This article is part of our Weekly PGA Preview series.
The 2017 U.S. Open is in the books and judging by the people I've heard from, it was met with a resounding "meh." I can't argue with that sentiment as only a couple times last week was I ever locked into the action. Sure, heading into the first round, I couldn't have been more excited, and for a brief moment on Sunday, when Matsuyama got to 12-under, I had thoughts of an interesting finish, but for the most part, everything about this U.S. Open was just forgettable.
I realize Brooks Koepka nearly set the record for lowest score at the U.S. Open and Justin Thomas posted the lowest score to par in a major round, but each of those accomplishments were met with a shoulder shrug from yours truly. I just wasn't entertained.
There were several issues with this Open, some of which were controllable, some not. The absence of the best players in the world on the weekend is certainly something out of the control of the USGA, but the course itself is entirely in control. Well, not entirely, but U.S. Open venues are supposed to difficult, regardless of weather, not only if weather plays a part. To leave a U.S. Open course vulnerable in perfect weather is not what we've come to expect from the USGA.
Perhaps the biggest indictment of this particular venue was the absence of golfers complaining about it once play started. What is a U.S. Open without a handful of professionals tearing into the
The 2017 U.S. Open is in the books and judging by the people I've heard from, it was met with a resounding "meh." I can't argue with that sentiment as only a couple times last week was I ever locked into the action. Sure, heading into the first round, I couldn't have been more excited, and for a brief moment on Sunday, when Matsuyama got to 12-under, I had thoughts of an interesting finish, but for the most part, everything about this U.S. Open was just forgettable.
I realize Brooks Koepka nearly set the record for lowest score at the U.S. Open and Justin Thomas posted the lowest score to par in a major round, but each of those accomplishments were met with a shoulder shrug from yours truly. I just wasn't entertained.
There were several issues with this Open, some of which were controllable, some not. The absence of the best players in the world on the weekend is certainly something out of the control of the USGA, but the course itself is entirely in control. Well, not entirely, but U.S. Open venues are supposed to difficult, regardless of weather, not only if weather plays a part. To leave a U.S. Open course vulnerable in perfect weather is not what we've come to expect from the USGA.
Perhaps the biggest indictment of this particular venue was the absence of golfers complaining about it once play started. What is a U.S. Open without a handful of professionals tearing into the USGA for course conditions? Look, I'm not that guy who needs par to be the winning score, I don't need to see balls roll off a green that shouldn't, but there simply wasn't enough danger on this course. There was never a sense of fear in the eyes of the golfers, a sense that trouble was lurking — only a handful of tee boxes weren't aligned with the fairway.
Erin Hills was certainly no walk in the park, it offered some defense, but that's how we should describe a normal PGA Tour stop, not the U.S. Open. To the USGA I would say this: it's better to be remembered for a brutal setup than to be forgotten the day after.
This week: Travelers Championship - TPC River Highlands - Cromwell, Conn.
Last Year: Russell Knox shot a final-round 68 on his way to a one-stroke victory over Jerry Kelly.
PLAYERS TO CONSIDER
Justin Thomas
It's almost impossible to get away from Thomas this week after his performance at the U.S. Open last week and his track record here. Add to that, Thomas' propensity to go on streaks and you have the makings of a win, or at minimum and high finish this week. Thomas tied for third here last year.
Marc Leishman
There are a bunch of golfers in the field this week with similar track records here and similar results last week, and it's just a matter of picking the right one. Leishman has never missed a cut here in six starts, won here in 2012 and has finished T11 or better twice in the last four years. Oh, and he played pretty well last week at the U.S. Open.
Paul Casey
Another who played well last week and has a good track record here, Casey looked sharp during the first three rounds of the U.S. Open last week, but he fell apart in the final round. His game overall looks good, though, and when combined with a T17 and a solo second, looks like a contender this week.
Daniel Berger
Berger didn't fare as well as the three golfers above him on this list last week, but when we last saw him at a regular PGA Tour stop, he was claiming victory for the second consecutive year at the St. Jude Classic. Berger has played this event just once, but he turned that start into a T5 last year.
Brendan Steele
Yet another who played well last week, a top-15 at the Open, and who has a solid history here. Steele has five top-25s in just six starts at this event. Steele has only one top-10 among those five top-25s, but he's seems to be getting better each year, so a career best here wouldn't surprise.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Russell Knox
There's no two ways about it, Knox has really struggled the last five months. Knox remains in the top 60 on the FedEx Cup list because he had such an outstanding fall, but his play since January has been terrible. Defending a title this week isn't going to make things easier on him either.
Wesley Bryan
Bryan appears to be in the midst of a summer slump. It happens to a lot of the young golfers when they first join the PGA Tour and even though Bryan was playing at a high level earlier in the season, even he is not immune from the grind. Bryan has missed the cut in three of his last four starts.
Luke Donald
Remember when Donald showed some signs of life earlier this season? Well, that's ancient history now as he hasn't played well in a couple months. Donald enters this week having missed the cut in four of his last five starts. He does have a T7 here, but his form appears to be too far gone to replicate that effort.
Hudson Swafford
Swafford made a splash early in the season when he won the Career Builder Challenge, but it's been mostly downhill since. He's been particularly bad recently, having missed the cut in his last four starts.
Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau missed another cut last week, and, at this point, I'll have to leave him on this list because no one is going to use him unless he starts showing some signs of life. DeChambeau did make the cut here in his only appearance, but he could only manage a T47.
ONE AND DONE GOLFER
Last week: Jason Day (MC) - $0; Season - $6,353,074
This week: Marc Leishman - As mentioned, it's hard to get away from Thomas this week, but there is one scenario, which could cause him to play poorly, and that's if there is any hangover from the missed opportunity at the U.S. Open last week. No such worries with Leishman, who though he played well last week, was never in serious contention on Sunday.
YAHOO PICKS
Points: 2,934
Rank: 23,387
This Week:
Group A: Marc Leishman, Brendan Steele
Group B: Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson, Brandt Snedeker, Charley Hoffman
Group C: Daniel Berger, Brian Harman
SURVIVOR PICK
Last week: Francesco Molinari - (MC); Streak - 0
This week: Marc Leishman - After the carnage that was last week, I have to imagine a lot of pools are almost done. For those that are still alive, Leishman looks like a good pick in this format as well as he's 6-for-6 here.
