Since the US open is only a week away I figured it’s time to start a thread on it.
I also wanted to see if there was anyone else who was planning on going. I have tickets for Friday so if someone was going we should try and meet up. Only problem is that you can’t have phones and such there.
Any predictions on who’s going to win?
And I would definitely take an even money bet that it will be a non-american.
Stricker (25/1) is highest ranked American, but IMO, he has no chance despite his win last week. he simply is never in the mix on Sunday afternoon in a major. No top 5 finishes in this century.
Mickelson (co favorite at 12/1) ? 5 times a bridesmaid in this event but aside from Winged Foot, his 2nd place finishes have not been at ultra private parkland courses. Hasn’t played well at Oakmont, Congressional, Southern Hills, Olympia Fields, Oakland Hills, and Olympic. He will probably be right there on Sunday or on his way to a T40 finish.
Kuchar (25/1) doesn’t not have a lot of recent experience, but I think he is the american with the best chance. He played the weekend of all four majors for the first time ever last year, and he is solid. My guess is that he will be low American. I’d take him heads up against any other American.
Long shot Americans that might be in the hunt on Sunday: Rickie Fowler (66/1) , Bo Van Pelt (150/1)
Notable Americans with little of no chance. Furyk (50/1), Bubba (50/1).
I think the smart money will be on a European. They are ruling the roost in the rankings. Donald (co favorite 12/1) is a top 10 machine and Westwood (14/1) has not lost in regulation 72 hole stroke play event since the Masters. Two wins and a playoff loss to Donald. Qtr finals of a match play event in Spain.
One of these days, McIlroy (16/1) is going to bust out and be a major player. Not sure if Congressional will be the track though.
McDowell (33/1) s struggling, and he appears to have post-major depression. Took big bucks from Srixon to change equipment. usually not a good idea.
would not be surprised to KJ Choi (33/1) be in the mix on Sunday. He has won on this golf course before.
Longshot: Look out for 18 yr old Matteo Manassero (50/1) to make some noise. Not a long driver, but knows how to keep in the short grass and get the ball in the hole. I would love to have an option on this kid’s future earnings. On and off the golf course. More marketable than Fowler and McIlroy IMO.
Another Int’l Longshot. Scotland’s Martin Laird (100/1)
Look for Ernie Els (80/1), Paul Casey (50/1), Padraig Harrington (50/1) and Master’s Champ Charl Schwartzel (50/1) to miss the cut.
Looking forward to a great week next week.
My guess: My top two picks are Westwood or Donald, and I would bet on the winner being a a non-American (for the 5th major in a row).
Comparing todays rankings with those three years ago, only 2 (Mickelson, Stricker) of the top 10 players going into the 2008 USOpen are in the top 10 today. the other 8 players are either falling like a rock in the rankings (Woods, Furyk, Els, Ogivly, Rose), or already fallen like a rock in the rankings (Harrington, Garcia, Singh). It doesn’t look like any of those players will be returning to a top 10 ranking anytime soon.
(Odds at ladbrokes.com as of this morning.)
Have a good day at Congressional. Stay hydrated and look for shady spots. It will probably be hot.
One bump since it’s Open week.
Not this year, but maybe someday. The course selected for 2015 is only about a mile-and-a-half away from me.
Unfortunately we can’t get much discussion about golf on this board.
That’s because the boards don’t think golf is a sport but do think chess is.
d&r, but since I play golf and swim I can out run those nerdy chess types. 
Just to make you jealous, This years Open is at Sandwich, my home town. Me and the family have tickets and we’ll be cycling down to the course. Very handy.
As for the US open? I like the look of those odds on Mannassero.
As I said before, I would like to option on Matteo’s future earnings. The kid has all kinds of charisma.
Quite, he could be the Garcia that Garcia isn’t.
? You and several other people (moi’ too) have been involved in that rather heated Tiger thread.
Day 1 is getting close to 1/2 done and no one is really lighting it up and under ideal scoring conditions. Ryan Palmer and YE Yang are leading at 3 under. Surprisingly to me, Donald and Westwood are really struggling today, both are +3 after 15 holes. Mickelson tees off in about an hour.
I am really interested in what a journeyman shoots this afternoon. Robert Rock. I have detailed the journey of Englishman Robert Rock in this thread. I hope he can play well this afternoon.
Rory McIlroy (-6) is embarrassing his playing partners, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickleson (+3, +3) today. Mickleson just went from one bunker to another on #8. The problem is the first bunker he was in was on a different hole. Nine shots and more than 70 players between these two and McIlroy now. Sergio is about to go to -3 on 16. Hopefully McIlroy got the Major jitters out of his system at Augusta - I’d like to see him win. As expected, the leaderboard is dominated by non-Americans.
My darkhorse is Chavez Ravine at -1.
IMO, the story of the day is Robert Rock, one under par and T10 with the 18th hole to play. No practice round. Hope he can continue.
I was glad to see that Phil was hitting a lot of two irons from the tee, and horrified to see that he was still missing fairways with them.
Totally surprised by Rory, and Yang as well. If Rory can hold his lead through Saturday, will Sunday be a repeat of the Masters, or vindication?
It’s US Open time! Look for me in the blue shirt!
I’m not even sure where I should sit. I think I’m going to try and find a grandstand for awhile and then follow someone around this afternoon.
McIlroy just missed an eagle opportunity, but is now 9 shots clear with a couple holes of his second round still to play.
I don’t understand how he can only have one win each on the PGA and Euro tours. If the conditions stay favorable, he could obliterate all the records this week.
Edit: he just broke the record, becoming the first man to ever be -13 at a US Open.
Has anybody ever, at ANY PGA event, finished the second round leading by 10 or more?
10 shots clear now, on -13. Playing 18 now.
Seen a lot of blue shirts in the gallery. Haven’t seen any blue shirts with just a head though.
And I am seeing a lot birdies from McIlroy, just birdied 17 to get -13, most ever in relation to par at USOpen. Would like to see Rory win but i would like to see a competitive tournament as well but I also do not want to see him melt down like he did 2 months ago. His odds was 16/1 going into last week, dropped to 20/1 on tournament eve. After Round 1, he was 9/4. He will probably be something like 1/5 after today’s round.
Incredible performance through 35 holes. 13 fricking under!
Cmon boys, lets pick up the pace this afternoon.
Water,water everywhere…