US Open / Steven Rawlings / 22 June 2009 / Leave a comment

It's been a long haul but it's all set up for another exciting Monday finish at the US Open.

I have to confess I was starting to get a bit fed up with the 109th US Open. The delays have been a nuisance and made for disjointed viewing but when we finally reached the end of round three at around 10.00pm last night, I had a change of heart.

The event really was tantalisingly poised going into the final round, with some incredible stories developing. The 519th ranked player in the world, Ricky Barnes led, a resurgent David Duval was lurking, and my man, Phil Mickelson, was hanging in there too.

Punting wise I hadn't added to my portfolio since the 2nd round, despite being tempted by Mike Weir several times on Saturday and again early on in his third round yesterday, but mercifully I'd resisted. After a solid enough start his game unravelled and by the end of round three he was six shots off the lead.

Second round leader, Barnes, started round three really well and threatened to run away with the event, getting to as low as 11 under par and being matched at a low of [2.12] when he led by six shots, but he dropped a few coming in, looked increasingly nervous, and with a round to go he led by just one.

In second place and favourite heading into the final round, trading at around [3.85], was Lucas Glover, on seven under par. Barnes had drifted out to [4.2] and the third favourite was my man Phil, who was six shots back and trading at around [8.0].

Mickelson's third round had been a typical roller-coaster affair, bogeys and birdies aplenty and he'd drifted out to over [100.0] at one point before a rousing finish of four birdies and a bogey in his last six holes saw him drag himself back into the mix and I was starting to believe. He couldn't, could he?

They hadn't got too far with round four when play stopped at just after 1.00am this morning. When the hooter went, Barnes had bogeyed the 1st and carved his drive on the second into the rough, the jingly nerves appear to be getting worse.

My man, Lefty, had pared the first two holes and will resume today on the par three 3rd tee, which will be a great place to start because nobody has played the short holes better all week, but that didn't stop me laying a bit back at [6.8] though.

The Lefty lay funded the back on Woods I'd made, at an average of [24.0], as he sunk a birdie putt on the 7th to get to level par. He's still seven back but Barnes is definitely leaking oil and I've a feeling it won't be long before Glover does too.

I'd waited almost two days to make my next move but now I've done it I'm happy with my position. Those at the top will know Lefty and Tiger are creeping up behind them and they may well find it all a bit too much.

Hopefully we'll finally get this thing done today and I can review the final outcome tomorrow. I almost can't imagine how pleased I'll be if it's Phil that lifts the trophy and that has to be a possibility now, but I'm more than happy to have taken out my Tiger insurance.

Come on Lefty, one last push, almost the entire golfing world wants you to do it.