Generation game may go to Mickelson

When Jack Nicklaus was once asked how he would rate Winged Foot on a scale of one to 10, he replied: "11, maybe 12." That's a measure of the challenge facing an elite field, including the holder, Mark Brooks, in the $2.6 million USPGA Championship starting here on the West Course this morning.

It rained for a few hours around lunchtime yesterday and may do so again before the weekend. But the course superintendent remains confident of bringing treacherously small greens up to a Stimpmeter speed of 11 or 12 - comparable to Augusta National. "We'll give the PGA whatever speeds they want," he said.

Even if there is some give in the putting surfaces, it will be more than offset by an even lusher texture to the five-inch rough. As Nick Faldo observed: "My first US Open appearance was here in 1984 and the one thing I remember is the severity of the greens."

Sadly, they will no longer be of any concern to the 1995 US Open champion Corey Pavin, who withdrew yesterday after being informed of the death of his father. Despite decidedly moderate form this season, including seven missed cuts, Pavin would have earned serious consideration as a Ryder Cup wild-card choice, had he produced a worthwhile showing here.

Meanwhile, the event is significant from an Irish standpoint in that it marks the first occasion the country has had two players in the field. Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington enhanced their international standing appreciably by finishing second and fifth, respectively, in last month's British Open.

"We don't really know what that will do to Darren," said Colin Montgomerie yesterday. "He may dwell on the fact that he had a four-stroke lead at Troon. From my own experience of majors, I know these things can happen and I have discussed it with him. I have told him to think positively about it."

That was in the wake of a practice round with Clarke on Tuesday, but the Ulsterman was in different company yesterday. He and Lee Westwood lost a practice fourball against Ian Woosnam and Paul Broadhurst. "My game's coming along and I'm getting to like the course," he said.

But inevitably, the main focus of attention here is Tiger Woods. After his record, 12-stroke triumph in the US Masters last April, talk of the professional Grand Slam had become common currency. Indeed Woods reduced the challenge simply to having his "A-game" for four tournaments.

Since then, the hugely-gifted 21year-old has been subjected to a hefty dose of golfing reality, specifically in finishing 19th in the US Open and tied 24th at Royal Troon. "Realistically, it's almost next to impossible to win all four," he admitted this week.

Apart from his undoubted skills, Woods will carry something special into the championship: incomparable local knowledge. It comes courtesy of his coach, Butch Harmon, who, with brothers Craig, Dick and Bill, learned his craft on fairways where father, Claude, was club professional from 1946 to 1977.

Winner of the 1948 Masters, Claude Harmon was the most respected golf tutor of his day. It was said that he could teach a 30handicapper to hit successful bunker shots in minutes and that he could analyse a player's game in just three swings. Now, two generations on, his craft is to benefit the outstanding player of the moment.

"This has been an unbelievable break for me," said Woods. "Butch has helped me on the greens, especially in telling me things that only locals know. No matter how they may look, putts break certain ways and I trust that he's right. He played here for about 25 years so I think he knows what he's talking about."

In the build-up to this event, the US media have made much of the success of so-called twentysomethings in the major championships this season, with Woods winning the Masters, 27year-old Ernie Els capturing the US Open and 25-year-old Justin Leonard winning the British Open.

Even Tom Watson has been won over to the notion. "I can't explain why this generation is better than past generations," he said. "It's just a fact that they are." The perceived trend offers a neat pointer to 27-year-old Phil Mickelson as a possible winner here.

The smooth-swinging left-hander may very well break through to his first major triumph at Winged Foot. If that were to happen, however, it would be rather simplistic to attribute it to the fact that like Woods, Els and Leonard, he happens to be in his twenties.

After all, certain twentysomethings named Player and Nicklaus were doing rather well in major championships more than 30 years ago. And Tony Lema was some way from veteran status as a winner of the 1964 British Open.

But it is nonetheless interesting that Mickelson has the sort of short-game skills that will be vital around these devilishly difficult greens. In justifying slopes as severe as anything at Augusta, the designer, A W Tillinghast maintained: "Nothing can supply a green with more character than bold undulations."

On current form, Europe has a worthy standard-bearer in Montgomerie. If there is frustration at his failure to achieve a major breakthrough, he hides it very successfully. "It may be that I'll have to do something extraordinary or that somebody will slip up and open the door," he said, philosophically.

Looking at possible winners of the title, some obvious names present themselves - such as Woods, Mickelson, Tom Lehman, Montgomerie, Steve Elkington, Els and Nick Price. On current form, Faldo doesn't deserve to be included among that group but he would certainly be a factor if, somehow, his putting touch were to return.

In the meantime, a truly great course awaits the best that these talented players have to offer.