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Report Card
How the top 10 players on the World Ranking entering the British Open fared
1
- 1. Tiger Woods, Won, 270 (-18)
- Grade: A+
- By John Antonini July 28, 2006
- What worked: Forget Mickelson's two-driver strategy, Tiger's no-driver plan worked to perfection.
What didn't: Well, the one time he hit the driver all week (No. 16 Thursday), he hit the 17th fairway.
PGA prospects: Pretty good. Woods won at Medinah in 1999 while leading the field in distance.
2
- 2. Phil Mickelson, T-22, 283 (-5)
- Grade: C
- What worked: He started out well, hitting 11 fairways and 12 greens in Thursday's three-under 69.
What didn't: Lefty hit too many bunkers (nine), going 0-for-5 in sand saves on the weekend.
PGA prospects: The defending champ should do well he's more major savvy since a T-57 in 1999.
3
- 3. Vijay Singh, MC, 146, (+2)
- Grade: F
- What worked: Singh hit enough greens (27 in two rounds) and, like most, had a good first round (70).
What didn't: The putter kept Singh from playing the weekend. Sixty-six putts in two rounds will do that.
PGA prospects: His usual strong outing at the Buick Open should get him back on track for Medinah.
4
- 4. Retief Goosen, T-14, 281 (-7)
- Grade: C
- What worked: The South African started strong as rounds of 70-66 got him on the leader board.
What didn't: He hit only 15 fairways on the weekend, offsetting a weekly average of 311 yards off the tee.
2006 recap: Goosen had a MC in '99, but his T-6 last year at Baltusrol is his best in the final major.
5
- 5. Jim Furyk, 4, 276 (-12)
- Grade: B+
- What worked: After three rounds Furyk was tied for the lead in accuracy, T-3 in putts and T-4 in birdies.
What didn't: Everything that worked early failed Sunday. He hit seven fairways and had five one-putt greens.
PGA prospects With solid weeks at Winged Foot and Hoylake behind him, Medinah could be a charm.
6
- 6. Adam Scott, T-8, 279 (-9)
- Grade: B
- What worked: The Aussie had an unusually strong week on the greens (117 putts, T-12), making 20 birdies.
What didn't: He was T-59 in accuracy and the only player in the top 30 whose scores increased every day.
PGA prospects: Not yet a pro when Medinah last hosted, Scott has one top-20 in five PGA starts.
7
- 7. Geoff Ogilvy, T-16, 282 (-6)
- Grade: B-
- What worked: Said his ball striking improved as the week went on, normal for someone after a month off.
What didn't: Spotty putting. He took just 115 all week, but missed several from mid-range Sunday.
PGA prospects: : Fast becoming a fine major player, not finishing outside the top 16 since the ?05 U.S. Open.
8
- 8. Ernie Els, 3, 275 (-13)
- Grade: B+
- What worked: The knee held up, and he didn't blink going head on with Woods Saturday, matching Tiger?s 71.
What didn't: He had only three one-putt greens Sunday, a result of poor approaches and missed chances.
PGA prospects Els' last missed cut at a major came at Medinah. He didn't play the PGA a year ago.
9
- 9. Sergio Garcia, T-5, 277 (-11)
- Grade: C+
- What worked: : Accuracy off the tee. Garcia hit 75 percent of his fairways, much better than his tour average.
What didn't: The poor final round, a bust after bogeys on holes 2 and 3, is the reason for the low grade.
2006 recap: Garcia has good memories of Medinah (2nd, 1999). If he can stay accurate, watch out.
10
- 10. David Howell, MC, 150 (+6)
- Grade: F
- What worked: Nothing. He was only in the top 100 through two rounds in distance (91st) and putts (T-99).
What didn't: Everything. Perhaps the high expecations of all England were too much to overcome.
PGA prospects: He should rebound; it was fine starts at the Masters and the U.S. Open that got him noticed.
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