Top Ten Tiger Challengers at the U.S. Open

Hello friends, and welcome to the Top Ten Tiger Challengers at the U.S. Open list. This majestic compilation of individuals who pose the greatest threat to Tiger Woods are chalked full of grace, power and fluidity.

That's enough.

How does Jim Nantz consistently talk like that? We all know Tigger is the favorite this weekend, but there's got to be a couple challengers out there we thought were deserving of mention. Here they are.

10. Angel Cabrera

Truthfully, I don't think Cabrera has a realistic shot at this thing. It's kind of out of respect to last year's champ that he was even considered. He'll probably just spend the weekend shagging balls and sucking down cigs in the California sun.

9. Andres Romero

The first of two young guns on this list, Romero is looking like the future of golf hailing from Argentina. In order to have a shot at winning, Romero desperately needs to get off the tee much more effectively than he has so far this year. He currently ranks 174th in driving accuracy percentage and on a behemoth of a course like Torrey Pines, that's not going to cut it.

8. Anthony Kim

At the young age of 19, Kim is doing things befit of a PGA veteran this year. He picked up his first win at the Wachovia Championship and has had two top three finishes since. He's fearless on the links and will not be intimidated by the rough and tumble Torrey Pines provides.

7. Luke Donald

The Englishman who earned his keep playing collegiate golf at Northwestern has always been a fan favorite. Long off the tee, average around the greens, Donald has shown glimpses of the game needed to triumph in a major event like the U.S. Open. Something always seems to stand in his way and on more than one occasion it's been El Tigre. Luuuuuuuuuuuukkkeee!

6. Justin Rose

Despite looking like he'd get blown over by the winds coming off the coast, Rose can hang tough on this course with the best of them. He doesn't truly excel at any one particular area of his game, but can go low on any given day when it all comes together. And, most importantly, he was No. 5 on our Top Ten guys on the PGA Tour who look like they belong on the LPGA Tour list.

5. Jim Furyk

I bet you think I'm going to make fun of that hideous swing of his. Under normal circumstances you would be correct, however, I'm going to take the high road and choose to focus more on the fact he looks astoundingly like James Taylor. It's actually kind of creepy in my estimation, but then again I have a propensity to confuse aging rockers with fugly golfers.

4. Stewart Cink

Every time I see this guy I feel like I've been watching him for thirty years. He just looks, walks, talks and acts like an old man, yet he's only a few years older than Tigger. Cink is one of those guys who always seems to find a way to hang around the leaderboard despite never really doing anything that makes you say 'hmmmmmm'. On a golf course that screams out for an even keeled winner, Cink could coast through the four days and find himself walking away with the trophy.

3. Geoff Ogilvy

The man from down under has got the temperament and the game to win at this golf course. He's consistent and more importantly, he's unflappable down the stretch. Ogilvy has been on the biggest stages, been in the trenches and come out victorious. Experience is a major factor heading into the U.S. Open and Ogilvy has got loads of it.

2. Sergio Garcia

By the time you read this, Garcia will have chosen a putter from the 1,368 he has laying around at home. He's got long ones, short one, some the size of your head (smack me for that one). The Spaniard's Achilles heel has always been on the greens and to put up any kind of number at Torrey Pines this year he's going to have to sink some putts. He's one of the best shotmakers in the game and if the putting clicks at the same time he can be extremely dangerous.

1. Phil Mickelson

You knew he was going to be the number one before you even got to this point. The pudgy wonder remains the only true test for Tiger and actually defeated him in a playoff at Torrey Pines a year ago. He's got the touch around the greens that hackers like you and I will never have and consistently finds himself in the running. If Phil can just avoid the stupid shots that he's oh so prone to making and can sink a couple puts along the way, he could take it down.