US Seniors Open-NCR County Club, Ohio

This year’s US Seniors Open is being played at the NCR Country Club in Kettering Ohio. All the big names will be present, a lot of them having flown from The Seniors British Open last week. The course itself has a big reputation and the key to winning this week will be how the players cope with the greens. Large and spacious, they provide a deceptive challenge. They are littered with slopes and hollows and you can bet that the pin positions will be tricky to test the players. It’s not just about landing on the green here, it’s about putting your ball in the right spot to give yourself a putt. There will be a lot of three putts this week. Although it is essentially a parkland course (and no water) it does have the elements of a links course with the sloping greens and high walled bunkers, so some of the players will have a connection after St Andrews and Royal Aberdeen.

The favourite with Stan James this week is the Boss of the Moss, Loren Roberts at 8/1. A good showing in Royal Aberdeen will have got his juices flowing and if he gets the magic putter working, it might make all the difference come Sunday. Last years winner was Peter Jacobsen (12’s) in his first stab at a US Seniors Open, with Hale Irwin (16’s) in second and Tom Kite (18’s) and Jay Haas (14’s) tied in third. All these players will have solid chances again this year, and it would be no surprise if any one of the four won.

Others worth mentioning include Craig Stadler at 10/1, who has finished in the top ten both times he’s entered the event. Allen Doyle (66’s) has been quiet of late but his record in this event is very good, being in the Top Ten 3 times out of 4.

Last week’s contenders should also be in the groove. Greg Norman at 12/1will fancy this I’m sure, after finishing 3rd in Royal Aberdeen. Tom Watson (14’s) and Des Smyth (25’s) should also contend, especially the old sea dog Watson. He loves the big events and you can be sure that he’ll perform well again this week. His record in the event is very good as you can imagine from a man of his experience. He lost in a play-off to Don Pooley in 2002.

A look at the all-round stats on the Champions Tour, also reveals clues as to who is currently hot in the States at the moment. Dana Quigley at 33’s is currently the Overall Money Winner, top of the Overall Scoring Average and top of the Putting Averages. Other names that consistently pepper the Champions Tour Stats are Morris Hatalsky (40’s), Mark McNulty (18’s) and Tom Jenkins, Top of Greens in Regulation at 40/1. All these three are playing the best golf on Tour at the moment. Dismiss them at your peril.