So-called expert U.S. Open tips

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

It’s a rarity that a player wins the week before a major championship and is then victorious in the big one. But RORY MCILROY is in such good form at the moment that it’s hard to pick against him.

He’s had two wins and six top-10s in ten PGA Tour starts and his U.S. Open form in recent years has also been outstanding. The 2011 Champion has finished in the top-10 in each of the past three years and I suspect this week’s venue at Brookline will suit him far better than any of the courses where he has yielded good results.

Sportsbet odds: $11

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

It is a different course after Gil Hanse got his mitts on it, but arriving at The Country Club, site of his 2013 U.S. Amateur win, will have MATT FITZPATRICK walking 10 feet tall. A new experience for the diminutive Englishman.

Not only is he on familiar and friendly ground, Fitzpatrick has played some wonderful golf of late, given the PGA Championship a shake and owns one of the purest putting strokes seen on mown grass.

Fitzpatrick also has the experience of Billy Foster carrying his bag of tricks, a major plus. And for the history lovers could become the first player to win a major chipping cross handed while sporting braces* (off the teeth variety).

*I haven’t actually checked this to be fact but it has to be true. If not I’ll caddy for Mark Hayes at the next Australian Golf Media Association golf event with the added load of the case of Pepsi Max cans he will no doubt guzzle over the course of 18 holes.

Sportsbet odds: $25

RELATED: U.S. Open preview

Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host

It seems whenever big time golf comes to Brookline something unusual happens, from Francis Ouimet to the ‘99 Ryder Cup.

Given the electricity crackling around the game at the top levels it would be easy to think we will see another unexpected result this week and that could well be England's Matt Fitzpatrick.

His close call at the PGA — and in particular his poor final round play — will be a lesson put to good use and while he is hardly a rank outsider he won’t feature as favourite on many lists, either.

Sportsbet odds: $25

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

Rod Morri owns euphonious podcast tones that make you believe he walks lightly through the gardens of our wondrous planet. But in reality, while still a lovely and caring soul, he rocks size 32 triple-wide clod-hoppers which challenge that perception, just as it might for galleries clapping when they witness a brilliant Patrick Reed shot. To clap or not to clap ...

I mention this because not all is as it seems in major land.

Your gut tells you to tip Rory. But majors logic tells you a bonfire for your cash would be more fun.

Your eyes told you that Jon Rahm would win six of these in a row after last year. But majors logic says his form is as bankable as an Argentinian peso.

Everything else points to Justin Thomas, but I just can’t go there because of who I’m going to tip …

Your head tells you CAM SMITH hasn’t contended in a U.S. Open since his near albatross in Seattle in 2015. But majors logic says he’s taken his game to a new level this year and shouldn’t be written off. And my favourite golfing moment that I witnessed in the past decade is Smithy putting Thomas to the sword in the Presidents Cup singles at Royal Melbourne and I think you could make a case that they’ll slug it out at the end of this week.

And as feisty as Thomas might be, he’s got nothing like the fire that powers Smith when the going gets tough.

We just got our third women’s U.S. Open champ and I reckon that Smith will want to even the ledger with a third bloke’s name this week.

Sportsbet odds: $21

U.S. OPEN – TOP AUSSIE

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

I’m a little concerned about CAM SMITH’s recent ability to throw in a shocker nine holes among some impressive stuff but it’s not enough of a worry to tip against him leading the Aussies at The Country Club.

His impeccable short game will, of course, come to the fore and he might be one of a handful putting Rory McIlroy under pressure for the title on Sunday afternoon.

Sportsbet odds: $1.83

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

Cam Smith is an out and out star and it wouldn’t surprise if he not only contended but won the darn thing. But looking at what my fellow tipsters have dished up, I am choosing to stand out from the crowd.

It is likely getting towards the end of ADAM SCOTT being a genuine chance at every major, so let’s feast while the going is good.

Sure he has never really got the hang of the U.S. Open and his lead in form isn’t anything to write home to Switzerland/Queensland about, but my fellow long putter wielder should enjoy the retooled Brookline, and should finish his career with a better U.S. Open record than he has. Like say winning the thing … I am only asking for one!

Sportsbet odds: $5

RELATED: Min Woo borrowing Minjee's major mindset

Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host

He’s played some so-so golf since the disappointment of the Masters but CAM SMITH is our highest ranked player for a reason and he’ll show it this week.

He always lifts for the bigger events and will do so again at Brookline. It would be a surprise if he wasn’t in the top-10 and winning is definitely not out of the question.

Sportsbet odds: $1.83

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

Following the very sound logic of not doing more than I had to at the U.S. Women’s Open when these were one and the same, it has to be SMITHY.

Sportsbet odds: $1.83

U.S. OPEN – OUTSIDER

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

With all due respect to 30-year-old SEAN JACKLIN, he’s no chance of winning in his first U.S. Open start.

But what a great story it would be if the Golfing Gods smiled upon him at Brookline and 52 years after his dad, Tony, won the U.S. Open at Hazeltine he was able to repeat the feat.

Sportsbet odds: $1,001

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

It is often fascinating how far players fall from reckoning after a period at the top of the tree, and JUSTIN ROSE hasn’t just fallen, he has copped a fair few branches on the way down.

But the Englishman of South African birth fired a final round 60 last week in Canada that could have been better, oh and he has won a U.S. Open before when returning to a long-time benched venue.

Of the outsiders (outside Scott at longer odds) Rose offers some great value to sneak his way into the top-10 and if he is in the mix come Sunday is a proven closer.

Sportsbet odds: $61

RELATED: The battle pro golf needs

Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host

THORBJORN OLESEN. Missed all three U.S. Open cuts in his career to date but he’s a changed person since his comeback from the trans-Atlantic flight drama which all but ruined his career.

A win in Europe in May is proof he hasn’t lost his game and if we’re talking outsiders who might have a chance, it would be some story of redemption if he was to contend this week.

Sportsbet odds: $326

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

I’d almost convinced myself to put down Todd Sinnott in this space just because he has more talent than so many in this field. BUT ... I do believe you’ve got to contend in at least one of these to feel comfy so in using that logic, I’ve sacked Sinnott and gone for AARON WISE who’s in both sneaky and streaky form.

Plus, he won in Australia as an amateur, so it eases my angst.

Sportsbet odds: $67

LPGA TOUR – MEIJER LPGA CLASSIC

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

This is a no-brainer. Coming off a win and heading to an event she has won twice in recent times, BROOKE HENDERSON is a tough one to tip against this week.

Will easily go back-to-back. 

Sportsbet odds: $17

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

Winning the next start after major victory doesn’t happen often, but MINJEE LEE won’t be cruising along aimlessly this week.

The West Aussie was sublime at the U.S. Women’s Open and after accepting almost every media request that came her way, Lee deserves some good karma for having to deal with the types that inhabit this page. Plus, she spent the week practicing with Min Woo, a time that will have kept that competitive edge razor sharp while coach Ritchie Smith fine tuned things. Look out top spot on the World Rankings!

Sportsbet odds: $12

RELATED: Meijer LPGA Classic preview

Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host

Surely it has to be LYDIA KO’s time again soon?

The Kiwi has been machine like in recent weeks with three top-five finishes in her last four starts. There could hardly be a better way to tune up for the third women’s major of the year next week than to take home the trophy this week and that is exactly what she will do.

Sportsbet odds: $12

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

I’ve been waiting for HYE-JIN CHOI to shake up the US of A. And the time is now.

Those who’ve been astute amateur golf fans in Australia have already seen Hye-Jin’s magic first hand. She was somewhat off the international radar on the KLPGA Tour for the past four years, in which time she pocketed a small matter of 11 trophies.

But now she’s full time with the LPGA, it’s a matter of time until she salutes (as evidenced by third behind Minjee at U.S. Open) and if it’s not this week, it won’t be far away.

Sportsbet odds: $23