Considering Andy North actually won a U.S. Open or two, his word holds slightly more credence than the standard analyst. Not really, but his formulas for predicting a winner are pretty cool. With that in mind, I would like to present the formula Andy North went through to arrive at a projected U.S. Open winner on ESPN. Check it out:
In case you can’t watch, I have transcribed the formula below …
-
Winner from last week is out – Nobody who won the week before has gone on to win the U.S. Open, eliminating Justin Leonard
Amateurs are out – Last was Johnny Goodman in 1933
1st timers – Last was Francis Ouimet in 1913
46 years or older
Players from Europe or Asia – Last European or Asian winner was Tony Jacklin in 1970 (Jacklin is from the U.K.)
Players ranked 100 or above – Last winner ranked over 100 was Steve Jones in 1996
Green in Regulation/Putters per Round combined ranks over 100 – Need to putt well
This total formula leaves the following as candidates to win:
Stephen Ames, Aaron Baddeley, Stewart Cink, Ben Crane, Anthony Kim, Phil Mickelson, Geoff Ogilvy, Jeff Quinney, Vijay Singh, Steve Stricker, Mike Weir, Tiger Woods
-
Players who haven’t won a major — Cut
That only leaves the following five candidates to win the U.S. Open:
Phil Mickelson, Geoff Ogilvy, Vijay Singh, Mike Weir, and Tiger Woods.
-
Average U.S. Open winner is 32-years-old
And your 2008 U.S. Open champion is …
Tiger Woods!
Damn, I could have told you that without all the fuzzy formulas, either.
