FanHouse RobertAllenby

People watch less golf when Tiger Woods is not involved. That seems fairly indisputable. And even if you feel like disputing it, well, you would be wrong. At least based on the two tournament, somewhat small sample sized statistics that we have so far.

See, as Darren Rovell points out, Tiger was heavily involved in last year's Wachovia (he won it) and last year's AT&T (he hosted it). This year, obviously, he was absent, which probably explains the dip in ratings.

And here's your stats: Television ratings for the final round at the Wachovia Championship this year down 53 percent, and ratings for the final round at the AT&T National down 48 percent.

It's just two tournaments, but the fact that [Anthony] Kim and nearly identical names (Jim Furyk, Robert Allenby) were at the top of the tournament both times, gives us a good glimpse into a couple scenarios of the world without Tiger.

The fact that the rankings dropped shouldn't come as any surprise to anyone with, well, a brain. But that substantial a dip, especially when the latter tournament is the being hosted by the guy driving the rankings? Well, that's a little discouraging in terms of how much national interest the PGA will draw as it heads into the back end of the Fed Ex Cup.

On the other hand -- as I mentioned in a previous chat -- the lack of Tiger in the standings could make for a more competitive stretch run to the season, and if that sparks interest in newer, emerging golfers, then the long term effects could actually work out pretty well. Short term though, might not be so fun.

I really can't remember the last time I've found the U.S. Open more enjoyable. A tournament that usually has people looking like the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, the course has been fair and the players have appreciated the set-up.

Also, it never hurts when Tiger Woods, after eight weeks off from competitive golf, is one shot back, making fist-pumping eagles and shooting a completely alien five-under 30 on the back nine yesterday.

You've had Phil Mickelson do things that, well, don't surprise you from Phil, Ernie Els bring form to the U.S. Open that we haven't seen since Brett Favre was winning a Super Bowl and even a caddy--spectator fight!

Before you tune in to coverage this afternoon, check the list of players in the top-10, their current position, some facts about them and the FanHouse odds on them winning.

The U.S. Open starts today, and because it's a major championship and none of the scribes here at FanHouse made the field, we are presenting a full report on every player in the field. From Michael Allen to Tiger Woods, and every potential Angel Cabrera that will have his name called Thursday morning, here is what we offer. This list gives you the player, their best finish in a U.S. Open and something interesting about them, anything from the way they play major championship golf to them throwing the deuces in their Facebook page. You know, hard hitting journalism. We will present them alphabetically, 10 excited golfers at a time.

For the complete list of players, check out the other pages:
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15

Here it is, your FanHouse Media Guide.

• Michael Allen -- t-12 -- The definitive golf journeyman, Allen has had success a total of once at the U.S. Open, coming in 2001. He's never won on the PGA Tour, so I'm heading out on a limb and not taking him as my early favorite. Also, he'd be only the second "Michael" to ever win this tournament (Campbell) and the first with the last name Allen.
  

• Robert Allenby -- T-7 -- The 36-year-old has never finished in the top-five of a major and hasn't won on the PGA Tour since 2001, so maybe not the safest bet, but if the U.S. Open is ever hosted in, say Australia, look out (12 pro victories in his home country).

• Stuart Appleby (above) -- t-10 -- You couldn't name this major as one of his favorites. Since his t-10 in 1998, the Australian has only made two cuts.

• Stephen Ames -- t-9 -- Maybe not somebody that would come up in early "potential winner" conversation, but two top-10s in the last four years show he can play in the toughest conditions. Also, he's from Trinidad and Tobago, which, for some reason, makes me like him more.

• Phillip Archer -- t-48 -- Archer is from England. He almost shot a 59 in the Celtic Manor Wales Open but missed the birdie putt on 18. That's about all Al Gore has provided us about Archer on the world wide web.

• Woody Austin -- t-23 -- They say majors expose your weaknesses, and with a spotty short game, it's done just that. Interesting fact -- Austin was Rookie of the Year on tour the year before Tiger, even though he's 12 years older.

• Eric Axley -- CUT -- This is the fifth straight U.S. Open Axley has qualified for, but he hasn't made the cut in a single one. USGA – 4, Axley – 0.

• Aaron Baddeley -- t-13 -- The good news? Badds has been in contention at an Open, leading at Oakmont in 2007 after the first three rounds. The bad news? He shot 80 in the last round to finish in a tie for 13^th

• Craig Barlow -- t-26 -- I'll allow the articulate genius of Wikipedia to take over this one for me. "In 2006, he was partnered with golfing legend Jeff Sluman for the final round of the U.S. Open. On the par-4 18th hole, as Barlow was about to tee off, a cart rode by on a path running parallel to the hole. Sluman motioned to the cart driver to halt driving as a courtesy to Barlow, who might have been distracted had the cart continued." Wow, now that is deep stuff. Sucks for the author of that paragraph because I now have the premise for my Oscar winning sports screenplay.
  
• Rich Beem -- CUT -- Yikes, Beemer is 0-6 in making the cut at the U.S. Open. That will never stop him from getting really excited around his birthday.

Before today, the Stanford St. Jude Championship was running away with the "most boring golf tournament of the year" award before three solid golfers landed in a playoff.

Justin Leonard, Trevor Immelman and Robert Allenby all finished at four-under par for the week, with Leonard winning on the second playoff hole with a 19-footer for birdie.

Leonard notched his 12th PGA Tour victory and more importantly for him, might have done what he needed to make his third Ryder Cup team.

"I don't know how much of a lock I am, but I feel pretty good about making it. I'm looking forward to being on that team, and I'm looking forward to us winning again soon," Leonard said.

Allenby fired a five-under 65 to make the playoff, a round that included a tap-in birdie on the 18th hole. Immelman was in a position with a win to battle Tiger Woods for early season Player of the Year, but his birdie putt on the playoff hole rolled the lip.

Some of the big names that will be favorites at the U.S. Open had solid weeks, including Sergio Garcia (t-4th place), Padraig Harrington (t-4) and Vijay Singh (t-11).

Ok, this is it, all golf information from this point forward will be based around the following; Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods' knee and the chances Tiger Woods wins the U.S. Open. Sorry for wavering from that in the first place.