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 Can Rocco Mediate duplicate his Open heroics at Bethpage? His results since Torrey Pines indicate he won't (PHOTO: USGA). But for fans of Southern California golf, there are lots of other players with local to ties to keep tabs on: Rocco Mediate. Bethpage is about 3,000 miles away from Torrey Pines, but returning to the Open could signal a return to form for last year’s runner-up. Mediate, a Brentwood resident, hasn’t notched a single top-10 finish since taking Woods to the brink of defeat in San Diego. Anthony Kim. Is there anybody having a more disappointing year on the PGA Tour? The Los Angeles area native hasn’t sniffed the top of the leaderboard since the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship and ranks near the bottom on Tour in a plethora of important stats, including ball striking (136th) and scrambling (144th) Hunter Mahan. Mahan’s year has been steady and unspectacular. The Orange native has yet to miss a cut and tied for 10th at the Masters, but hasn’t seriously contended in any events. Regardless of Mahan’s ’09 performance to this point, it’s difficult to write him off in any major because of his strength off the tee (13th in total driving). John Merrick. Merrick hasn’t contended for a title since a second-place finish at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in January, but he did notch another strong major finish, tying for sixth at the Masters. The Long Beach native and UCLA graduate earned entry into this season’s majors by tying for sixth last year in the Open at Torrey Pines. John Mallinger. The Escondido native and Long Beach resident has found his groove after a difficult West Coast Swing to start the season. After missing three of his first four cuts, Mallinger has made 10 of the last 12 and notched three top 10s, including a tie for third at the Players Championship. Charlie Wi. The North Hills resident certainly isn’t one of the longest players on Tour (110th in driving distance), but he’s solidified himself as one of the top putters, ranking fifth in putting average so far in ’09. Wi, who won the sectional qualifier at Saticoy Country Club in Somis, also is third on Tour in all-around ranking. Peter Tomasulo. It’s been a tough rookie season on the PGA Tour for Tomasulo, who’s made only three cuts. But for the second year in a row, the Long Beach native was a medalist at sectional qualifying, so more consistent play could be on the horizon. Mike Miles. A former touring professional, the 47-year-old Miles is playing in his first U.S. Open since 1987. The PGA professional at Virginia Country Club was a decorated player at Long Beach State but took a hiatus from the sport in the 1990s. Last year’s winner of the SCPGA Championship made it through a playoff in sectional qualifying at Saticoy. Rickie Fowler. For the second consecutive year, the Murrieta resident is following up a banner season at Oklahoma State with an appearance in the U.S. Open. Fowler raised eyebrows at Torrey Pines last year with a first-round 70 en route to a tie for 60th. Cameron Tringale. After an accomplished career at Georgia Tech University that included no missed starts and three All-American honors, the Laguna Niguel native is now looking to end his amateur career in style with a strong summer. That mission kicks into high gear at the Open. Scott Lewis. The 20-year-old Torrance native and golfer at UC-Santa Barbara gained a spot in the field when Dudley Hart withdrew (Lewis was first alternate from the sectional qualifier at Saticoy). Steve Conway. The Murrieta resident and former UCLA standout gained a spot in the field when Soren Kjeldsen withdrew. Conway qualified as an alternate at sectional qualifying in Roslyn, Wa. |
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