Major season continues this week as the US Open heads to Torrey Pines. And the so-called experts are on fire, including Brendan James picking Garrick Higgo to win last week. Here are their US Open winner, top Aussie and roughie selections, as well as picks for the Meijer LPGA Classic.
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
The last time the US Open was played at Torrey Pines, the G.O.A.T won on a broken leg. BROOKS KOEPKA has a lingering right knee issue, which certainly didn’t hamper him at Kiawah Island. But could this be an omen?
He missed the cut last week but we all know he struggles to get out of first gear at regular Tour events. He would have already flicked the switch into major mode and when the whips start cracking he’ll be in the mix to win and stand alongside Hale Irwin and Tiger Woods as a three-time champion.
Sportsbet odds: $19
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN will finally win in America and add another major trophy to his mantle piece.
The major winner also has a runner-up slam at the majors, showing a clear comfort with the game’s four biggest events, and the US Open has proven to be to his liking.
Oosthuizen hasn’t finished worse than T23 at America’s national championship since 2015 and was third behind Bryson DeChambeau at Winged Foot last year. The 38-year-old also T2 at the PGA last month.
Inexperienced around Torrey Pines, Oosthuizen did tee it up in January for a share of 29th, his long iron play is a positive for the setup this week and he currently leads the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Putting. Plus, there will be some inspiration from compatriot Garrick Higgo winning last week.
Sportsbet odds: $51
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Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer
Surely it’s time XANDER SCHAUFFELE broke through at the majors.
The World No.6 has an insanely good record at his national Open – having never finished outside the top-5 – and has now accumulated eight top-10s at the majors from 16 starts.
Oh, Schauffele was also runner-up at Torrey Pines during the Farmers Insurance Open in January and grew up down the road.
Sportsbet odds: $17
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
The last person to win at Torrey Pines was PATRICK REED and while the South Course will be a different proposition in June than January he’s a player who is in the conversation at every major regardless which means he now has two reasons to be in the discussion.
Reed didn’t just win in January, he streeted the field by five at a course where he hasn’t missed a cut in six appearances.
Clearly, he likes Torrey Pines and he would love nothing more than to add to his 2018 Masters. I reckon he will.
Sportsbet odds: $26
The Golf Stig – Anonymous Tour Pro
TONY FINAU doesn't win much, but in his last four events at Torrey Pines he has finished 4th, 13th, 6th and 2nd, combined with 8th and 5th in two of the last three US Opens.
Six times he has played Torrey Pines and never finished worse than 24th. And that was his first start here. He picks himself.
Sportsbet odds: $26
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
Hard to go past the Torrey Pines specialist MARC LEISHMAN.
He won the Farmers event here in 2020 and was previously runner-up twice but that ‘winter’ Torrey course plays much different to what this week’s summer course will. The quicker he can adjust to the conditions, the closer he will be to the top of the leaderboard come Sunday afternoon.
Sportsbet odds: $3.50
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
I was extremely close to tipping MARC LEISHMAN for the win, so it makes perfect sense to slot him in here.
Leishman loves Torrey Pines, winning here in 2020 among a number of other good results, and despite US Opens not being exactly to his flavour, this one stands out as a great opportunity.
In 2008 approaches from 175 yards or more were key to success, and Leishman goes to another level from this sort of distance. If he can find a few more fairways than he has been, plus rediscover some of the positive vibes of winning with Cam Smith recently then he should be right in the hunt come Sunday afternoon.
Sportsbet odds: $3.50
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Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer
ADAM SCOTT made his first professional appearance at Torrey Pines during the US Open in 2008 when he shared 26th place.
It then took over 10 years for him to return to the San Diego course competitively – but when he did, he finished runner-up to Justin Rose at the Farmers Insurance Open in 2019.
The Queenslander made his next visit earlier this year, when he shared 10th place.
All of which suggests to me that he should be in contention this week.
Sportsbet odds: $3.50
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
Torrey Pines hasn’t been a regular stop for him but the two times ADAM SCOTT has teed up at the Farmers Insurance he has finished runner up and T10.
Like Reed, he deserves to be in the conversation at any major and if his driving and iron play are sharp there is no reason he can’t be in the mix late Sunday.
Sportsbet odds: $3.50
The Golf Stig – Anonymous Tour Pro
Top Aussie has to go to MARC LEISHMAN for no other reason other than I like his game around the long, tight setup the players are facing this week.
Sportsbet odds: $3.50
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
If you’re looking for a long shot to win the US Open you won’t find any ‘longer’ than South African WILCO NIENABAR.
Fresh off his debut start on the PGA Tour last week, the 21-year-old heads to Torrey Pines with a reputation for big-hitting … so big he leaves Bryson DeChambeau in his wake.
Through his first round at Congaree, he was averaging 352.7 yards off the tee. That’s the kind of distance that will really help at Torrey Pines, which will play more than 7,600 yards from the tips with fairways lined with rough five inches high.
Driver-wedge combos on most holes from Neinabar could see him in contention.
Sportsbet odds: $201
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
There is something about this week that feels like something special could happen, and if it isn’t Phil Mickelson doing the almost unbelievable for a second major in a row, it very well could be LEE WESTWOOD.
The Englishman showed some vintage form earlier this year posting back-to-back runner-up finishes at Arnie’s place and The Players, and despite some average stuff since could finally break his major duck this week.
The 48-year-old remains a great ball striker and driver of the golf ball and should have at least been in the Monday play-off with Tiger and Rocco here in 2008, if not won in regulation.
Yes, Westwood was in Vegas last week getting married to Helen Storey, who is back on the bag this week, and celebrating but he has shown in the last few years that living his best life leads to his best golf. And Phil’s PGA will surely have lit a fire.
Sportsbet odds: $101
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Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer
Former champ (2013) JUSTIN ROSE hasn’t missed the top-10 at the majors this year – finishing T7th at Augusta and T8th at Kiawah Island – and is decent value at over 50/1.
The Englishman also has positive memories of Torrey Pines, winning the Farmers Insurance Open here in 2019.
Sportsbet odds: $51
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
About the only thing that could surpass PHIL MICKELSON winning the PGA at age 50 would be Phil Mickelson winning the US Open one month later to complete the career Grand Slam.
It would be the sports story of the century and while it is DEEP in the ‘unlikely’ category it would be peak Mickelson.
On home turf and with his chest puffed out from his play at Kiawah Island, you can’t quite rule it out.
Sportsbet odds: $56
The Golf Stig – Anonymous Tour Pro
My smokey for this event isn't that far outside, but I'm going with JUSTIN ROSE.
The Englishman has been battling some back problems, however, he is trending in the right direction.
Also proven at the US open setup and around Torrey.
Sportsbet odds: $51
Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor
In the six Meijer events staged since 2014, only one player has won the trophy on multiple occasions. And that woman is BROOKE HENDERSON, who will be tough to toppled this week in Grand Rapids.
The Canadian is defending her 2019 victory, when she reached 21-under to reproduce her winning score from 2017. Another player to watch is Victorian SU OH, who was runner-up here in 2019 and two prior top-15 finishes.
Sportsbet odds: $
JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy Editor
HANNAH GREEN hasn’t really sniffed a good finish at this event previously, but I expect that to change in a big way this week.
The West Australian arrives fresh off a T3 at the MEDIHEAL last week and a closing six-under 66, with her increased power proving a major asset this year. It also helps that Green is absolutely putting the dots off it of late.
This venue clearly hasn’t been ideal for the major champion in the past, but her close friend and travel partner Su Oh knows how to succeed here and I am hoping the 24-year-old has been picking her brain in the lead-up to help her chances.
Sportsbet odds: $23
RELATED: Meijer LPGA Classic preview
Michael Jones – Golf Australia writer
There are a few too many uncertainties surrounding defending champ Brooke Henderson this week, so my money will be on another former winner in LEXI THOMPSON.
The American had her heart broken at her national Open two weeks ago – but she was gallant in defeat and continues to soldier on.
In addition to her 2015 victory here, Thompson was T4th in 2016, runner-up in 2017, T9th in 2018 and runner-up again in 2019.
Sportsbet odds: $17
Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host
After showing signs of life last week (despite a horror Sunday round) SU OH returns to a happy hunting ground at Blythefield Country Club in Michigan for this week’s Meijer LPGA Classic.
She has two top-five results here in four starts including a runner-up result in 2019.
Oh will take more from three days of good play at Lake Merced than she will from a disappointing final round and there is no reason she can’t be there late in the day Sunday.
Sportsbet odds: $101
The Golf Stig – Anonymous Tour Pro
No surprises here with my pick of LYDIA KO.
She has been posting great results of late and it’s about time she gets back to the form of a few years back when she was the dominant women’s golfer on the planet.
Sportsbet odds: $11
2021 RESULTS
So far our so-called experts have combined to tip 14 winners in 2021, with 85 of their picks recording top-10 finishes that week and a best return of $61 for Max Homa to win the Genesis Invitational (tipped by Rod Morri).
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