2017 U.S. Open Preview
Let us rejoice. Major Championship golf is back. It’s time for the toughest test in golf, the U.S. Open. For the first time in its history the U.S. Open heads to Wisconsin.
Erin Hills, located in Erin, Wisconsin, will play host to the 2017 U.S. Open. The par-72 course that can play up to 7800 yards will challenge the greatest golfers in the world this week.
The U.S. Open field will look quite strange this year because for the first time in a long time it looks like both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will be absent. Woods is still out with back troubles (among other issues) and Mickelson, who is still looking to complete the career grand slam at the U.S. Open, will most likely be inactive due to his daughters graduation.
The lack of Woods is something we have become used to over the past few years, but the lack of Mickelson will be different. Mickelson and his record six runner-up finishes at the U.S. Open are always an intriguing and important storyline during the week.
Despite the lack of such big names, we have moved past the times of Woods and Mickelson being the superstars in the world of golf, and we have entered an era where the young stars are dominating the game. The young stars will make it okay that Tiger and Phil will be missing this week because they’ll provide plenty of fireworks of their own.
From the “old” young guys in Dustin Johnson and Jason Day to the truly young guys in Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth, the U.S. Open field is packed with talent and promises to be another great major weekend! Let’s take a look at some guys to look out for!
The Big Ones
Dustin Johnson
The current world number one and defending champion needs to be a guy to watch this weekend. Johnson didn’t play in the first major of the year due to a back injury and hasn’t looked the same since returning from it. Prior to his injury he recorded three consecutive victories. In his four starts since, he’s recorded a T2, T12, T13, and a missed cut. It’s tough to say a guy hasn’t looked the same when he lands a second place finish and two other top-15 finishes, but that’s the truth for Johnson right now. He was so hot before the Masters that his recent starts are considered not too amazing. Johnson should contend this weekend, as he has in the last three U.S. Open tournaments.
Jason Day
Day has had a rough start to the season dealing with some on the course and off the course issues. He has just two top-10 finishes in nine appearances. The good sign for Day? He has finished 2nd and T15 in his last two appearances. Day getting on the right track would he huge for his game going forward and what better way to get the season really going with a win at Erin Hills?
Jordan Spieth
The former U.S. Open champion hasn’t seen a ton of success in majors since his 2015 season where he won twice and finished top-5 in the other two majors. However, his game is getting to a great point. He has missed three cuts in his last six appearances, but in the tournaments he has made the cut, he has finished T11, T2, and T13. The T2 and T13 have come over the last couple weeks and at times during each tournament Spieth has shown signs of tremendous golf. The last thing the field wants to see is Spieth in a groove because if he is feeling it, he is extremely challenging to beat.
Jon Rahm
Rahm is coming off a rare missed cut in his last appearance at The Memorial. But don’t let one bad tournament lead you astray. The 22-year-old has proven that he has IT. In 12 professional appearances this season, Rahm has four top-3 finishes, including a victory at the Farmers Insurance Open, and three more top-10 finishes. The young Spainard has proven that he is a legitimate contender in the game of golf and will be for many years. It is only a matter of time before he breaks through on the major stage.
Kevin Kisner
Kisner enters the tournament in some really great form. He is coming off a T6 at The Memorial and a victory at the Dean and Deluca. His major resumè isn’t the prettiest, with his best finish being a T12 at the 2015 U.S. Open. However, he has proven time and again that he can compete with the big guns on tour. If Kisner can retain the form he is in, he’ll contend this week at Erin Hills.
Sergio Garcia
How will Sergio respond in his first major championship as a major champion? Garcia has long been one of the best ball strikers on tour and we now know that he has what it takes to win a major. Will being a major champion help him gain even more confidence in majors and help him win a second major? We’ll see this week.
Keep an eye on
Justin Rose
The 2013 champion is always a guy to watch out for in majors. He seemingly had the Masters won earlier this year when Sergio Garcia found himself in trouble on the 13th hole on Sunday, however, Garcia bounced back to stun everyone and top Rose in a playoff. Rose has five top-10 finishes in his last nine major appearances. Always count on Rose to have his name floating around the top of the leaderboard.
Rickie Fowler
Fowler is coming off a missed cut at the FedEx St. Jude Classic but don’t let that take away from his solid season so far. Rickie has a win, a second, a third, and a fourth this season among other good finishes. He has been striking the ball well all season. He was in contention at the Masters through 63-holes before blowing up on his back nine on Sunday en route to a T11 finish. If he is in top form, he will contend. If he isn’t, he’ll be looking at an early exit.
Justin Thomas
Thomas came out flying to start the 2016–17 season, winning three times and recording a 59 in Hawaii. He has since cooled off and isn’t firing 59’s and winning by multiple strokes anymore. He did record a T4 finish in his last start at The Memorial. Thomas will be a major champion some day. Maybe June 18th is his day.
Hideki Matsuyama
I feel like I always have Matsuyama and Thomas together in bunches. Maybe because they both started the season in similar form. Matsuyama has slowed down real quick since his win at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. In seven starts, he has a missed cut and has not finished higher than T11 in any other start. He’s not playing his best golf, however, don’t count him out.
Rory McIlroy
Rory has been quiet this season. A little too quiet. If he pounces and wins this thing by five or more strokes I wouldn’t be surprised. Never count Rory out, especially on one of the biggest stages.
The Pick
Rickie Fowler
I have to go Fowler here. He’s coming off a missed cut but he has been solid all season. He is nearing the top of the list of great players that don’t have a major victory. In fact, he might be at the top. He has proven he can contend on the major stage, all that’s left is to prove he can win. Fowler’s swing coach, Butch Harmon, has said Rickie’s been working hard this year. It will finally pay off on Sunday at Erin Hills.
