US Open Golf 2012: 5 Players That Must Get off to Fast Start

The U.S. Open 2012 features one of the most impressive fields of golfers that we've seen in years, which is why many golfers need to get off to a fast start if they hope to win the event.

Tiger Woods' resurgence at the Memorial Open, thanks in part to a miraculous chip-shot, has him as the favorite to win the event. However, defending champion Rory McIlroy, world No. 1 Luke Donald and many others look to stop him.

While the field of golfers at majors are usually the best in the world, this field appears to be one of the best that the U.S. Open has hosted in a long time.

Throw in the fact that the players are playing at the unpredictable Olympic Club and you can see that this event could be won by almost anyone in the field.

Of all the players to tee off today, these five need to get off to a fast start the most.

Rory McIlroy

After winning the U.S. Open in 2011, Rory McIlroy looks to become just the seventh player in history to successfully defend his title, and the first to do so since Curtis Strange in 1989.

If the likes of Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus could never defend their titles, McIlroy will surely need to get off to a fast start in order to do so.

McIlroy has struggled as of late, being cut in two of his last three events. While he tied for seventh in his last event, it will be interesting to see which Rory McIlroy will show up this week.

A slow start would put him in a hole that he wouldn't be able to get out of, and he absolutely needs a fast start if he is going to repeat.

Bubba Watson

After winning the Masters earlier this year, Bubba Watson looks to win just the second major of his career at the US Open.

While Watson has the potential to have one amazing round that immediately puts him into contention on any given day, he can't rely too heavily on one of those spectacular rounds coming over the weekend.

He won the Masters because he consistently played well, going under par in every round. While he didn't have any rounds in which he shot below a 68, he needed consistent play to win his first Major Championship.

Watson will need a similar performance this week, as he can't rely on having a great round at the difficult Olympic Club.

Luke Donald

Luke Donald is the world's No. 1 golfer—for now.

Donald has had his fair share of poor opening rounds this year, but has finished events on the right foot. He has improved over the course of the 2012 season, but he will need a strong start in order to win the U.S. Open.

In his nine events this year, Donald has only shot under 70 in the first round once. That one time was a 67 at the transitions championship, an event which he won.

That was his only win of the year.

If Donald is going to win his first Major Championship of the year and protect his No. 1 ranking, he absolutely needs to start well.

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson has never won a U.S. Open. That being said, he has either come in second or tied for second on five occasions in his career.

Lefty has had a rollercoaster season, finishing 17 under and winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February. He had to withdraw at the Memorial Tournament due to fatigue after shooting a 79 in his opening round.

A fast start is exactly what Mickelson needs to win his first U.S. Open, and his first round should be a good indication of how he will play during the entire tournament.

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods' incredible chip-shot at the Memorial Tournament helped give him his second win of the year. He's now the favorite to win the U.S. Open for the fourth time in his career and take his 15th Major Championship.

Tiger's game has become more of a mental struggle than physical, and a fast start would help build on his current momentum. If he can come out strong in the first two days, he will be in great shape to win the event.

However, the main reason I have him on this list is because of the penalty of starting slowly.

If Woods comes out and shoots over par in his first round, his confidence will vanish like we have seen over the last few years. The thought that he has not won a Major Championship since 2008 will creep back into his head, and his game will suffer.

Tiger needs to do well in his first round or two, and if he gets off to a fast start, we may see the resurgence of the world's greatest golfer.

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