It’s finally US Open week. The PGA Tour is once again at fabled Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York, challenging players with fast greens, heavy rough and tight fairways just outside New York City.
The last time the US Open was visited at this iconic course was in 2006, and it was Phil Mickelson who came to 18, needing par on Father’s Day to pull off a victory at the one major that had eluded him. Then a wayward drive off the hospitality tent on 18, compounded by awful lies and equally awful shots, led to Aussie Geoff Ogilvy’s victory. “Geoff Ogilvy survives Winged Foot,” said NBC’s Dan Hicks.
You might remember Colin Montgomerie sinking a 50-foot putt on 17 and sitting in the center of the fairway on 18, leaving his approach short and right in the gnarly Winged Foot West Course rough. Despite his European Tour dominance, Monty finished 2nd at a US Open for the third time.
Now, the US Open is back at Winged Foot. And after this arguably cupcake setup of the PGA Tour restart, it’s time to see The Massacre, Part 2. The US Open will be the survival of the fittest, with narrow fairways, punishing rough and sloping greens. The “Grow the Grass” movement should love it. It’s your tournament. Bring. It. On.
With that, we asked THP Staffers to put together their picks for the second Covid-Era major. Much like Phil, gamble at your own risk.
FAVORITES
While no one can agree on their favorite, Xander, Rahm and Fleetwood picks indicate a premium will be put on ball striking. Fleetwood has never won on American soil, so it’d be quite the victory.
Surprisingly, FedEx Cup champion and 10/1 favorite Dustin Johnson is the hottest golfer on the planet, but he garnered only one vote to win at Winged Foot.
We can assume the Patrick Reed pick from ddec is purely to agitate others.
BUSTS
Bryson leads this category and perhaps rightly so. After coming out of the gates on fire with the PGA Tour restart, he’s stone cold. Based on score alone, no one performed worse at The Tour Championship than Dechambeau.
While always a threat, Rory hasn’t won a major since 2014. Jimmy Walker won a major more recently than McIlroy. Let that sink in.
Surprisingly, DJ returns to tie for the lead in this category.
DARK HORSES
Our first and only Tiger Woods pick! Mward is choosing the three-time US Open champ at 50/1 to recapture his form at Winged Foot.
Overall, the leader in this category is….Rickieeeee Fowler! (Shooter McGavin voice). Both Canadan and HipCheck chose him at 40/1 odds (probably guaranteeing a Fowler missed cut).
Sadly, while he’s a crowd favorite on the wrong side of history at the US Open, no one chose Phil Mickelson in any category.
Regardless of the winner, the 120th US Open from Winged Foot should be an over-par survival of the fittest. Enjoy.
He’ll drive it into the rough too often and compound mistakes IMO
Well, he tried to take a line on 8 today that is right next to impossible based on the photo I saw. So he has that going for him, which is nice.
this sounds like I eat kale
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He doesn’t have a chance, how could he ever win a big one using wedges with graphite shafts ………… :laughing:
Wedges are a problem. I want to see some of that fire again…
You need to try some El Patron Silver. True sipping tequila.
Rahm seems to be pretty restrained lately. He hasn’t snapped anything or gone on a rampage in a while now.
I think Morikawa is a great sleeper pick.
im not sure anybody can call Morikawa a sleeper
I was just basing it on him not being a pick by any of the staff in the OP. I agree, though.
@JB, how come your picks weren’t in there? Spill ’em, who’s your winner, bust and sleeper?
We have a great crew of writers, creators and moderators and it’s about those guys. Myself and @GolferGal stayed out of it.
I’ll go down with that ship haha
everyone wants it but that ship has sailed
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At 500:1 I’d throw $10 on it, but anything less, no thanks
Hell I’ve spent 10 bucks on worse… or less, depending on how you look at it
It’s worth the risk w/$10.
Agreed.
I think Morikawa’s shaky putting at times is going to get exposed on these greens. That’s why he didn’t make my board.
True. Xander is definitely more steady with the flatstick.
I haven’t looked at Fleetwood, but Morikawa was in contention for me. In the end, I liked what I saw of X man last weekend more.
We are still in round #1, but I am becoming worried this comment may not age well. Reed showed up to play today.
You never know its only Thursday. Rory is laughing at me for saying he’s a bust but my sleeper is playing decent so far.
Checking coverage…
watching Spieth shuffle in preshot…
where’s my kermit drinking tea GIF lmao
Apparently when you have massive clothing contracts, you don’t have this issue about dealing with a newborn every night and being absolutely exhausted.
man I knew I should have signed a contract at the end of last year.
I figured someone 40-1 was a sleeper. ?????
You can’t possibly be surprised by that! True fan boy! I was one, but I’ve lost hope!
The "setup" is "perfect" for no one! It can be as penal as they want to make it, and they will screw these golfers into the turf by Sunday evening!
Fave: Rahm at +1
Bust: DJ at +3
Sleeper: Fowler at +7 (4 putt on 1 killed him)
@ddec sitting pretty with the Captain America pick
We must unseat @ddec, no matter what!
Big props to Bryson amongst the hate.
Lets Review…
I’m checking my hypotenuse but I think @jdtox is winning here…sleeper and favorite in the top 10 is impressive. I want to say @ddec is winning but his bust is in 2nd!
Priming the bust for the blow up weekend
He’s still going to bust. I feel it. It might just be in a Phil-Monty way haha
Also, Fowler let me down (and in my defense I predicted it… it was more like wishful thinking haha)
Also, Berger pick was salt, not anything more haha
A Bryson and Reed final Sunday pairing is pure gold.
I’d enjoy it, as long as Bryson won.
Boo this man.
just rub some dirt on it.
i was happy to find the free coverage on US Open.com. And now on the free Peacock app. Yeah itis not over they air, but it serves the needed golf fix.
It came on at 10 this morning. I can see straight again now, so I’ll watch this afternoon.
Too much small print/legalese with all this streaming stuff and just consumerism in general. I don’t participate in many things people do these days.
I like real time traffic updates so all hail Google
Ahhh…but you only like them because of something we all hate.
So net result is they are still bad if we follow strict logic.