Two-time U.S. Open champion and ESPN analyst Andy North breaks down this year’s Open at Congressional with The Post’s Justin Terranova.
Q: Do you think Tiger Woods skipping the tournament is for the best?
A: My first reaction was good, now maybe he can get completely healthy and be the Tiger Woods we know come July or August. I played my whole career with problems in my left knee; I had five operations. So I know exactly what he’s dealing with. The hardest thing as an athlete is knowing when you are healthy enough to come back.
Q: And what would your advice be to him?
A: I came back too early after almost every operation I had; just because your antsy, it doesn’t hurt, you’re excited about playing. With the mistakes I’ve made, I now tell players when they ask about coming back to wait until you feel 100 percent, then wait a month and you’ll be fine.
Q: What do you make of Phil Mickelson’s mediocre 2011?
A: Phil has gone through stretches where he’s been good, but also when he looks disinterested at times because he’s worried about major championships; that’s what he’s gearing up for. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if Phil won the U.S. Open. It’s a course that fits him well. He hits the ball high, long; the greens aren’t ridiculously sloped or crazy.
Q: What’s changed about the course since the last time the U.S. Open was played there in 1997?
A: They changed 18 from a par 3 to a really long par 4 — over 500 yards. It’s going to be an interesting finish with a fairway that slopes — not only down the hill, but right to left. It encourages a player to hit a draw even more than normal. And you will see some balls in the water on the left on Sunday.
Q: Any one you are expecting to play well here?
A: There’s a bunch of Americans who have played really, really well this year. Nick Watney and Jonathan Byrd have played some exceptional golf. Congressional is a golf course that’s great for K.J. Choi. Congressional Golf Course really sets up well for a long driver. There are seven par-4s over 465 yards. So many of these younger guys hit the ball so far that if they have a good week driving, they can be the champion. Without Tiger, this U.S. Open is as wide open as we seen in years.