Assessing the US Open’s leading lights: Rose could bloom again
Published:
The US Open moves back to Oakmont for a record ninth stint as host and as the 116th edition of the tournament moves into view, Ladbrokes News runs the rule over the leading men in the market.
There really aren’t many holes in Day’s A-game which is precisely the reason he sits as world number one and defends the PGA Championship later in the summer. Twice a US Open runner-up since 2011. A formidable 69-65 finish to earn tenth at the Hyundai prior to Oakmont also bodes well. Lack of value is the Australian’s only negative.
If Oakmont is recognised as one of golf’s most punishing tests then there are few who possess as many attributes as McIlroy to pass the examination with flying colours. However, slight concern over Wee-Mac’s recent record of third-round scoring exists, with no sub-70 round posted on Saturdays in his past five outings, averaging 74. Hitting Oakmont’s par score of 70 is considered an excellent round in Pennsylvania.
The defending champion will only have practice rounds in which to properly familiarise himself with these iconic surroundings and this could weigh against the more inexperienced campaigner. An indifferent T57 at Memorial leading in and possible mental collateral from that Masters meltdown could count against theTexan.
One of the best picks for sure. DJ is swinging masterfully in 2016, recording no fewer than five top fives in his last seven starts, with a worst finish of 28th since the AT & T Pro Am back in February. Of course, he has to overcome the last-hurdle jitters which have plagued him in majors, but if he does then the agony of Chambers Bay a year ago – when finishing second to Spieth – could well be banished at his home Open.
Well rested since The Players after citing back pain, the Englishman has claimed he has been putting the same level of meticulous study into the classic Oakmont layout as he did when winning at Merion in 2013. Rose certainly has a head start in that task and over the peers on this page, having posted a top-10 the last time Oakmont hosted the US Open in 2007, where he was just two shots shy of the lead through 58 holes. Always a threat at majors and course form a genuine boon.
A victor this season and a major winner in waiting according to many observers, Matsuyama shared seventh on big stages at the Masters and The Players already this season. He will have to put a missed cut at Memorial sharply behind him, but last time he failed to make the weekend the Japanese player won the Pheonix Open on his next start! Still a big ask to break majors duck at such a tough location though.
Inevitably cooled since back-to-back wins in February and March, Scott has now gone six outings without breaking the top 10, including a stuttering Masters showing. Would not be a surprise to see the former world number one rekindle some magic at the US Open though, having finished T9 and T4 in the two most recent editions. Scott would still be a more speculative pick than a few others, though, especially with a MC here in 2007.
Confidence should be sky high (despite six previous runner-up finishes at the US Open without winning it) coming off the back of T2 at the St. Jude Classic. However, hasn’t featured in the past two editions of the only major left to allude him and his last US Open MC was at Oakmont in 2007.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
