The US Open is one of, if not the toughest major - I'd obviously find it easy if the buggers would just give me an invite.
This week, 156 of the world's best will descend on Shinnecock Hills, New Jersey for the 118th US Open championship. The US Open is notorious for using courses that are defined by rough that a tank would struggle to get through, fast greens and fairways about as wide as <INSERT INAPPROPRIATE JOKE HERE>. However, Shinnecock Hills seems to break from the traditional challenges of a US Open course with slightly wider fairways but more length, playing at 7445 yards. Your driver had better be behaving! A friend who is playing this week summed it up perfectly I think. "There are a few chances but if you miss it, you are f**ked. There's no semi rough, miss the fairway, can't get to the green, miss it by a yard, lob wedge out, miss it by 2 yards, hope there's a f**king spotter close by". I know, his language is disgraceful!
In short, to stand a chance of winning you have to hit it miles and as straight as an arrow fired from whoever the best at firing arrows is. Apologies, I'm not up to date with my archery.
THE TOP DOGS
DJ | 15 -2
Looking through the favourites, it's hard to single any out. All are showing great form and have won this year or won majors, it's really tough to choose between them. I guess that's what makes them the favourites. After last week's performance in Memphis, Dustin Johnson firmly cemented his position as THE favourite to take the title. He had a four shot lead playing the 18th and decided to hole out with a wedge to finish the job. Who does that! I'm pretty sure he walked it in as it was mid flight too. A sign of confidence if ever you've seen one. A former US Open champion and back to world number 1, it's difficult to bet against him to take home a second major.
TW | 14-1
I know I might be getting repetitive here in bigging up Tiger but I'm gonna do it anyway, I'm 100% (no that's not possible), maybe 99.9% certain that Tiger will get a win sooner or later, and it wouldn't be surprising that his first win since his most recent comeback would be a major! His game and golf swing are looking tremendous. His stats from his last tournament backed up that some areas of his game are getting back to their best. The same couldn't be said about his putting, but I'll put that down to just a bad week on the greens as we all know he can putt. If it all comes together, he will be up there, no doubt about it!
Justin Rose | 14-1
Justin is having a great season, and another major has been coming for a while for him. He has the game and consistency to win this. He has one of the best, most repeatable golf swings out there so under pressure, Rosey (yea, I can call him Rosey) will hold it together. It's just whether his putting can get him in the position to win this Sunday. His putter can be hot and cold (depending on what sort of temperature it is in suppose) but he's definitely improved on that front this year having already two wins and six top tens under his belt. Not literally under his belt obviously.
There are so many more out of the 'favourites' that you can pick from; Justin Thomas, Jason Day, John Rahm, Ricky Fowler, Jordan Spieth. You might as well just put those names into a hat and draw one out. Unreal quality. But. there is one more that deserves a bit more attention...
Rory | 11-1
So good I only need to call him by his first name, not unlike Beyonce, but at the same time, very much unlike Beyonce! Recently he's seemed to have a couple of different players within himself. The one that is just outrageously good, and the one that should have stayed in bed. Granted the one that should have stayed in bed is still pretty handy but he'll need to be on top of his game to feature here. If however, he is on form, he's very very difficult to beat and it is about time he added to those four majors that he already has. Hitting fairways is a premium in the US Open, that goes without saying, but Shinnecock is long this year so that will benefit Rory as he averages about 6000 yards off the tee. Fingers crossed that the Rory we know arrives in New Jersey this week.
The BEST OF THE REST
Tommy Fleetwood | 35-1
Tommy is a really promising each way bet. He's been a bit quiet of late but is usually mega consistent and able to perform under pressure. At last year's event, he finished inside the top 10 and seems to always feature in the big stuff. He had such a good season last year but I think it's only the start for him. Another great driver of the golf ball which is key at any US Open so I'd expect Tommy to be in or around the top ten. A pretty solid each way I think but could go all the way.
Francesco Molinari | 50-1
The lad is like a machine. A robot golfer if you will. His recent performances just look like nothing is going to go wrong. He's shown he can win the big ones, granted not yet a major but certainly one of the next best. He was awesome at Wentworth and showed that he can handle the pressure of leading and finish the job off. The very next week he came up just short of winning his home championship so if anyone is showing the form needed to claim a first major, it's him. I like him too, he's understated, and he has a funny tone to his voice. This has no relevance to his chances at Shinnecock but thought it was worth noting. He's 50-1 too. Is there something I don't know? 50-1. Thats a solid each way if ever I've seen one.
Marc Leishman | 45-1
A very underrated player and I don't know why. He has featured so much in the latter stages of so many big tournaments, especially majors. He's had six top tens this season, granted without a win but as an each way bet, I think he could be a surprise, or not so much a surprise, depending how you look at it. He's at 45-1 so there's a good return to be had. He also spells his name with a c rather than a K. Again, completely irrelevant information.
THE LONG SHOTS
Graeme McDowell | 150 -1
This might be a bit of a surprise one but he's at 150-1 and as a former champion who's coming off the back of a couple strong finishes (which could have been stronger), I have a feeling that he might do something. It's not really based on much, more a hunch really. I once had a hunch as a child that I'd be able to swim with armbands on my feet. But don't let that make you question my judgement. G-Mac has put himself back in contention in a couple of recent tournaments so that will have surely given him confidence going into this major.
Danny Willett | 200 - 1
I hear you gasp! Granted Danny hasn't played anywhere near what he played like in the run up to and during the 2016 Masters, that goes without saying and that's why he is 200-1. The win at The Masters was not just a fluke, I think he was #12 in the world at the time so the people saying the things like 'he came out of nowhere' and it was just a 'lucky week', well, they are talking bollocks. He played well last week in Italy and was very much in contention until a few putts slid by on the back nine. He looked good though, and the swing looked good. Danny doesn't strike me as someone who is phased by the occasion or by what's gone on before and I could see him being around the top part of the leaderboard. Again he is 200-1. Masters Champ two years ago and he's 200-1!!!!!
Andrew Johnston | 250 - 1
What a guy! Do I need to say more about Beef? He loves the States and the crowd loves him. A happy golfer is a dangerous one, and he's performed well in the majors before so another great each way bet at 250-1. There'll be plenty of support out there for him and I think that makes a difference. He smashed it in the qualifying round at Walton Heath to get here so he's clearly hitting it well. Go on The Beef. He will have to be a prime Beef to contend though (see what I did there), but why not. BEEEEEEFFFFFF!
ONE TO WATCH
Paul Waring | 400 - 1
Who? Yes, Paul Waring. I may be a little biased in this selection but I'm coming from an inside info kind of place, is that legal? I'll carry on anyway. I play a lot of golf with this lad and trust me, he is a proper player. His 400-1 odds are only because he's flown under the radar for a while and he may not have quite reached the levels that he is more than capable of. He is a top ball striker and one of the best drivers of the golf ball that I've played with. He has experience playing at this level having competed at three Open Championships. His form shows that he is playing some really good golf, but just hasn't quite got it done in all four rounds of a tournament. This could be the week, and what a week it would be to do it! If he does step out of line though, I know his caddy is not shy in giving him a swift dig and a telling off (that's the polite way to put it). A good caddy in these events is invaluable and Paul certainly has one in Jamie.
On a side note, Jamie did caddy for me at Q School one year which is how I know he isn't afraid to speak his mind in certain situations. One that springs to mind was when I took about 17 shots to hit the green from about 50 yards on a par five. I was 3 under at the time with three holes to play. 'What the f**k are you doing?' I think was the response. I didn't know the answer.
Anyway, Good luck to the lads!
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