The US Open – the second major of the season – is just a week away, and two former major champions will be desperate to get into some form ahead of it in this week’s FedEx St Jude Classic on the PGA Tour.
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The field at the $6 million tournament, to be played at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, wears a depleted look as most top stars are either resting before what is expected to be a typical gruelling week at Chambers Bay for the 115th US Open, or planning an early visit to that venue.
Dustin Johnson, the world No7, is the highest ranked player in the field, but all eyes will be on Phil Mickelson and Padraig Harrington – two players who have won eight major between them.
Mickelson is always hot news before the US Open, simply because he has come so close to winning his national Open, but never finished better than the second place – something he has achieved five times. It is the only major trophy missing from his cabinet.
The American, now ranked 19th in the world, may not have had a great run-up, but he has an amazing ability to elevate his game at the majors. He finished runner-up in the last two – at this year’s Masters and at the 2014 PGA Championship.
Mickelson is playing for the second week in a row, but the Memorial wasn’t a happy experience for him as he finished tied for 65th there last week. He had earlier finished tied fourth in the Wells Fargo Championship.
Harrington, on the other hand, will be a desperate man.
Ranked 91st in the world, the twice-Open champion’s only chance to make it to the US Open is in Memphis. The Irishman has to win the tournament, which would give him enough world ranking points to crack into the top-60.
Harrington has shown earlier this year that he responds positively when his back is against the wall – he won the Honda Classic and secured his PGA Tour card after running out of his exemption last years. He will have to bring that similar can-do attitude to Memphis.
