The OTHER Black Guy at The U.S. Open

I, for one, have slept on the fact that there may actually be another person of the "negro" persuasion besides Tiger Woods who has the glimmer of a chance to win this year's U.S. Open.
Until three days ago when he gave Woods a respectable 9-hole workout at Bethpage Black, who knew anything about James Kamte?



In remote circles, Kamte (26) is known as "The Cobra", and he's reported to be the first true South African to represent at a major in 20 years. (Ernie Els and Gary "The Black Knight" Player don't count.)
Kamte doesn't have a glorious resume: just a handful of wins on the South African and Asian Tours. He qualified to play at Bethpage Black at the Sectionals in Columbus, Ohio.
What a way to encounter the pinnacle of American golf? And what better way for America's golf enthusiasts to discover him?

Tiger At Bethpage Black: A Sucker's Bet?

Five bucks will get you two if you bet on the latest, repeat Memorial Tournament champion, Tiger Woods, to win the 2009 U.S. Open.
Those are the odds in Woods' favor of winning according to VegasInsider.com. If you're a gambler, you can take Tiger or the field at 5-to-2, or take a flying leap on Phil Mickelson, who was a 7-to-1 underdog to win at the storied New York public course, Bethpage Black.

The oddsmakers give Padraig Harrington, Geoff Ogilvy and Jim Furyk equally distant chances (15-1) of winning the U.S. Open. As for the rest of the players? Major longshots.

In your mind, does Mickelson have a chance of giving Woods a run for the money? Who do you suppose will melt down first in this, the second opportunity of the year to snag a Major tournament win?