The Starter, Round 4: U.S. Open

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Jun. 20, 2010

The final round of the 110th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach is set to begin. Here's a look at Sundays action:

Groups We're Watching

Tee time	Players
4:55 p.m. ET No. 1		Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els Phil still has a chance to win his second major title in a row, but he'll have to go low; having a veteran in Els playing with him is a big plus.
5:05 p.m. ET, No. 1		Gregory Havret, Tiger Woods Tiger has to duplicate his Saturday effort to have a shot at victory, while Havret will have to deal with the the largest gallery he's ever seen.
5:15 p.m. ET, No. 1		Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson Johnson's third round was only topped by Tiger, and odds are he'll have to match that magic on Sunday to hold the trophy after the 72nd hole.

MORE COVERAGE: Tee times | Rd. 3 Notes | Scores | Transcripts

Sunday's forecast

Mostly Sunny
Temp: 60 high/50 low
Mostly sunny and cool all day. Strong winds possible, up to 15-25 mph from WNW.

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR NETWORK on-site correspondent Doug Bell previews Sunday's action:

I can't think of a better Father's Day gift than being able to watch the final round of the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach! How about this horse race with Dustin Johnson and Graham McDowell? They only have two top-10s in majors combined. They'll be trying to hold off a chase pack that includes Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Ernie Els. That's 21 major victories hot on their heels!

Dustin Johnson's record at Pebble Beach in the AT&T is well documented. He has used his superior length to his advantage and plans on following the same game plan later this afternoon. He reached the 18th hole yesterday with a driver and six-iron. He told us last night, "I like hitting my driver and nothing is going to change."

I saw his caddie Bobby Brown on the plane back from The Memorial three weeks ago, and it was interesting to hear him explain their mindset going into this event. They both really felt this was going to be a memorable week. Physically and mentally, Dustin was ready and it has shown. Brown himself is a terrific bag man who looped at Pebble Beach for several years and he will be a big help reading putts and helping calm nerves during the final round. Interesting side note: Brown also has a degree in psychology.

I've known Graham McDowell for a decade, ever since he was sharpening his game at UAB in my hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. He was mature beyond his years back then, and has always been up front and refreshingly candid during interviews. Once again, he didn't back down when describing his thoughts about possibly winning his first major title. "I know I'm ready, I just have to go out and do it."

As long as we're giving a nod to caddies, how about McDowell's guy Ken Comboy? He's an old pro, and as I walked with the pair at Pebble Beach, it's easy to see how comfortable they are with each other and how much synergy is between them. That is going to be vital down the stretch.

One more note about the weather for today's round. The USGA meteorologist reports that today's conditions could be the mildest of the entire tourney with very little wind. It makes for a terrific back drop, not to mention the possibility of a super low score. Johnny Miller, are you listening?

We've seen two 66s from Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, but I'm convinced that a scintillating 64 or 63 is out there. I have a feeling the winner is going to come from behind in this horse race and win in a photo finish! Take a pick--there are plenty of thoroughbreds with a shot.

INSTRUCTOR'S CORNER: Mike Rohrkemper, staff instructor at TOUR Academy TPC Scottsdale, analyzes the playing conditions for the final round:

Tiger Woods is at it again. After making bogey on two of his first three holes, Tiger turned it on and birdied eight of his final 15 holes en route to a 5-under 66.

Whether it's back home in Detroit golfing with friends or working with a player in his quest to break 90, I have found that amateurs too often allow their first few holes--or worse, their first few shots--to set the tone for the entire round. This is a surefire way to find higher scores.

To avoid getting ahead of yourself, try this simple strategy next time you play. Divide your card into three six-hole rounds of golf. Only judge your play six holes at a time. If you bogey the first hole, for example, don't get overwhelmed. Try to "stay tuned" on the next five holes to get back to level par. If you succeed, great. If not, don't worry. Two "rounds" still remain. This unique method of keeping score will allow you to stay in the moment and, in turn, let you focus on the shot at hand and, undoubtedly, yield lower scores.

The Film Room

	Rd. 3 Highlights: Tiger Woods Tiger Woods fired 5-under on Saturday. Woods talked about his round, about the fans and how he will have to make adjustments during the final round.Watch it
	Rd. 3 Highlights: Dustin Johnson Dustin Johnson fired a 5-under 66 in the third round of the 2010 U.S. Open. He spoke about what he did well and what his advantage has been over the field.Watch it
	Rd. 3 Highlights: Phil Mickelson Phil Mickelson shot 2-over in the third round of the 2010 U.S. Open. He recounted his round for reporters after his day on the course.Watch it