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OAKMONT, Pa. -- Golf's most irritating statistic looks likely to reach Carnoustie
intact as Aaron Baddeley of Australia swept to the head of the leader
board after a fascinating but strangely dissatisfying third round of
the US Open. Eight years on from Paul Lawrie's unlikely but
unforgettable victory in the British Open Championship over the fearsome Angus
links, the odds are against a European victory here at Oakmont. Only a
brace of Englishmen, Paul Casey and Justin Rose, are in with any sort
of realistic chance, although a couple of Swedes, Niclas Fasth and Carl
Pettersson, and another Englishman in Nick Dougherty will no doubt
harbor slim hopes that they can put an end to Europe's ineffectiveness
at golf's top table.
The biggest reason for pessimism, of course, is the presence of one
Tiger Woods in the last group in the final round. Although two shots to
the bad versus "Badds,' Woods is still the biggest obstacle between the
Old World and the beginning of a new era of success at the very highest
level of the game.
Of those Europeans who are close enough to see the gleam on Tiger's
shiny white teeth, the best bet must be Casey. The World Match Play
champion is a confident sort - okay, cocky - and that sort of attitude
will be required in abundance come what is sure to be a pressure-packed
18 holes over a no-doubt unforgiving Oakmont course.
Certainly, Casey was making all the right noises after completing a
third round of 72 that has him three shots adrift of the leader.
"I'm very excited with my position," he claimed. "And I'm excited
going into tomorrow. I've kept it going nicely. Even when I made bogeys
I bounced back with birdies here and there. And that's why I'm excited:
I managed to make birdies on a tough golf course.
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Apart from talent and confidence, Casey does have one other thing going for him: precedent and/or history, depending on your point of view. Should he emerge triumphant, the 29-year old Scottsdale resident would be only the second player to win a major championship after starting with a round of 77. The first? Sam Parks here at Oakmont back in the 1935 US Open.
As for Rose, the still boyish young man displayed an adult like grit to finish alongside his compatriot. Six over par for the tournament after 12 holes of his third round, the former Walker Cupper played the last six in a gutsy one under par. Only the bogey he made at the final hole left a sour taste.
"With only two guys in front of me I have to think I'm in with a chance," he said. "I'm a fortunate position in that I can go out there and chase them. I have nothing to lose."
And his response to the inevitable question?
"My thoughts are it has to happen sooner rather than later. There are so many capable players from Europe it has to be a matter of time. In fact, it's more a question of who it will be rather than when it will be."
Maybe. But it's still hard to see either one of them beating Tiger.
