Sport

Stewart's chance

Golf's second major of the season, the US Open, begins at the Pinehurst No 2 course, North Carolina on Thursday with several …

Tue Jun 15 1999 - 01:00

Golf's second major of the season, the US Open, begins at the Pinehurst No 2 course, North Carolina on Thursday with several of the sport's elite running into or currently enjoying excellent form. Tiger Woods and Colin Montgomerie have served notice of this with recent performances while Tom Lehman and US Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal stayed in contention in the latter stages at Memphis in the St Jude Classic, which finished yesterday.

Woods appears more mature this season, the mantle of expectation sitting more easily on his shoulders. US Open venues place a premium on accuracy and length off the tee, and while Woods has no problem in the latter respect, he is prone to be a little wild with the driver.

Montgomerie's victories in the International Open and the PGA Championship underline his current mental and physical well being. The acid test for him usually centres on the putter. Given his fine track record in the event, if he can master the greens he could prove excellent value at 16 to 1.

Ernie Els is another course and distance specialist, having twice won the US Open. His golf hasn't been quite as good recently but he sees to step up a gear in the major tournaments. Lehman and Olazabal excelled in Memphis: the American appears the better bet for Pinehurst, given his history in the event.

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Olazabal's driving can be brittle and over four rounds of a long and tight layout may not be able to sustain a winning challenge. David Love, Nick Price and Vijay Singh, bracketed together at 20 to 1, are all capable, but Steve Elkington (40 to 1) and especially Payne Stewart (50 to 1) represent super each-way value. Stewart won the US Open in 1991 and was runner-up to Lee Janzen last year.

Greg Norman, who enjoyed a good Masters is attractively priced at 66 to 1, while those looking for really long odds might care to ask for a price for South African Retief Goosen, a very straight driver of the ball. Ireland's Darren Clarke is available at 66 to 1 and the Dungannon man has a tendency for sustaining periods of good form.