Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Occasionally his voice threatened to waver, but he retained control through out.

"I'm putting everything I have into this week because I don't anticipate being able to play for a little while," Mickelson said.

He admitted it would be "most likely" that he would miss the at and with Amy beginning treatment on 1 July he doesn't envisage returning to action after this week until August at the earliest.

Mickelson returned to action for the first time since his wife's diagnosis in Memphis last week. "It was important for two reasons," he explained.

"To get back into competition and also to see some of our friends, the fellow players' wives, caddies, tournament directors, people who have been supportive of us.

"It was important to do that last week so that I'm able to focus more on just playing golf this week."

But can he possibly win with all that is going on? Golf writer Ian O'Connor, author of the excellent "Arnie and Jack" believes it is highly unlikely and said as much with us on Five Live Golf.

But Mickelson is upbeat. "I've actually been hitting the ball better than I have in a long time. And possibly ever. I know it doesn't seem like it after my score at Memphis." He finished tied 59th.

The bigger question is how will his emotions handle what is sure to be raucous support from adoring New York fans? They could help or hinder. "I'm not sure," he admitted.

"I'm going to do the best that I can, I feel my game is ready. I feel like emotionally I'm better, but you just never know."

Players - whether they have queued all night in their cars to get a game on this public course or whether they are among the world's best here this week - are left in no uncertain terms about what they face when they step on to the first tee.

They tell it exactly as it is with a special sign that reads: WARNING: is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers.

"I've seen lots of rules written down on first tees but I've never seen warnings," commented the winner of the last US Open to be staged in New York, , the champion in 2006.

"The rough is tricky. The rough around the greens is a different grass than the rest of the fairways. It's not that long, but it's absurdly thick and wiry and gnarly," the Aussie added.

It'll be interesting to watch the progress of South African this week. The 26-year-old graduate of the has been having the time of his golfing life and has the backing of some of the biggest names in golf.

Kamte, who was the first black South African to earn a European Tour card in more than 30 years, was invited by to play at the recent Memorial tournament.

Despite missing the cut he took the chance to meet . "He told me, 'Go out and play. Just work hard. It's all about playing,'" Kamte said. "I appreciated everything he said to me."

The South African this week makes his US Open debut and he managed a practice round with Woods.

Aside from the influence of Els' Foundation, has also taken a great interest in Kamte's progress.

So that's Els, Woods, Nicklaus and Player all keen to follow his progress. No pressure then.

The opening diary discussed contenders and admittedly wasn't exactly adventurous in pointing up the likes of Woods, Furyk, Ogilvy, Westwood, Casey and the in-form as potential winners.

In response to requests to tip an outsider, how about , who has just one Nationwide Tour victory to his name?

The 27-year-old Californian tied for sixth at last year's US Open and finished the Masters in the same position - just outside an each-way payout.

Alas since he's failed to post a top 40 finish.

But fortune can swing quickly. was showing no form ahead of last year's victory and given the heavy premium on ball striking
and the flat greens here this week I've settled on the Spaniard as my INW (if not Woods) tip.

And I reckon that's on the adventurous side given his recent form.

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