2012 US Open golf championship: Who and what to watch for

Thursday morning, the US Open golf championship returns to California for the first time since the thrilling 2008 tournament featuring an injured Tiger Woods and an inspired Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

The 2012 US Open is one of the four "majors" or biggest events on the PGA tour each year. This year, it will be played at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, which has hosted the Open several times in the past. Jack Fleck won there in 1955. 11 years later, Billy Casper captured the national championship at Olympic. Scott Simpson was victorious at the San Francisco course in 1987. Then, in 1998 at Olympic, Lee Janzen won the second of his two US Opens.

The US Golf Association has already got people talking about one of their first- and second-round pairings. Past Open champion Tiger Woods will be paired with this year's Masters champ Bubba Watson, and former Masters and PGA champ Phil Mickelson, who told PGATOUR.com he likes the pairing.

"I get excited to play with Tiger, I love it," Mickelson said. "I think we all do. He gets the best out of me. I think when it's time to tee off on Thursday I'll be ready to play. One of the issues I've had this year I've been a little mentally lethargic on Thursday and Friday. I won't be this week."

Woods won his second PGA victory of 2012 at the Memorial tournament early this month, and appears to be ready to contend for his 15th major.  But Woods told USA TODAY this week don't look for a lot of conversation between himself, Watson, and Mickelson.

"I think this is one of those championships that I think the guys talk the least to one another because it's so difficult," Woods said.

US Open courses are notoriously difficult. The holes are longer, the rough deeper, and the greens faster. They are often the most difficult tests that professional golfers face.

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