The Golf Watch

2010 U.S. Open Storylines: Compton, Tryon, Jiménez, Duval...

Excited about U.S. Open week? All of the talk the next few days will be about Tiger, Phil and Lee. Here are some other storylines to watch out for:

1. Two years after his second heart transplant, Erik Compton heads to Pebble Beach. 

2. At age 16, Ty Tryon was expected to be the next big thing, especially after making the cut at the Honda Classic. Now, Tryon is 26. Time flies. 

3. 5 years ago, Jason Gore played in the final group of the U.S. Open, alongside Retief Goosen.  A lot has happened since that memorable weekend. Gore claimed his first and only victory on Tour in 2005, but after a couple of rocky years, he is splitting his time between the PGA Tour and Nationwide.  He has only made 2 out of 6 cuts on the Nationwide this year. He'll be hoping to recreate some of the magic of Pinehurst in 2005.

4. Miguel Ángel Jiménez will be recognized for years to come for his strong Ryder Cup play. But for some, he will be remembered as finishing second to Tiger Woods at the US Open at Pebble in 2000. It doesn't matter that he finished 15 strokes behind, he still finished second.

5. Hunter Mahan, Ricky Barnes, Nick Watney. My guess is that this threesome will get the least amount of air time on television, but has the greatest potential to go low.nAll three of these guys are known to play well on tough courses. Look out.  

6. Martin Kaymer, Sean O'Hair, Charl Schwartzel.The USGA always gets creative when assigning groupings for the first two days. This one I'm still trying to figure out.  Germany, U.S., South Africa? Maybe they were going for a World Cup feel. 

7. Jeff Overton and Rickie Fowler. Those are two names you won't be seeing this week.  Neither player qualified for the Open, but arguably should have. Both are inside the top-15 on the money list. Maybe one of these two should have gotten the sponsors exemption instead of Vijay.

8. David Duval. He was a contender at the U.S. Open last year. He finished runner-up at Pebble Beach twice in the mid-90's. In 2000, he finished T-7. A fine track record if you ask me.

Duval withdraws from Northern Trust Open after 11 holes, citing neck injury

It has been a rough start to the 2008 PGA Tour season for David Duval, who withdrew earlier today from the Northern Trust Open after 11 holes, citing a neck injury.  Duval missed the cut in his first three events of the year and is playing this season on a Major Medical Extension.  Duval said several weeks ago that he plans to play in 16-18 tournaments this year.

Expect to see more of Duval

David Duval played in only seven tournaments last year, wanting to spend more time with his wife during her difficult pregnancy.  Now, with a better mindset, Duval expects to play in 16-18 tournaments in 2008, including this week at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, a tournament that he won in 1999.  Duval, who was once ranked number one in the world, told Mike Ritz of The Golf Channel that he feels that he is playing well enough to win again.  Just as in 2007, expect the galleries to give Duval a lot of moral support.  He has become a fan favorite.   

New PGA Tour policy approved to help players who deal with a family crisis

David Duval and Dudley Hart have missed most of the 2007 PGA Tour season due to problems with their respective families.  Duval's wife was put on bed rest in February because of complications with her pregnancy and Hart has not played since the spring because his wife became seriously ill.  Because of this, "the PGA Tour has approved a new regulation that offers medical extensions to players who deal with a family crisis, a decision that will help David Duval and Dudley Hart next year," says the Associated Press.  Both players' wives are doing better now. 

Duval pulls out of British Open

David Duval, who won the British Open in 2001, has pulled out of this year's championship due to personal reasons, according to the Associated Press.  Duval has played in only five tournaments this year due to his wife's difficult pregnancy with their second child.