2017 US Open Picks

This blog article: 2017 US Open Picks was republished from Event Caddy’s Golf Tournament Management Blog

With the 2017 US Open coming to Erin Hills for the first time, making picks may prove to be a difficult task. No one is certain what scores the world’s best will be able to shoot when play gets started June 12th but we can always take a stab at predicting a winner.

Erin Hills was designed by Dr. Michael John Hurdzan and his business partner Dana Fry, and Ron Whitten. The same team that designed a couple of Ontario gems; Devils Pulpit and Devil's Paintbrush. Both which happen to be a mere chip shot away from our Orangeville office.

Erin Hills will be the first par 72 US Open site since Pebble Beach in 1992. With extra-wide landing areas off the tee and four par 5’s, we expect to see some low numbers – especially from the abundance of bombers on tour right now.  

The big hitters will however need to control their ball around Erin Hills as rough is expected to be quite penal. PGA tour player Wesley Bryan had a close up look at that rough during a recent practice round:

Holy wow! Here's your @usopengolf preview http://pic.twitter.com/VDLUdYiF4o

— Wesley Bryan (@wesleybryangolf) May 30, 2017

At Event Caddy we love our Major Championships and have put together our top picks for this years US Open:

1. Dustin Johnson

Coming off a win last year and a runner-up finish in 2015, it’s pretty hard not to pick DJ. His distance off the tee complemented by extreme accuracy will no doubt prove to be quite beneficial around Erin Hills.. well,  any course for that matter. 

2. Sergio Garcia

Garcia is sure to do something special with these next few months. We’ll even go ahead and proclaim this ‘The Summer of Sergio’. With a win at the Masters, followed by a hole-in-one at the Players; it seems Garcia is playing some of the best golf of his life. His stellar ball striking, combined with an upcoming wedding are sure to have him in a good frame of mind coming into Erin Hills. 

3. Rory McIlroy

Winner of the US Open in 2011, Rory is no stranger to the big stage. The wide fairways at Erin Hills will no doubt suit his eyes and allow him to blast away. It seems he’s finally getting use the new Taylormade equipment and if his recent rib issues stay away there’s no reason we shouldn’t see him at the top of the leaderboard come Sunday.

4. Jon Rahm

It may be Rahm’s first US Open as a PRO but we’re expecting him to complete. With a win at the Farmers and then two top 5s at his first ever world golf championships, it’s no secret that Rahm is on fire this year. Let’s just hope he can forget about that 3rd round 82 at the players.

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