So-called expert U.S Women's Open tips

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

As much as I would love to see Minjee Lee go back-to-back, I really like the chances of Swede LINN GRANT.

She’s making her debut as a professional in the U.S Women’s Open, having twice made the cut as an amateur. I’m leaning towards Grant as I think her game could really shine at Pebble Beach, especially across the difficult closing quartet of holes.

Sportsbet odds: $34

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor, Playing From The Tips host

This feels like we are going to see a fairly classic U.S Open break out, meaning fairways and greens are of the upmost importance to success, while the smaller greens will negate the big advantage of the best putters.

For mine, that means it is LEONA MAGUIRE’s week to take the next step in her career and put a major trophy on the mantle.

A winner a few weeks back, good run at KPMG and a ball striking talent that stands out on a Tour full of flushers, not too dissimilar to the way Hayesy stands out in this cohort despite others (i.e. myself last week with Rickie Fowler) having more recent success.

Sportsbet odds: $19

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

I’ve gone with ANGEL YIN because while there are umpteen better credentialed players in the field it’s boring to pick the usual suspects.

So with that said, Yin is a great character, a helluva ball striker and got a taste for the big moments at the Chevron when losing in extra time to Lilia Vu.

The test this week will suit her skill set and if one of the umpteen better credentialed golfers doesn't lift the trophy there’s no reason Angel can’t.

Sportsbet odds: $67

RELATED: U.S Women's Open First Round Tee Times (AEST)

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

Because I get paid for these words in self-adulatory space, it's clearly up to me to give myself a raise. This is because people like Rod – who is so tight he asked the police to taser him so he could charge his iPhone – just won't give me any hang time,

All I'm saying is that if Rory McIlroy's putter wasn't so cold that Harvey Weinstein wouldn't even touch it during the final round of the U.S Open, I'd be batting 1,000 in the past two major tipping challenges and this would be like printing money for you all.

But alas, my flame fizzled like Jimmy on Tinder and I have to start my streak again.

So I will be looking no further than our very own MINJEE LEE at the U.S Women’s Open.

I'm sure the rough won't be quite as penal as when the men last visited Pebble Beach in 2019, but even still, there isn't a course the LPGA will visit in years that sets up better for Lee in comparison to her fellow contenders.

Her efforts in this event last year were epic and with the combination of length and accuracy required this week on holes such as the second, eighth and ninth to name a few, she's got a huge advantage.

If Minjee putts half decently, you'd be hard pressed to have her outside the front page of the leaderboard.

Sportsbet odds: $29

Adrian Logue – Golf Australia Magazine's resident left field thinker

BROOKE HENDERSON with full reasoning available on the Playing From The Tips podcast HERE.

Sportsbet odds: $12

Callum Hill – Golf Australia magazine writer

I am also expecting to see LINN GRANT to put on a display this week.

Grant is no stranger to playing in challenging conditions, the Swede’s game fits the bill at what will be a tricky set-up.

Coming into the week off a solid display at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (T20). One win on the Ladies European Tour to accompany her two other top-10s this year and was third at the LPGA match-play.

If she gets off to a good start, I can see her being hard to catch.

Sportsbet odds: $34

U.S WOMEN'S OPEN – TOP AUSSIE

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

MINJEE LEE will mount a strong defence but it won’t quite be enough to emulate Karrie Webb’s successful back-to-back titles in 2000-01.

I hope I’m wrong and she does win again.

Sportsbet odds: $29

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

It was a toss up for me here, and no not between Minjee and Hannah … don’t get me wrong though I will be as excited as anyone if it is either of those champions who gets the chocolates.

I loved what I heard from Gabi Ruffels earlier this week, and majors are where she shines, but you would be hard to find a golfer more suited to a U.S Women’s Open, and Pebble Beach for that matter, than GRACE KIM.

Gun barrel straight with the driver, same goes with the irons, and having gained some power will have no issues with the thick rough that will undo others. Doesn’t hurt that she is fresh off a top-15 at the KPMG where she was top Aussie for the first time at a major, something that will not be a one-time occurrence for Gracie.

Sportsbet odds: $71

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

The defending champion seems the obvious choice here and even without her ‘A Game’ Minjee Lee could get the job done. And I would be as happy as the next Australian if she did.

However, HANNAH GREEN has just the right mindset and determination for what is likely to be a grinding U.S Women’s Open on a course that will test character as much as skill.

If she can be around the leaders heading into Sunday she has all the tools required to get across the line and it will/would be no surprise if she does/did.

Sportsbet odds: $67

RELATED: The Aussies at Pebble Beach

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

See above (MINJEE LEE), just not so much of the bollocks I started with.

Sportsbet odds: $29
 

Adrian Logue – Golf Australia Magazine's resident left field thinker

HANNAH GREEN with full reasoning available on the Playing From The Tips podcast HERE.

Sportsbet odds: $67

Callum Hill – Golf Australia magazine writer

GABI RUFFELS plays well at the majors; I suspect this week will be no different.

In her eight career trips to the year’s biggest events, she has only twice finished worse than a tie for 25th. She has played Pebble Beach a few times and has no apparent weaknesses. I like her around this famous loop and expect a good finish.

Sportsbet odds: $151

U.S WOMEN'S OPEN – DARK HORSE

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

It’s a tough school when, as a major champion, you’re considered an outsider to win. But South Africa’s ASHLEIGH BUHAI fits the bill at this championship as her best finish in eight starts is a T27 back in 2017.

I think the reigning Open, Australian Open and South African Open Champion can contend at Pebble Beach where she will get better value for her shot-making than previous U.S Women’s Open venues.

Sportsbet odds: $46

JIMMY EMANUEL – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

There was some conjecture about my pick in this category being a genuine outsider, but as convener of the tipping section, it is of course all hunky dory. Whereas Mark Hayes labelling Grace Kim as an outsider below is being considered bordering on libel and lawyers (my dad) have been contacted on Grace’s behalf.

Back to my actual pick, and ANNA NORDQVIST is another player so well suited to U.S Open’s you would think she grew up stateside rather than in Sweden.

Ball striking machine, she is on the road back to the top as shown at Baltusrol and is at handy odds this week … in other words considered an outside chance to win.

Sportsbet odds: $56

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

I can almost guarantee I will be the only person on the planet tipping MANON DE ROEY but only two of us need to believe she has a chance: me and Manon.

The Belgian is a very solid player (though an unlikely U.S Women’s Open winner, granted. Still, they said the same thing about Hilary Lunke 20 years ago and she took down Annika Sorenstam in her prime. Annika's prime, not Lunke’s).

So yes, it’s doubtful she will contend and she may not even make the cut but I’ll be with her every step of the way no matter what.

Sportsbet odds: $401

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Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

I'm going all green and gold here this week. I've had a tough time splitting GRACE KIM and Gabi Ruffels for this honour, but I've settled on the young Sydneysider.

Kim, already with a win in her rookie season, has a habit of showing up on the big occasion, just as she did in the Women's PGA a couple of weeks back.

She hits it straight and long, a prerequisite for Pebble, and is so blissfully unaware of fear and expectation that she'll have a mental edge over many of her more seasoned rivals.

Sportsbet odds: $71

Adrian Logue – Golf Australia Magazine's resident left field thinker

GABY LOPEZ with full reasoning available on the Playing From The Tips podcast HERE.

Sportsbet odds: $151

Callum Hill – Golf Australia magazine writer

I will double down on my previous comments.

GABI RUFFELS is at long odds, but she will contend if she brings her best stuff.

Sportsbet odds: $151