Well, first of all, I am. With traveling and the internet out in two places, it has been impossible for me to blog for the past week. I apologize for this.
But as for my story, Tiger Woods is back. With his third round 66 (-5), he has shown that the old Tiger is back and hopefully for good. With heroic putts and approach shots, he really showed that his game and swing are almost back to normal. I surely expected no one to post a good score today, and especially not Tiger after he was +2 after 3 holes. However, he showed the resiliency and determination of the old Tiger we are used to and posted his incredible round with a 31 on the back 9 of Pebble Beach.
As for the greens, they look awful, bumpy, and discolored. However, they are as fast and in as good a condition as ever, and the players are adamant that they are not nearly as bad as they look. They are keeping scores close to par, and are giving anyone with a good stretch of holes a chance at the championship. This is what I love to see in tournaments, especially the US and British Opens: difficult scoring, with everyone having a chance to win. Anyone who complains that it is or looks too hard, just remember that it is supposed to be this way.
Who do I think will win? Dustin Johnson has my vote, winning at Pebble Beach during the Pro-Am the last two years, and three years ago finishing T-7. He has the calmness and accuracy to hold on to a lead and shoot a smooth even par on the final day. Plus, his caddie is from the area and has tons of local knowledge of the course. Graeme McDowell is a hot player as well, winning at the Ryder Cup venue this year in Wales, and he knows how to hit the knock-down shots needed to run the balls up on to the fast and furious greens. However, he doesn't have enough experience to be my favorite to win. As for Tiger, if he does something as spectacular as what we saw today, he will win. I think, though, he will hang around even or +1 and finish in the top 5. Phil Mickelson will have to make a major move that I just don't see him doing.
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