Virtual U.S. Open: Palmer, Boros and other challengers
By Bill Felber
Brooks Koepka, 2017, 2018 (2012-2019), -0.89
Cary Middlecoff, 1949, 1956 (1948-1957), -0.90
Billy Casper, 1959, 1966 (1959-1968), -0.88
By historical U.S. Open standards, Koepka’s rise has been relatively meteoric. Cut in his first appearance in 2012, he returned in 2014 and tied for fourth behind Martin Kaymer at Pinehurst. Since then Koepka hasn’t been outside the top 20, including those back-to-back victories in 2017 and 2018.
He didn’t miss by much making it three straight in 2019, finishing second to Gary Woodland at Pebble Beach.
The drawback to Koepka’s rating is its brevity. He’s only appeared in the minimum of seven Opens, and that in turn means his 2012 missed cut still figures prominently in his overall evaluation.
Absent that Koepka’s rating would nearly double from -0.89 to -1.59; he would in that one stroke rank as the event’s fifth favorite, ahead of guys like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
Middlecoff’s 1949 victory at Medinah may be tainted a bit by the absence from the field of Ben Hogan, recuperating from the injuries sustained in his bus crash. Hogan was the 1948 champion, and he would go on to win in 1950, 1951, and 1953, so his 1949 absence has to be noted. Middlecoff edged Sam Snead and Chandler Harper by one stroke when Snead bogeyed the 71st hole to fall out of a possible playoff.
His 1956 victory at Oak Hill also came by a single stroke, over Hogan and Julius Boros, and again the 71st hole made the difference. That’s where Hogan missed a three-footer that would have forced a playoff.
Casper’s 1959 victory at Winged Foot created his reputation as a putting savant. On notoriously difficult greens, he averaged just 28.5 putts per round, giving him the edge he needed to beat Bob Rosburg by one stroke. He is of course better remembered for his comeback playoff win against Arnold Palmer at Olympic in 1966.
Seven down with nine holes to play, Casper made up four strokes on the 15th and 16th holes alone, and drew even at the 17th, forcing a playoff. In that playoff, Palmer again assumed an early lead, but Casper charged back again and won by four strokes.
Next. Golf Tips: Hand Position on the Club makes a World of Difference. dark
Check-in Wednesday to see the longshots for the virtual U.S. Open.