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Mickelson, Furyk and Montgomerie choke in different ways in US Open
Sunday June 18, 2006 | 21:13:21 425 words, 4574 views
The finish of the 2006 US Open was unbelievably painful to watch, showing that choking comes in many forms. Perhaps that is the ultimate reason that this bubbling cauldron of nerves has so much appeal. Jim Furyk has finally gone over the edge with that putting routine. At first it was just annoying when he would appear to be ready to putt, then back off and do it all over again. What we saw Sunday under intense pressure was him doing that 3, 4 or 5 times on a single putt. (It reminded me of Sergio Garcia’s re-gripping problem 2 years ago.) So it was no surprise when on the 15th he hit a 20-footer about halfway to the hole and then missed the next one too. When he fidgeted about five times over that 6-footer for par on the 18th, we all knew it was doomed. Contrast that putt against Geoff Ogilvy’s putt on 18 of nearly the same distance. Colin Montgomerie played very well all day until his second shot to the 18th from the middle of the fairway. Monty is a scoreboard watcher and you can bet he understood that if he makes a routine par, he is likely the US Open champion. All he needed was a stock mid-iron shot into the middle of the green and two putts to get there. He fanned it so badly to the right that as soon as it left the club he exclaimed “What kind of shot was that?” Double bogey. I’m afraid that will be the final dagger in Monty’s career. The final form of choking showcased by Phil Mickelson was not on the greens or on a full shot. If was in the form of decision-making. Coming to the 72nd hole with a one shot lead, he knew that a par virtually guarantees the title. Having hit 3 fairways all day, he pulls out a driver. Bad decision number one. He overswings and hits his worst shot of the day. Before hitting his second shot, he finds out that a par will win. So instead of putting a safe shot in the fairway and trusting his superb wedge game to help him get that par or no worse than bogey to get into a playoff, he inexplicably tries to hit a high 210 yard slice onto the green. Double bogey. The biggest shame is that this tournament will not be remembered for Geoff Ogilvy’s great chip-in par on 17 and equally great up & in on 18 to win. The 2006 US Open will be remembered for all the choking that lost it. 
Comments:
Comment from: Ron Mon [Member]
 · http://www.buffalogolfer.com
Don't forget G.O. and hitting the flagstick on an earlier hole for a tap in par. The winners rarely defeat lady luck to win. The losers seem to be on her s-list.
06/18/06 @ 23:50
Comment from: David [Visitor]
Actually, Phil had only hit TWO fairways...even worse than 3!!! And just like he said, "I'm an idiot" in his post-round interview, we can all finally agree on something!
06/19/06 @ 02:45
Comment from: pete [Visitor]
What about his ball landing up in a devot on the last hole of a major needing to hit a good shot to save par.Geoff made his own luck and was by far the best player of the tournament.
06/19/06 @ 03:40
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
I strongly suspect that if Geoff Ogilvy knew that putt would win the championship, he would have missed it.
Geoff got lucky. Simple as that. The tournament was handed to him, and he just mopped up the spills. People, feel free to insult all the other guys that threw away the tournament, but PLEASE PLEASE do not try to make Geoff Ogilvy into something he is not. He was out of the tournament until he got one massive fluke on hole 17. A hole or two earlier, he hit from the bunker and was flying about 30 feet beyond the flag. He clattered into the flag and had a tap in. As often happens in majors, luck plays a big part. There were many guys who played well to get into contention. Geoff was the one that got lucky. For instance Monty played a dreadful shot on hole 18, but there have often been many people who played shots just as bad in such a situation, and then got an excellent lie. Yes it is possible to get a decent lie in that rough. If Monty had got lucky, who knows maybe he would have got up and down. That would have been luck too, just as Geoff got lucky. Maybe Michelson wouldn't have been plugged in the bunker so badly. With his skills, if he hadn't been plugged, maybe he could have got it close. Sure, Monty and Mickelson blew it, but Geoff didn't win it either. Luck gave him the title.
06/19/06 @ 07:59
Comment from: Dave Marrandette [Visitor]
Norman, How "bout that. Twice Geoff what he was aiming at! Seems to me that's what the game's all 'bout.
06/19/06 @ 08:52
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Dave Marrandette,
Geoff was +4 through the last 11 holes of the course. If either Monty or Phil had finished it off properly, people would be calling Geoff a choker for being +4 through the last 11 holes. The only reason he is getting any other status, is because of the mistakes of others.
06/19/06 @ 09:19
Comment from: Jim COULTHARD [Visitor]
There is another reason why Geoff is not being called a choker. He is not Michelle Wie. If Michelle Wie has the Women's Open handed to her in a similar fashion, I am sure there will be a lot of people who will still call her a choker.
06/19/06 @ 11:48
Comment from: Jim COULTHARD [Visitor]
The only reason Phil called himself an idiot is the fact that the approach he took on 18 didn't work out. I can't imagine he would have said the same thing if it had worked out and he had won.
06/19/06 @ 11:51
Comment from: One-Putt [Visitor]
Geoff just pulled a Full Monty (as in Montgomery) and let the field take themselves out of contention.
It is easy when the leaders are playing like a sixteen year old girl on the last hole of the U.S. Open.
06/19/06 @ 14:22
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Actually, One-Putt, that was more like how Lorena Ochoa played the 72nd hole of the US Open.
And nobody would call Ogilvy a choker. First of all, he's a proven winner. Secondly, the last 11 holes of Winged Foot were tough on everybody. And finally, he made tough pars under the greatest heat despite bad breaks, especially on the 72nd hole. who else in the final groups even parred 18?
06/19/06 @ 14:51
Comment from: Ford [Visitor]
"...PLEASE, PLEASE do not try to make Geoff Ogilvy into something he is not."
I'm not sure what he's not, but I know what he is and that's a U.S. Open Champion. Norman I'm suprised that you are so quick to call him lucky and completely discount his performance. Last time I checked the guy that plays 72 holes in the fewest strokes wins. The fact that he was aided by Mickleson's brain fart and Mrs. Doubtfire's obvious choke doesn't matter in the slightest. Give the guy some credit... Can someone please tell me why people like Phil so much? I have never understood his popularity. Is it the man boobs? All the fat slobs out there must like turning on the tv and seeing somebody that looks like them.
06/19/06 @ 15:22
Comment from: One-Putt [Visitor]
Comment from: Shanks [Member] · http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Actually, One-Putt, that was more like how Lorena Ochoa played the 72nd hole of the US Open. And nobody would call Ogilvy a choker. First of all, he's a proven winner. Secondly, the last 11 holes of Winged Foot were tough on everybody. And finally, he made tough pars under the greatest heat despite bad breaks, especially on the 72nd hole. who else in the final groups even parred 18? You're right Shanks, the best golfer that day placed himself in a position to win the tournament when the others faltered down the stretch. Sometimes you're good and sometimes you're good and lucky.
06/20/06 @ 05:07
Comment from: Shanks [Member]
· http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Ford, there are many reasons Phil is so well-liked. He is probably the best player of this generation after Tiger and plays an exciting style of golf with lots of exceptional shots. But even more than that, Phil makes a connection with his gallery. He looks at them and acts like it's a priviledge to play in front of them. At every tournament he spends literally hours with fans after he is done playing. When he signs an autograph, it is legible - and he'll try speak to that person. As I have personally witnessed both, I can say that in many respects, he is just like Arnold Palmer. And I can think of no higher compliment than that.
06/20/06 @ 07:44
Comment from: Ford [Visitor]
Thanks for the response Shanks. I see how people could be taken with his on-course attitude, but I have always heard he was an a--hole when the cameras were off and I can think of no lesser character trait.
06/20/06 @ 10:36
Comment from: One-Putt [Visitor]
"Comment from: Ford [Visitor]
Can someone please tell me why people like Phil so much? I have never understood his popularity. Is it the man boobs? All the fat slobs out there must like turning on the tv and seeing somebody that looks like them." And I thought it was the same thing the blue collar crowd appreciated from Big John. The flash of a "Plumbers Crack" when Phil squats over a putt. Now that is something most New Yarkers can relate to.
06/21/06 @ 03:21
Comment from: David [Visitor]
Norman, Ogilvy is the U.S. Open Champion because he took the least amount of shots. Stop discrediting him - it's pissing me off, especially when you are the the very guy who likes to place undue importance on Michelle Wie missing a PGA Tour cut by 'only a few strokes.'
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