Need help with your fantasy selections ahead of the US Open? WADE PRETORIUS has done the legwork and picked six stars likely to be there late on Sunday.
What we know about Erin Hills
It’s long, very long. At 7741 yards, it will be the longest US Open in history, and with four par fives it is shaping up to be a long-hitters course. The rough along the generous fairways is brutal – check this Lee Westwood video out for proof – so it won’t be an out and out bombers course, but you need enough length off the tee and solid irons to contend this week. It’s not a Links course but rather a ‘heartland’ course as the organisers have stressed, but Erin Hills is likely to play much like an Open Championship.
Six steady US Open picks:
1. Dustin Johnson
This is an obvious one. Whoever wins this week, will have to get past Johnson first. His late arrival to the venue (his second child was born today) and some iffy form after his fall ahead of The Masters could see him start slowly, but he is the bookies’ favourite for a whole number of reasons including, but not limited to: he is the defending champion, he hits it a mile, his wedge play has vastly improved and he knows how to win big events after plenty of near-misses. Johnson will be the first since Curtis Strange (1989) to defend his title, which lends itself to the theory that while he’s the clear favourite, this isn’t a one-horse race.
2. Jordan Spieth
Spieth’s record, beyond his win at Chambers Bay in 2015 is not impressive, and he heads to Erin Hills a bit hot and cold. He does, however, remain one of the game’s best putters and will challenge this week. He has returned to his old putter and has finished T2 (Colonial) and T13 (Muirfield Village), while another Major is around the corner. Missed cuts at The Players Championship and Byron Nelson could see you pick him up for some good value.
3. Louis or Charl
Yes, this is a bit of cheat to include both of SA’s best players, but it’s almost impossible to separate the two this week. Both have the experience and the game for the course. Oosthuizen was great at The Players, and Schwartzel was equally as good at The Masters and finished second last week in Memphis. Oosthuizen was T2 in 2015 at Chambers Bay, despite an opening 77, while Schwartzel was 7th that same year. The duo play together during the first two rounds and that might just set them up for a run at the title, come Sunday.
4. Brooks Koepka
If the trend of first-time Major winners continues, then Koepka will no doubt be in the running. He’s played the course before (US Amateur in 2011), he hits it a mile (and pretty straight too) and has a really decent Major record – he has six top 15 finishes since he finished T4 at this event in 2014.
5. Alex Noren
Last year Noren missed the cut at Oakmont. He drifted outside the top 100 in the rankings. He arrives in Wisconsin one of the hottest players on the European Tour with five wins to his name, including the Nedbank Golf Challenge, and more recently the BMW PGA Championship. His US Open record is terrible (three MCs and a T51 finish), but is form is excellent – another candidate to get Major number one this week.
6. Rickie Fowler
Fowler is on most people’s list this week. He hits the ball far enough and his putting has been solid for the past two to three years. Put me in the category of those who believe that if he wins one, he’ll go on to win five. He spurned the chance to get win number one at Augusta, but his season’s numbers – total driving, strokes gained putting particularly – are good and include a win (Honda Classic), and his US Open record points to another good week for one of golf’s most popular stars.
*Players beyond this bunch? Look to the likes of Shane Lowry, Thomas Pieters, Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas as other solid options. Oh and don’t rule out Branden Grace either.
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