2013 US Open: Australian tee times, pairings and previews
Here is our preview of the Aussies at the 2013 US Open.
We’re just a day away from the opening round of the 2013 US Open and nine Aussies will take to the fairways of Merion hoping to make it two from two majors to Australians this year.
So what chances do they have? Can Adam Scott keep the grand slam dream alive or can we be looking at a newly described Australian slam next Monday morning? Here is our preview of what to expect with tee times listed in Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Australian TV Broadcast Times
Aaron Baddeley, Rory Sabbatini, David Lingmerth 9:29pm Thurs (1st tee) 3:29am Fri (11th tee)
Aaron Baddeley lead the 2007 US Open by two shots going into the final round. A triple-bogey on the first hole sent Baddeley careering down the leaderboard and well out of contention.
It seems a world away now. Baddeley arrives at Merion after missing his last five cuts in a row and based on that alone, I can’t see Badds’ fortune turning this week.
Geoff Ogilvy, Angel Cabrera, Paul Lawrie 2:41am Thurs (1st tee) 9:11pm Fri (11th tee)
The 2006 US Open champ’s form isn’t much better than Baddeley’s. Geoff Ogilvy has missed four out of his last five cuts, and has missed eight from his 13 starts this year.
Rumours persist that a great tournament from Ogilvy is just around the corner and his second placing at the Honda Classic looked to have proved the rumours correct but it’s been poor ever since. Merion may just be the sort of place Ogilvy could turn it all around.
Adam Scott, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy 3:14am Thurs (1st tee) 9:44pm Fri (11th tee)
Adam Scott features in the tradtional US Open supergroup with the number one and two players in the world.
Scott has commented that he is curious to find out if the US Masters victory adds to the pressure this week, or releases it. Scotty’s majors record has been remarkable the last few years and this week will be no different. As per usual, Scott only needs to putt ‘ok’ to not only take down the two best players in the world, but the rest of the field too.
Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Matteo Manassero 10:06pm Thurs (11th tee) 3:36am Fri (1st tee)
Jason Day is clearly the most experienced of this group of young guns, especially when it comes to majors. Day will be out to make amends for his late stumble at the Masters that by his own admission, he should have won. His form since has actually been pretty good despite not featuring down the stretch.
Marc Leishman, John Senden, Marcus Fraser 3:06am Thurs (11th tee) 9:07pm Fri (1st tee)
There hasn’t been an Aussie supergroup this big since The Party Boys but let’s hope these three have as few hits as possible this week.
Marc Leishman has always had a great golf game but he appears to have gained massive confidence since his magnificent US Masters. His length off the tee won’t help too much this week but if his irons are on song, he’s a very good chance to be looking at victory on Sunday.
John Senden has been uncharacteristically inconsistent this year and might struggle at Merion but probably off the three Marcus Fraser may well be best suited to Merion. Fraser just needs a good opening round to get him going and look for Faser on Sunday.
Mathew Goggin, Steven Alker, Alistair Presnell 4:35am Thurs (11th tee) 10:35pm Fri (1st tee)
This group is a little more like Crowded House. Kiwi Steven Alker rounds out the group with Aussies Goggin and Presnell.
Goggin has had played some good golf on the Web.com Tour and Presnell has been a little up and down on the PGA Tour. Both these guys have the game to contend in the big tournaments like Goggin did at the 2009 Open Championship. But confidence is means everything and I’m not sure they’d have it down the stretch this week.
