This article is part of our Weekly PGA Preview series.
Daniel Berger scored a huge win last week at the St. Jude Classic as he continues trending upward after a great 2015 campaign…unfortunately, it's U.S. Open week, so we've already moved on. With that in mind, let's look ahead to what promises to be the toughest U.S. Open in the past 500 years, okay, maybe the past 100 years. Actually, it might not be the toughest in the past 10 years by the time it's over, but to listen to the golfers that have played a couple practice rounds, a score of +20 may win this thing. Rumor has it, the course is so difficult, any golfer who can merely finish all four rounds may win by default. If you haven't caught on yet, the sarcasm is pretty thick, but with good reason. Every year we hear about how difficult this major venue is playing or how unfair that major venue is going to be and more often than not, it's not nearly as bad as it's made out to be. That's not to say that Oakmont will be a walk in the park, heck, I'm expecting a tough test for the best golfers in the world, but by the end of the week, I have a feeling that we'll look back and say it was a good challenge, as opposed to the toughest test that mankind has ever faced. One thing is certain though, the winner come Sunday will be one that is as mentally strong as he is
Daniel Berger scored a huge win last week at the St. Jude Classic as he continues trending upward after a great 2015 campaign…unfortunately, it's U.S. Open week, so we've already moved on. With that in mind, let's look ahead to what promises to be the toughest U.S. Open in the past 500 years, okay, maybe the past 100 years. Actually, it might not be the toughest in the past 10 years by the time it's over, but to listen to the golfers that have played a couple practice rounds, a score of +20 may win this thing. Rumor has it, the course is so difficult, any golfer who can merely finish all four rounds may win by default. If you haven't caught on yet, the sarcasm is pretty thick, but with good reason. Every year we hear about how difficult this major venue is playing or how unfair that major venue is going to be and more often than not, it's not nearly as bad as it's made out to be. That's not to say that Oakmont will be a walk in the park, heck, I'm expecting a tough test for the best golfers in the world, but by the end of the week, I have a feeling that we'll look back and say it was a good challenge, as opposed to the toughest test that mankind has ever faced. One thing is certain though, the winner come Sunday will be one that is as mentally strong as he is physically, which is always true about the U.S. Open.
This week: The U.S. Open - Oakmont C.C. - Oakmont, PA
Last Year: Jordan Spieth shot a final-round 69 on his way to a one-stroke victory over Dustin Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen.
Players to Consider:
Jason Day
He's the best player in the world right now and his track record at the U.S. Open is surprisingly strong. I say surprisingly because the other three majors come to mind often when thinking about Day, but his record at the U.S. Open is very sound. He's earned four top-10s in the past five years, and yes, I realize it's a different course each season, but the set-ups are often similar and mental toughness is a trait common to those that do well year-in and year-out at the U.S. Open.
Jordan Spieth
Some would say that Spieth lacked mental toughness this past April when he inexplicably blew-up on the 12th hole at Augusta, but the fact that he rebounded after that fiasco shows more about his character than one brief mental lapse. Spieth will be fine going forward, and he won't let one bad hole ruin him. As for his prowess at the U.S. Open, he has one win and two other top-25s in four starts.
Brandt Snedeker
Snedeker is a solid golfer, he's been so for quite some time now, but while he's never among the first few players you think of when picking your roster for a major, that could change this week. Snedeker has proven surprisingly adept at traversing the USGA layouts over the past decade, and if he can keep it together for a full four rounds this week, he might finally break through and capture his first major.
Charl Schwartzel
Schwartzel hasn't quite lived-up to the expectations that his Masters win brought, but nonetheless, he's been an above-average golfer for much of the past five years. If Schwartzel is to take the next step, he'll need another major win, and this could be the week. Though Schwartzel's only major came at Augusta, his U.S. Open resume might be the best of the bunch. Schwartzel has finished inside the top-16 in four of his past six starts at the U.S. Open.
Adam Scott
Scott has slowed quite a bit since his torrid start to this season, but a hot streak is always right around the corner for a golfer of Scott's caliber. Scott also has a pretty solid track record at the U.S. Open, at least over the past four years anyhow. The Australian has finished inside the top-10 the past two years at the U.S. Open.
Players to Avoid:
Jim Furyk
Furyk was runner-up at Oakmont in 2007, but that was a long time ago for someone who's not only battling injuries, but Father Time as well. Asking Furyk to play well under USGA conditions this week is just unfair so soon after resuming life on the PGA Tour.
Angel Cabrera
Likely to be a popular sleeper pick this week as the defending Oakmont champion, but Cabrera is simply not the golfer he was nearly a decade ago.
Zach Johnson
Johnson's game seems tailor-made for the U.S. Open, but for whatever reason, he's rarely had any success on USGA layouts. Johnson doesn't have a single top-25 over the past decade in the U.S. Open, and the way he's been playing lately, there's no reason to think that will change this year.
Dustin Johnson
This is certainly an "against the grain" selection, but hear me out. DJ has played well all season and his record at the U.S. Open is surprisingly solid, both of which are reasons to take him this week, but my theory is that he'll struggle with the added attention from the media, constantly asking about the 72nd green last year. He may have been able to put it behind him for the most part, but he's going to have to deal with it once again this week.
Graeme McDowell
It's always dangerous to fade McDowell in the U.S. Open, but he's not only struggled to play well at this major over the past three years, he's struggled everywhere. McDowell gained a reputation for playing well at the U.S. Open after his win in 2010, but over the course of the past three years, people have begun to doubt that reputation.
ONE AND DONE GOLFER
Last week: Brooks Koepka (T2) - $462,933; Season - $7,490,407
This week: Adam Scott - I have Day available, but the U.S. Open, especially at Oakmont seems a little too unstable, so I don't want to burn the best player in the world this week. Instead I'll go with Scott, who's certainly capable of winning this week, but is also safe enough to expect at least a solid paycheck.
YAHOO PICKS
Points: 3287
Rank: 22,167
This Week:
Group A: Jason Day, Jordan Spieth
Group B: Rory McIlroy, Brandt Snedeker, Justin Rose, Hideki Matsuyama
Group C: Charl Schwartzel, Matt Kuchar
SURVIVOR PICK
Last week: Camilo Villegas (T58); Streak - 3
This week: Jason Day - The U.S. Open is the toughest cut to make, so might as well go with the most reliable player on the planet. It will be much easier to find guys that are sure to make the cut at the British Open and the PGA Championship.
