BY MIKE CORMACK
sportsnet.ca

As the U.S. Open returns this week to the scene of Tiger Woods' most dominant performance, his ability to stay atop the golfing world has never been more in doubt.

A decade has passed since Woods re-wrote the record books with his stunning 15-shot victory at the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

Ten years, 11 major championship wins and a sex scandal later and a suddenly humbled and vulnerable Woods now returns struggling to find fairways and hanging on by his fingertips to his position atop the world golf rankings.

But while Woods has struggled, Phil Micklelson has claimed a third green jacket, Lee Westwood has emerged as golf’s most consistent performer and a host of dynamic, young stars have shown us they may be ready to contend for the game’s top prizes sooner than anyone expected.

These storylines and more are why it looks like we’re in store for another memorable U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

Can Woods contend?

Tiger’s record at Pebble Beach (the 2000 U.S. Open win and a win and a runner-up at the AT&T National Pro-Am) suggests he can, but his current form (CUT-WD-T19) in his past three events say otherwise. No one in history has shown a greater sense of the moment than Woods, so with Mickelson and Westwood now breathing down his neck, a gaggle of writers itching to pen his golfing obituary, and a course that doesn’t require him to use his driver, means it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he somehow finds a way to get it done this week.

The course

Three words come to mind when trying to describe Pebble Beach: Scenic, demanding and fair. Throughout the more than 30 hours of planned TV coverage this week, the familiar overhead shots of the Pacific Ocean winding its way around the course will be commonplace. Just as frequent however will be scenes of players hacking out of the five-inch rough sideways while others watch poorly played chip shots roll back to their feet.

But unlike other Open venues such as Bethpage Black and Oakmont to name two, length will not be a prerequisite to contend this week. The real beauty of this track is that anyone, at any age playing well can win this week…

Watson’s swan song

The 1982 champion at Pebble Beach will be playing in his final U.S. Open this week thanks to a special exemption. But following his runner-up finish at last summer’s British Open and a T18 at the Masters in April, the 60-year-old has serious designs on adding a second U.S. Open title 28 years after his first. Like at Turnberry a year ago, the sentimental favourite Watson will be full of good vibes (see video below) on one of his favourite courses and a Top 10 finish is not out of the question.

Phil of confidence

The Masters champion comes in with no shortage of motivation. A win would not only vault him past Tiger Woods to become the No. 1 ranked player in the world for the first time in his career, but it would also erase the sting of his five previous U.S. Open runner-up finishes. Mickelson left the Memorial tournament two weeks ago sounding very confident about his chances, and he should be as a three-time winner of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Young guns

It’s been quite a year for the under-30 set on the PGA Tour and around the world, but two names stand out above the rest. Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy left some legends in awe with his final round 62 to run away with the Quail Hollow championship. McIlroy completed his round just hours after 19-year-old Japanese phenom Ryo Ishikawa fired a professional tour record 58 to win his seventh Japanese Tour title.

Ishikawa has yet to post a Top 10 finish in a major, but McIlroy’s T3 at last year’s PGA Championship suggests he’s ready to contend on Sunday. What about American star Rickie Fowler, you say? He’ll be watching at home this weekend like the rest of us after coming up short in U.S. Open qualifying earlier this month.

Only Lee Westwood knows how big last weekend's win in Memphis was for his confidence, but we do know it doesn’t hurt. Europe’s top player and England’s best hope to end its 40-year winless drought in the U.S. Open is playing this week with a large chip on his shoulder. Not only would a win would snap the European drought and rid him of the best-player-without-a-major label, but it would also give him a legitimate claim as the best player in the game today.

Canadian chances

In a word? Poor.

Stephen Ames and Mike Weir are currently languishing at No. 67 and 68 respectively in the world rankings and the only other Canadian in the field, Regina-native Kent Eger, is a 29-year-old qualifier who plays on the Canadian Tour. But if you’re like the eternally optimistic Weir and searching for a ray of Canadian hope this week, hang your hat on this: Weir has recorded seven Top 10 finishes in the AT&T at Pebble Beach including two thirds, two runner-ups and he was T16 in the 2000 U.S. Open.

U.S. Open goes prime time

In what is becoming a U.S. Open tradition on West Coast venues, the final two rounds of this year’s championship will be broadcast on NBC in prime time on the East Coast. Saturday’s third-round coverage is scheduled to conclude at 11 p.m. ET, with Sunday’s final round wrapping up just before 9 p.m.