US Open 2009: Bill Elliot's thoughts on the year's second major

US Open / Bill Elliott / 01 June 2009 / 1

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Our man has been watching the cream of European talent over the last three weeks and here muses on Rory McIlroy's chances at Bethpage Black.

Not long now to go before the year's second big one, this time, of course, the United States Open, a brilliant public course playground for New Yorkers of all golfing abilities. Be assured, Bethpage Black is one hell of a course.

The blazered ones who run the US Open - the USPGA, think R&A only more buttoned up, God help us - broke new ground when they took the US Open to Bethpage several years ago. Crikey, this wasn't the usual country club, rich white men sort of set-up, this was democracy at work and when Tiger Woods lifted the trophy the symbolism echoed around the world.

Just how Tiger will do this time is anybody's guess. It says something about the confusion that instead of saying glibly that, naturally, he will win it, this time all I can say is that he should definitely finish in the top 10. We just don't know how recovered the great man is from that knee op yet. I suspect he doesn't either. Still, a rusty, both physically and playing-wise, Woods did not too bad at the Masters, did he? We'll see.

The Tiger thing, however, is only one of the intriguing sub-plots to this Open. Paul Casey, still a little too detached as a bloke for my liking, is showing real signs of mining the rich seam of talent that he always has had. He is fairly quiet about his chances of success in New York but this is only because he really believes this could be the one for him. Again, we'll see.

For me, however, the biggest interest at this stage is the anticipation of Rory McIlroy's US Open debut. The Belfast Wonder is without doubt the greatest European talent I have seen since Seve and Sandy, Nick, Benrnhard and Woosie strutted their stuff so effectively 20 years ago.

He is looking forward to it too. "I can't wait to get going, " he told me in between rounds at The European Open last week. "I'm told I'll love the course and everything about it."

Asked by a pal if he had played Bethpage he answered: "Yes, of course I have, " then paused and added, "but only on my Playstation."

Right now, though, our boy needs a rest. He admits that his efforts over the last five months are now catching up with him, that even at, just, 20 years old he is actually feeling a bit tired. So this week will be spent mostly in bed or lounging in a chair with that Playstation.

The clubs have been set aside until the weekend at the earliest. This is wise. McIlroy doesn't practice much anyway, preferring to play nine or 18 holes rather than stand on a range beating balls. Reassuringly, he doesn't do a busting lot of gym work either. He might be a self-confessed 'golf geek' where Tiger is concerned - "Ask me anything you like about Woods and I bet I know the answer, " he grins - but he has yet to take up his hero's relentless physical fitness routine.

Is this a good thing? Yes, probably. Remember that parts of his body are still growing and developing and too much physical stress now could foreshorten his career by a significant number of years.

Earlier this year, like January, I had a punt on Rory doing well in the majors and right now I am very happy with my bet. It would be outrageous to think of him winning a US Open - a title no European has won since Tony Jacklin in 1970 - but, hey, let's be outrageous here.

What I do know is that he is a performer, a young bloke who loves the big-time and whose desire to show-off in the right way increases according to the size of the stage. Bethpage should suit him down to the ground. "Yes, I love entertaining. I feed off the gallery so the bigger the better for me. It helps my focus, helps me really get down to work. I love doing well in front of the public. There's no real pressure for me there."

Analysed how you like I believe this is very good to hear going into Bethpage. America loves Rory McIlroy already and, you know what, in his case Britain really does have talent.

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Stephen, Belfast | 09 June 2009

Britain really does have talent????

He is from just outside BELFAST Northern Ireland which is not part of Britain.

Get your facts right before insulting the young Irishman.

Stephen