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JoePa's U.S.Open Picks
Wow! Coming off another one of "those" weeks when one stroke separated me from a Top 5 finish by Billy Horschel. Now it's onto Pinehurst and a huge major with one U.S. golfer looking to finish the Grand Slam (Phil) and one more (Bubba) looking to add another rung in his climb to the slam.
PHIL MICKELSON - 14/1 OUTRIGHT WIN - Lefty is still chasing the slam and looked good last week in his prep at the FedEx St. Jude. With a plethora of runner-up finishes (6) at the U.S. Open and a short game to die for, it could be Phil's time! Converting 61% of scrambling situations and 67% GIR has kept him near the top this season.
JORDAN SPEITH - 5/1 TOP 5 FINISH - Amazing what the 20 year old "kid" has accomplished on the grown ups circuit this year. He rested last week after T19th at The Memorial and has 13 Top 20s on the season with 6 Top 10s. Speith ranks 7th in adjusted scoring, 24th in bogey avoidance, 5th in the FedEx, 9th in birdie or better conversion percentage, 8th in par 4 birdie or better average. His season resume includes impressive finishes T20th at the Valspar, 10th at the Valero, T2nd at The Masters, T12th at the RBC, T4th at The Players and T14th at the Crowne Plaza.....he doesn't disappoint his followers.
HENRIK STENSON - 5/1 TOP 5 FINISH - It was either Stenson or Jimenez for me and I think Pinehurst suits the tall Swede better! He has 4 Top 10s in his last 7 starts on a combination of Euro and PGA Tour events and finished with a solo fifth at the Nordea Masters with a round of -14 in his homeland. Over his last five starts before the Nordea he T7th at the BMW, T5th at the Volvo China, T14th at The Masters, T16th at the WGC Cadillac and a T17th at the WGC Accenture Matchplay. Stenson also has a T5th at the Arnie Palmer this year. He's 21st in ball striking, 7th in total driving, 24th in driving accuracy and has a 67% GIR average.
CHARL SCHWARTZEL - 10/1 TOP 5 FINISH - How can he continue to go unnoticed by oddsmakers as he's a 50/1 shot as the outright winner while notching 7 Top 20s in 10 starts this season (3 TOP 10S) since February alone?! He also has Top 15s in his last 3 U.S. Open starts and ranks 3rd in eagles, 18th in scoring, 19th in birdie average and 20th all-around.
BRENDON TODD - 20/1 TOP 5 FINISH - Todd makes his major debut and is trending nicely with his 1st tournament win at the HP Byron Nelson, T5th at Colonial and 8th at the Memorial in his last three starts on the season. With 5 Top 10s on the season he rested last week and is ranked 11th in scoring, 8th in scrambling, 9th in FedEx standings, 34th in driving accuracy (65%), 7th in strokes gained putting, 11th in sand saves (61%) and 3rd in par 3 birdies or better average. He's a 100/1 shot to win without a lot of risk.
PHIL MICKELSON - 14/1 OUTRIGHT WIN - Lefty is still chasing the slam and looked good last week in his prep at the FedEx St. Jude. With a plethora of runner-up finishes (6) at the U.S. Open and a short game to die for, it could be Phil's time! Converting 61% of scrambling situations and 67% GIR has kept him near the top this season.
JORDAN SPEITH - 5/1 TOP 5 FINISH - Amazing what the 20 year old "kid" has accomplished on the grown ups circuit this year. He rested last week after T19th at The Memorial and has 13 Top 20s on the season with 6 Top 10s. Speith ranks 7th in adjusted scoring, 24th in bogey avoidance, 5th in the FedEx, 9th in birdie or better conversion percentage, 8th in par 4 birdie or better average. His season resume includes impressive finishes T20th at the Valspar, 10th at the Valero, T2nd at The Masters, T12th at the RBC, T4th at The Players and T14th at the Crowne Plaza.....he doesn't disappoint his followers.
HENRIK STENSON - 5/1 TOP 5 FINISH - It was either Stenson or Jimenez for me and I think Pinehurst suits the tall Swede better! He has 4 Top 10s in his last 7 starts on a combination of Euro and PGA Tour events and finished with a solo fifth at the Nordea Masters with a round of -14 in his homeland. Over his last five starts before the Nordea he T7th at the BMW, T5th at the Volvo China, T14th at The Masters, T16th at the WGC Cadillac and a T17th at the WGC Accenture Matchplay. Stenson also has a T5th at the Arnie Palmer this year. He's 21st in ball striking, 7th in total driving, 24th in driving accuracy and has a 67% GIR average.
CHARL SCHWARTZEL - 10/1 TOP 5 FINISH - How can he continue to go unnoticed by oddsmakers as he's a 50/1 shot as the outright winner while notching 7 Top 20s in 10 starts this season (3 TOP 10S) since February alone?! He also has Top 15s in his last 3 U.S. Open starts and ranks 3rd in eagles, 18th in scoring, 19th in birdie average and 20th all-around.
BRENDON TODD - 20/1 TOP 5 FINISH - Todd makes his major debut and is trending nicely with his 1st tournament win at the HP Byron Nelson, T5th at Colonial and 8th at the Memorial in his last three starts on the season. With 5 Top 10s on the season he rested last week and is ranked 11th in scoring, 8th in scrambling, 9th in FedEx standings, 34th in driving accuracy (65%), 7th in strokes gained putting, 11th in sand saves (61%) and 3rd in par 3 birdies or better average. He's a 100/1 shot to win without a lot of risk.