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GOLF NEWS -
JUNE '07
GOLF NEWS
ARCHIVE>>>JUNE
'07
NEWS INDEX
Cabrera Had Right Touch At U.S. Open
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Angel
Cabrera, from Argentina, defied convention to score the
biggest golf victory of his career. Cabrera's win at
Oakmont was hardly by the book, but his aggressive play
and attitude proved to be a perfect match for a
barbarically tough setup. His closing score of 69, which
vaulted him from four strokes back at the start of round
four to U.S.Open champion, was a departure from the
statistical mold for Open success - Cabrera hit
driver while most others tried to stay in play with
fairway woods and long irons. Even though Cabrera hit
only 48 percent of his fairways, he made his golf drives
count when he had to have it. His golf putter also
helped complete his path to success by having only 2
three-putts the entire tournament. He accomplished that
by consistently hitting the golf ball close, giving him
many birdie attempts in the 5'-6' range, whereas the
rest of the field was struggling with 5'-6' par putts.
It
wasn't as if Cabrera's win was a total fluke. He hasn't
missed a cut in eight straight U.S. Opens and has
finished in the top 10 in three of the last six majors.
Keeping his emotions in check was just as important as
controlling his golf swing, as the other contenders fell
back. Aaron Baddeley took a triple bogey on No. 1, Paul
Casey made triple at No. 6, Stephen Ames made a triple
on No. 7, Justin Rose made double at No. 3, and Bubba
Watson started badly with a double at No. 1. Jim Furyk,
who was in it right to the very end made bogey at No.
17. Tiger Woods had the best chance to catch Cabrera
needing only a birdie with 3 to play, but couldn't do
it.
Woods
has gone five U.S. Opens without a victory, his longest
active drought among the majors. He was actually more
consistent than Cabrera from tee to green but just
couldn't get the putts to drop. His putting woes were
evident during round 3 when after a nearly flawless
round that included 17 straight greens in regulation, he
finished with a total of 35 putts on the day. Wood's
record dropped to 1-for-16 on par-70 major layouts and
his runner-up showing marks the second consecutive major
that he's started the final round in the last group but
failed to win.
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