Sweating on Mickelson. I have him in two teams out of three (OFL), and he looked class a few weeks ago, but the hand injury thing is worrying me. What do people think? Stick or twist?

I even looked on his website a few minutes ago, thinking the same thing. (F.A. there btw).

I think if he's fit he's probably a must. I don't have him in any teams at the moment but will if he plays practice rounds okay. Still time yet.

Sporting Life (Tindall) was saying that Ogilvy shot an 85 in a practice round there a few weeks ago!

if the rough is penal (no idea) then a wrist injury could be an issue.

If you are looking to make changes anyway, I think this is a definite twist situation myself - not sure who to spend the money on myself as I like Goosen, but he has been pretty quite of late. Still if you are looking to make a couple of transfers now might be the time - and you can pick up Sabbatini if you haven't already.

I have quite a long list of alternates including Sabbatini, Adam Scott (but wary of last week's mega-choke), Sergio, Allenby and some more outsiders.

What about the Father's Day factor? Tiger will get the limelight there, but how will affect him and Sean O'Hair?

Official US Open website provides news of practice sessions (including Mickelson on Tuesday), course overview, hole layouts, etc:

http://www.usopen.com/

Not too sure what to do with Mickelson either, I may leave him on the practise ground and put someone else in play. I have a couple of other choices.

Don't really like the following quote...

World number two Phil Mickelson will not play a full practice round before the start of the tournament and expects to be in some pain.

"I should be able to play, no problem, but I won't be able to be pain-free," said Mickelson, who could only play nine holes on Tuesday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/6746915.stm

Looks like this is going to be one of the key stats this week

http://www.pgatour.com/r/stats/2007/363.html

Not got many of them in my teams, though

Or this one:

http://www.pgatour.com/r/stats/2007/104.html

Tiger quoted on BBC as saying the greens are the harshest he knows, without any flat bits like Augusta has among the steep slopes.

When the world's best [greatest?] golfer doesn't sound confident about making well-hit approaches to a green stick. I kind of wonder what the point is.

Suffice to say Mickelson is top of the putting averages too

Am keeping Mickelson out of my teams but am going to put an EW bet on so I will not beat myself up if he does well.

With this course being seen as 'the hardest ever prepared for an Open', I think what's needed is a player who doesn't lose his cool.

The best, bar none is Goosen. Although he's now one of the favourites, no longer 150/1 (memories) he's still got the pedigree and I think will be there or there abouts come Sunday.

Looks ALL or nothing with Mickleson - If he is not doing great then I can see him pulling out rather than aggravating it any more, whereas someone else could easily persist and climb into a top 10 or just have a best round.

Paddys super useless selections are:-
Verplank, Cink, Toms, Woods, Choi, Stenson

Can I afford them - Probably not! Will it matter - definitely not!

Dam it Paddy, I have five of your six selections.!!!!! Perhaps I still have time to change them. See ya.

Montgomerie leads (for now)

edit: Must keep those 7s off your card Colin

edit: now he's +5

Must be tough going out there. Toms bogied 5 of the last 6 holes.

Why do we always do it!

Been changing my mind all week (The new method that alllows you to cancel transfers is a mindbender!).
At the last minute I changed 1 of my teams completely - Took out Mickleson & Dufner and put in Casey & Pampling - USELESS.

One team has SIngh, Els, Harrington, Cink, Sabbatini & Weir. Got to hope they make the cut.

As for Stenson - what a doughnut. Hit his approach to the first to around 10ft and charged his put about 6ft past the hole. The telltale signs were there!

Anyone got DOugherty in their team or at least started well?

worse still whos got him benched ?, if he goes on to stay top 10 that is ? or win it ?

Dougherty won't win it. Or finish in the top 10.

Next, my lotto predictions for tomorrow

Woods for me.

Hoping for a Mickelson blow-up seeing as he is only active in 1 of 8 teams As discussed with Chris on the way to the 4th tee at Gullane yesterday

Left ND in my reservers hope I don't live to regret it

[quote="el_pappje"]Dougherty won't win it. Or finish in the top 10.

well i hope you are wrong cos i decided early on he was 1 of my euro's i went e/w with mr.b.fred.

15 for a BR and poss 6 for the cut - best case is 21 dropped if he makes the cut, 13 if he doesn't.

I'm not sure why I am convinced he will unwind as much as I am - maybe wishful thinking given how mince I have started this OFL Golf season.

He has had a good season up to now but this is different class and then some I would be suprised if in was in the hunt at the end. My start has been crap this season and to make it worse Mrs Lister is in the top 70 so she has all the bragging rights.

transferred him in on Wednesday

They are both performing creditably so far today (cue implosion), but Pampling has a long way to pample to reach the cut. Adam Scott, however - thought he looked good last week until his final holes, but seems to be sliding ever quicker down the slippery pole today....

Now who's the bandit?

I'm thinking cut will be +5, maybe even +6 - all agree? I'm at work here, pressing enter hoping that some of my boys cling on by their fingernails....

Nah, it'll be at least +7 for the top 60 and ties by the end of the day - I'd say either +8 or +9. If the 10 shot rule comes into play, it could even end up being +10 or +11!

Plus 10 will probably win it.

Going to be at least +9 for the cut but the stupid PGA site is still predicting +5 or +6.

Anyone from the early lot that finishes at 5 or 6 over will be way up there.

Well, Adam Scott, who I shuffled my team substantially to accommodate, has done me proud - +18 with two to go.

Yes, I realised how idiotic my post was a moment after I put it in. So with a +2 in the clubhouse, it's adieu to O'Hair and Scott, amongst others. Mickelson on the prayer mat....