Sergio off to a bad start with victory: Sergio Garcia wouldn't want to be in any way superstitious as he seeks out his first major title.

In fact, it probably would help if he were superstitious and stuck a rabbit's foot into his bag, or pinned a lucky charm on to his shirt. If the weight of history is anything to go by, he'll need all the help he can get.

The mistake the 25-year-old Spaniard made last Sunday - for the third time - was to win the week before the US Open. No player has won the US Open following a victory the previous week. Nobody.

One thing Garcia has going for him heading into the season's second major is that he plays well on classic courses, having won twice at Westchester and once at Colonial. In 2001 and 2004, he won the Buick Classic at Westchester in the week preceding the US Open, but finished tied-12th and tied-20th in those respective years in the major.

So, if he can only overcome the superstition of having won the week before the US Open . . .

"I've had a chance of doing it twice and I haven't been able to," said Garcia. "I've been close, but now I have another chance. So I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully we can make it a case of third time lucky. That's the only thing I can think of."

Missing the cut won't pay expenses

Numbers Game 1 - When the US Open was last played at Pinehurst No 2 in 1999, the first prize money for Payne Stewart was $625,000. This year's winner will net $1.17 million. Those players who fail to make the cut will make $2,000.

Numbers Game 2 - Only one defending champion since 1991 has finished better than 40th (Tiger Woods, 12th in 2001 and 20th in 2003).

Numbers Game 3 - Woods has earned $2,324,921 in 10 US Open appearances.

He could have a career in marketing

For sheer ingenuity, Sal Spallone gets 10 out of 10. For the past few years, the 27-year-old has been eking out a living on various mini-tours around the US and Canada, and he earned a ticket into this year's championship at Pinehurst by birdieing his final hole in regulation and then winning a play-off at a qualifier in Columbus, Ohio.

But it's what he did next that demonstrated his resourcefulness.

The struggling professional auctioned off the sponsorship rights to the shirts he would wear during the US Open championship on eBay. The highest bidder was Misys Healthcare Systems, a software company in Raleigh who bid $7,600 for the rights.

Number one spot at stake again

Tiger Woods, back as world number one this week, could lose it to Vijay Singh again at the US Open.

The Fijian has to finish in the first four to have a chance. If he wins, Woods would have to be second to remain top; if he is second, Woods has to be fifth; if he is third, Woods has to be 16th, and if he is, fourth Woods needs to be 52nd.

And if Singh is tied fourth Woods would have to miss the cut.

Best major performances

Padraig Harrington

US Masters 5th (2002)

US Open 5th (2000)

British Open 5th (2002)

US PGA 17th (2002)

Paul McGinley

US Masters 18th (2002)

US Open missed cut (1997, 2002)

British Open 14th (1996)

US PGA sixth (2004)

Graeme McDowell

US Masters missed cut (2005)

US Open Debut

British Open missed cut (2004)

US PGA missed cut (2004)