Johnny On Olympic, Dufner and Phil's Chances

Ron Kroichick had the best roundup of highlights from Johnny Miller's entertaining conference call to plug Golf Channel/NBC's upcoming U.S. Open coverage, which starts with an all day presence at June 4's Sectionals and kicks into gear a week later at Olympic Club.

On Rory's chances at Olympic:

"Congressional was a good course, but it was almost like a tour course," Miller said. "This is a whole different ballgame and more like being back at a traditional U.S. Open. Rory won his Open sort of in a nontraditional setup.

"Now it's not going to be so much fun and games out there. It's going to be hard work and a sterner test. I think probably 3, 4 or 5-under-par will win."

Johnny likes Jason Dufner's demeanor for Olympic, and Dufner certainly has the name to fit in snuggly with the previous Olympic Club winners!

Dufner brings one all-important U.S. Open skill - he hits the ball straight (sixth on tour in driving accuracy). His stoic demeanor might also come in handy.

"The great Open players are guys who barely have a pulse," Miller said. "Dufner, who's playing so great right now, fits that mold - a guy who has learned to temper his emotions so well, like Hogan and Nicklaus did. Those are the guys who seem to flourish in a U.S. Open, not the flamboyant types who are always smiling."

And on Phil's chances...

"This is not an all-out, off-the-tee course - you can't hit the driver hard at Olympic, because it just doesn't pay off. So he's going to have to change his aggressive style and make it fit, or he won't have a chance of contending."

I think Amy's got something to put on the kitchen refrigerator!