The second major of 2011 returns to the Blue Course at Congressional for the first time since 1997. As you\u2019d expect from a U.S. Open track, hitting fairways, scrambling and avoiding bogeys are crucial. A score around even par always has a chance to win. <\/p>\n
LAST WEEK<\/strong>: OK, so I got a bit cocky. I won on a hunch with Steve Stricker and got a little cute by picking Sergio Garcia to win the FedEx St. Jude Classic. He missed the cut. I\u2019ll try to do at least a little homework before making my U.S. Open pick.<\/p>\n Date<\/strong>: Thursday June 16 – 19, 2011 Rory McIlroy <\/strong> Sure, he collapsed at the Masters, but he\u2019s a young guy. Still feels like it\u2019s only a matter of time before Rory gets his first major. I don\u2019t think that will happen this weekend, though. His putting isn\u2019t where it needs to be and his accuracy stats \u2013 greens and driving \u2013 are so-so.<\/p>\n Luke Donald<\/strong> I still can\u2019t fault anyone for picking Donald to win every week. He\u2019s been the Tour\u2019s best player this season, with a victory and 10 straight top 10s to his name. Donald is 12th<\/sup> in fairways, sixth in putting and third in bogey avoidance. Driving distance isn\u2019t at a premium this week, so Donald has an excellent chance to win.<\/p>\n Phil Mickelson<\/strong> I like Phil\u2019s game for this week; his scrambling is on the rise and he\u2019s done a nice job hitting greens on his approaches. He\u2019s a five-time runner up but I see that as a negative. He\u2019s been in contention five times and has failed to close the door five times. There\u2019s some kind of mental block preventing Lefty from winning this particular major.<\/p>\n Lee Westwood<\/strong> Westwood is warming up, with six straight top-11 finishes worldwide. That streak includes two wins and a playoff loss. He looked solid at Memphis his last time out, cracking the top 10 in the field in greens and putting. But I still get the Monty feeling from Westwood at majors. He\u2019s flirted with glory but can\u2019t seem to get over the hump on U.S. soil.<\/p>\n Dustin Johnson <\/strong> We can\u2019t count out big Dustin Johnson. He collapsed after leading through 54 holes at last year\u2019s U.S. Open but he hasn\u2019t looked like a guy scarred form that experience since then. Johnson hasn\u2019t sizzled this year but he\u2019s been solid. He was fourth his last time out and he has the accuracy on his approaches to match his booming drives. <\/p>\n Steve Stricker<\/strong> Obviously, Stricker has the right game for this tournament. He has the velvet putting stroke and nobody bogeys less often per 18 holes. But there\u2019s just something about Stricker in majors. He hasn\u2019t had a top-10 finish at the U.S. Open since 1999. I\u2019d love to see him finally win the big one but I just don\u2019t know if he has the nerves to do it.
\nEvent<\/strong>: U.S. Open Championship
\nCourse<\/strong>: Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland
\nPurse<\/strong>: $7,500,000
\nDefending Champ<\/strong>: Graeme McDowell
\nWinning Share<\/strong>: $1,350,000
\nFedEX Cup Points Up For Grabs<\/strong>: 600<\/p>\nTHE CONTENDERS<\/h3>\n
\nU.S. Open odds: +1000<\/p>\n
\nU.S. Open odds: +1200<\/p>\n
\nU.S. Open odds: +1200<\/p>\n
\nU.S. Open odds: +1200<\/p>\nSOLID PICKS<\/h3>\n
\nU.S. Open odds: +1800<\/p>\n
\nU.S. Open odds: +1800<\/p>\n