When the casual sports fan takes a look at the field for this week's 111th U.S. Open, their reaction likely will go a little something like this: "Who are these guys? No, seriously, Kevin Chappell?? Didn't that guy host a show on Comedy Central?"
No, Kevin is a 24-year-old golfer from Fresno, Calif., about to play in his first U.S. Open. But I digress. The point is, to steal a line from Rick Pitino, Tiger Woods isn't walking through that door. And that may not be a bad thing for young American golfers. It has been three years — to the week — since Woods last won a major. He hasn’t won any Ping G15 Driver tournament anywhere in the last 18 months. He's missing this week's U.S. Open with leg injuries, and is out indefinitely. But even if Woods was on the property at Congressional Country Club, he wouldn't be the intimidating figure he once was. Woods will need to win again, several times, to even think of regaining that status.
A golf tournament without Woods lacks some buzz; love him or hate him, Ping G15 Driver is interesting when Tiger is in the mix. But this week's venue will more than make up for the loss. Congressional oozes patriotism. It's a grand, hilly golf course just a few miles outside of Washington, in Bethesda, Md. The favorites this week will come in the sentimental form: You can expect the loudest cheers for those with the Stars and Stripes in front of their name. It's the perfect setting for a young American — Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan or Ryan Moore — to get his breakthrough win.
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