Watch out for Garcia’s razor-sharp irons at US Open
Published:
The second Major of the golf season is fast approaching and with the US Open being held at one of the toughest courses on the circuit, this year’s field are honing their games in preparation.
Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania last held the US Open back in 2007. Angel Cabrera took the title with a score of five-over, which ties for the highest winning score over par since 2000.
Providing a traditional examination of a golfer’s skills, Oakmont will require dead-eye accuracy from tee-to-green, with punishing rough, undulating landing zones and fast putting greens all coming in to play.
Arguably the most important aspect to winning a US Open though is laser precision with the irons.
That theory is backed up by the fact that no winner of the tournament since 2010 has ranked worse than 18th for greens in regulation during the week.
Even Cabrera took the spoils at Oakmont having ranked third in that department across his four rounds, so finding someone in tune with approach play could be vital to picking a winner.
On the PGA Tour this season few have been as zoned in from the fairway as Sergio Garcia. The Spanish veteran ranks second for greens in regulation so far, having hit 71.89 per cent of them.
His record at the US Open is steady, as it is with all the Majors, yet he famously still awaits his first success.
That could all change in 2016, with Garcia in fine touch of late.
Not only has his iron play been exemplary, but he was victorious in his last start when claiming AT&T Byron Nelson and took bronze at the Spanish Open prior to that.
At 33/1 for the US Open, this could be the year Garcia finally breaks his Major duck.
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