Anybody think a guy like Gary Woodland has an outside shot?

I didn't think so, either.

    rsvman rsvman
    an hour ago

    Anybody think a guy like Gary Woodland has an outside shot?

    I didn't think so, either.

    He's only won twice on tour, both limited fields, and his best win was Internationally with Kuchar in a 2 man best- ball World Cup. I don't see him being focused enough with the loss of the baby and his wife at home to keep his mind on the game to be in the hunt this week. He's back with Butch Harmon and spent a couple of days in Vegas with him last week. Woodland will win again, but not this year with all of the outside distractions he has personally, IMO.


      The US Open isn't void of fluke-ish winners. See Webb Simpson back in 2012 at Olympic Club as the most recent example. Perhaps even Geoff Ogilvy back in 2006 at Winged Foot would be a more sufficient example, who shot +2 in the final round and backed himself into a major victory while watching the leaders behind him implode under the pressure. At least Webb fired an under-par final round, although it's worth noting that Furyk choked on his vomit coming in that Sunday. But still... Webb played great that week, so maybe it wasn't that big of a fluke.

      I'm sticking with Justin Thomas. He's as good a pick as anyone, I reckon. But with wide fairways and length being rewarded for those who can keep it somewhere out of the fescue, it otherwise comes down to putting.

      Hopefully, more than anything else, we don't see the type of debacle that happened last year at Oakmont with the greens being cut so close that a gust of wind causes the ball to move.

      The USGA conducts the tournament. They should not be putting themselves in a position to pick the winner.

      I still feel very confident in assuming that whomever wins, Mrs. Murphy still butchers the closing awards ceremony.

      sdandrea1

      You could do worse, for sure. Duff seems to be playing in a nice groove at the moment. Fowler ain't a bad pick either, although his usual MO is to shit the bed if he's had 3 solid rounds.

      Should be interesting. Hard to pick one over another, not knowing a lot about the course and how it might play. Spieth seems to think that 5-under to 10-under could win. I'm guessing maybe 3-4 under, maybe?

      Who knows.... it depends on how the scoring is for the first two days, and how the USGA sets up the layout for the weekend, knowing how desperately they cling to the standard of level-par winning their tournament.

        Justin Rose is playing well and is very straight of the tee. I think he will do well here.

        I’m still sticking to the premise the contenders will substantially all be long knocks off the tee. This course is going to be the LONGEST in MAJOR history at 7740 yards (the USGA chose not to play from the tips at 8000 yards). There is rain in the forecast for Friday and Saturday that could reduce yardage off the tees under soft conditions but, on the other hand, could make the greens more receptive to long iron approach shots. I understand there are several holes that require a pretty good hike from green to the next tee box so I don’t see a nostalgic favorite in contention due to the grind.

        I’m sticking with DJ. (The USGA has already ruled all bunkers and sandy blow outs are played as hazards so DJ doesn't have to make as many decisions.)

        Editor’s Note: The above analysis was provided by a guy that failed to win any of the numerous prizes awarded in the Master’s Pick Em.

          The rain will make the fairways softer and thus while curtailing distance will keep more drives in the fairways instead of the fescue. Whoever has the most fairways in regulation this week has a great chance to win.
          I guess I have to go with DJ as well. I never know which Rory will come to play so I won't pick him.

          Maybe a guy like Brooks Koepka can pull it out? He hits it plenty far. Another guy to watch out for is Jon Rahm.

          By the way, not that anyone is picking him, but I just heard that Mickelson is not going to play. Going to his daughter's graduation instead.

            I'm waiting until Sunday afternoon to make my pick.................

              The hell with golf just keep Holly on air. My gawd what a set of fun bags. 😛

              rsvman. Well, I guess the answer to my first question in the quoted post is a resounding yes.

              Jon Rahm, not so much.

                  rsvman

                  Brooks played great today. I really didn't think he'd respond as well as he did to the pressure. He flipped the switch with birdieing 14, 15 and 16, and at that point it was simply a matter of who was gonna finish second.

                  Justin Thomas tried his best to make me look like a genius Saturday afternoon, but made me look like an ass today. I should apologize to him for picking him and putting the jinx on him. He obviously wasn't mentally prepared for the wind today, never looked comfortable from the start. Not to mention the expectations on him after such a phenomenal round Saturday.

                  He's gotta be dealing with some serious disappointment this evening, but he'll bounce back from this. Huge learning experience for him.