US Open: Challengers (USA)

BBC News Online takes a look at the American hopefuls, ahead of the 100th US Open at Pebble Beach.

Tiger Woods
David Duval
Hal Sutton
Phil Mickleson
Davis Love III
Justin Leonard

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Tiger Woods

1997 Masters champion
1999 US PGA champion
US Tour victories: 19
International victories: 3

Tiger Woods has suffered a bruising few months.

Defeated by Darren Clarke at the Andersen World Matchplay Championship, Hal Sutton at the Players Championship and Vijay Singh at the Masters, Woods is currently struggling to live up to his billing.

No-one doubts he is the best player in the world, but his recent failure to secure a title has brought a new realisation that he is not invincible.

That said, Pebble Beach is tailor-made for Tiger's game, a course where he has already won one of his US Amateur titles.

Woods will be itching to grab the third leg of a career Grand Slam and head for St Andrews next month to try to complete the set.

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David Duval

US Tour victories: 11
International victories: 0

After picking up healthy cheques at the Mercedes Championships (3), Andersen Consulting Match Play (3), Doral-Ryder Open (T4) and US Masters (T3), David Duval will be genuinely hopeful of challenging for this year's title.

His preparation was given a further boost when he finished the US Open's final warm-up event, the Buick Classic in New York, in second place.

Despite his success, Duval will be frustrated at not clinching a title this year.

And with a number of impressive performances a Pebble Beach already under his belt as well as the course record, he looks a good bet to be in the hunt for the title come Sunday.

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Hal Sutton

US PGA champion 1983
US Tour victories: 13

For a player who lost his swing and confidence for the better part of a decade, Hal Sutton is compiling one of his best years as a professional.

After defeating Tiger Woods at the TPC, he then won the Players Championship at the Greater Greensboro Classic.

Sutton's game is dominated by accuracy. Straight off the tee and a great iron player, he has also recently improved his short game.

Victory at Pebble Beach would turn Sutton's year upside down.

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Phil Mickleson

US Tour victories: 16
International victories: 1

Currently third on the money-list, Phil Mickelson is having his best year as a professional.

With three titles already under his belt, including the Buick Invitational where he stopped Tiger Woods' winning streak, Mickleson has matured into a genuine contender.

He came within one stroke of winning at Pebble Beach last year and has won at the course before.

A sweet-swinging left hander, he is long off the tee and accurate on the greens, with a masterful approach game.

Competing in his home state for the 100th US Open, the stage is set for Mickelson to win what could be the first of numerous majors.

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Davis Love III

1997 US PGA champion
US Tour victories: 13
International victories: 2

Having played in the final Sunday group for four consecutive years (1995-1998), the US Open holds no fear for Davis Love III.

Although he has not won in more than two years, he has experienced a fine run of form this year, finishing in the top five a remarkable six times.

Like Colin Montgomerie and David Duval, Love has struggled with his putter in 2000, but he holds a secret weapon in Andy Martinez, who caddied for US Amateur champion David Gossett at last year's Pebble Beach.

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Justin Leonard

1997 US Open champion
US Tour victories: 4
International victories: 0

With two seconds in his last two tournaments, Justin Leonard has rediscovered the form that saw him burst onto the scene as a bright young Texan at Royal Troon in 1997.

Leonard's calculating style of play is perfectly suited for big tournaments and he has won two of them - the British Open and The Player's Championship.

A steady player, he will be hoping to remain within striking distance of the lead on Sunday.

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