed to be in the red numbers.

There is a large group of players with a score of 1 over par. Bubba Watson, Fred Funk, Jim Furyk, Geoff Ogilvy, Justin Rose, Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods are in this group which makes them tied for 5th.

The good thing about all of this ... they are only 3 strokes off of the first place score.

Tiger had problems getting off the box into the fairway (9 out of 14), along with his putter letting him down a little. He was the favorite coming into the tournament and nothing that happened today has changed that idea yet.

The #2 player in the world managed a 74 even with the wrist brace that kept coming off and then going back on. Phil Mickelson scrambled through and finished a complete 18 holes for the first time in three weeks. He's still not out of the running, but he just hasn't been able to prepare for this tournament to really give Tiger a run for his money.

There are maybe 9 players who can win the Open this year. Honorable mention goes to Jim Furyk, Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy, Zach Johnson and Vijay Singh. These guys are contenders ... but it really comes down to Phil and Tiger.

My money will be on Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk.

Bob Estes and Justin Leonard finished with 5 over to be in the group tied for 77th position.

Happy 51st Birthday to Fred Funk ...and did you see Ian Poulter's outfit today ... get me my sunglasses!

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