Staying straight is best route to US Open title at Bethpage

AS EUROPE'S finest endured nearly 40 lean years at the US Open, America's best players struggled to monopolise their own national championship largely because of consistently gritty performances from southern hemisphere golfers.

Where once the US Open specialised in steady, dogged American winners – men such as Andy North, Scott Simpson and Tom Kite – the more recent trend is for players from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina to come in under the radar and snaffle the main prize from golfers with higher profiles.

So it's worth recalling how four of the five US Opens since 2004 were won by international golfers – Retief Goosen, Michael Campbell, Geoff Ogilvy and Angel Cabrera. Bearing in mind that Cabrera also slipped into a green jacket at the Masters in April and Ogilvy won the World Match Play in Arizona, it's easy to envisage a scenario at Bethpage where the biggest threat to Tiger Woods lies among the game's quiet assassins.

When everyone else faltered over the closing stretch at Winged Foot three years ago, it was Ogilvy who remained cool, calm and collected his first major title. Single minded and unflappable, the Australian was incisive when the subject of Woods in the majors came up. "He doesn't win every one of them. In fact, he wins less than half. I don't think anyone (in the locker room] walks around saying we're playing for second now because Tiger's playing."

Having said all of that, there are plenty of reasons for re-stating the prevailing argument that if Woods remains a convert to the straight and narrow during the 109th US Open, then the rest are playing for second place.

In their promotions for satellite TV coverage from Bethpage in the UK, Sky Sports pinpointed Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy as the focal point of Europe's challenge to Tiger. Bearing in mind the 20-year-old has only ever played in two majors – he was the leading amateur, 42nd, at Carnoustie in 2007 and 20th at Augusta in April – such cheerleading may be a tad premature. (Ogilvy insists, mind you, it won't be long until McIlroy is up there at every major).

Anyway, when the US Open rookie was asked if he felt ready to challenge the world No 1 for the crown of America's best golfer, McIlroy sensibly replied: "If he plays the way he did in the last round at the Memorial, then no."

Woods' form in his most recent outing at the Memorial was so notable that most book-makers make him the 7/4 favourite to win the season's most testing event. "If you can win (at Muirfield Village] with ball striking, hitting it that well, especially going into a US Open, it always makes you feel pretty good," said Tiger. "I like my chances in any major."

Apart from his unmatched track record in the championships which matter most, the reason Jack Nicklaus and the bookies regard Tiger as such a sure thing on Long Island is his new-found trust in the straight and narrow. At every US Open, hitting the ball in play off the tee is the one essential requirement which never changes. And in his final round two weeks ago at Muirfield Village, Woods found 14 out of 14 fairways.

As Colin Montgomerie, arguably the straightest driver in the event not to win the US Open over the past 17 years, noted: "If he does that again at Bethpage then it's game over."

Although he can be as inspirational as any of his peers when the mood takes him, Woods reckons the key to coming out on top in what promises to be a demanding week will be the relentless pursuit of par. "The whole idea of a US Open is obviously to grind it out and make pars," he said. "How you do that, it's up to you. You just can't afford to make too many bogeys or doubles because you can't make birdies. So however you feel you can make a bunch of pars."

One of the best judges of pace with the putter in hand, it's true Woods may not enjoy his usual advantage on the greens since they won't be as quick as usual after rain softened the course. Clinging rough, however, will place an even higher premium on accuracy. In this context, where ball striking counts for more than putting, the stage may also be set either for Paul Casey's length or Sergio Garcia's return to contention.

"As at all US Opens you have to drive the ball well," added Woods. "This US Open, with it being this wet and this long, you have to get the ball in play. I will be curious to see how the USGA sets it up, how much they can move the tees around."

According to two-time winner Ernie Els: "The US Open is a very particular type of test and the degree of difficulty is definitely not over-hyped. Trust me, it's a really tough examination of your game."

As well as an internal navigation system, the challengers will need power to cope with a lay-out which measures more than 7,400 yards and includes a 525-yard par 4, the seventh, which is the longest par 4 in US Open history. In other words, Bethpage represents a test of mental agility as well as technical consistency and physical strength. Irrespective of nationality, it's a combination which promises to favour the strategist who is also a fearless ball striker.