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Hazeltine’s Golf Pros Pick the Open Championship

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The oldest of the majors, the Open Championship begins today. Hazeltine’s golf gurus share their take.

Chandler Withington, Head Golf Professional

The Open Championship returns to Royal Troon for the first time since 2004. Americans have won the last 6 Open Championships contested at Troon, so the question becomes – which American will win this week?

As we are just six weeks and two major championships away from learning who will be the first 8 players on the USA Ryder Cup Team, time is running out for players to solidify their positions.

Here are five American’s that I expect to have a good showing at Troon:

Rickie Fowler While Fowler has missed the cut in both majors so far this year, he had a better showing at the Quicken Loans at Congressional two weeks ago. Fowler will be heading to Rio and you can bet he doesn’t want to miss out on the Ryder Cup, so I expect him to kick it into gear. With poor weather on the forecast, Fowler has played surprisingly well in the elements, most notably at St. George’s during the 2011 Open Championship

Patrick Reed Reed is another American Olympian and Ryder Cup hopeful who is on the bubble and needs to start solidifying his place on this year’s team. Reed played well during last week’s Scottish Open at Castle Stuart and loves the way the game is played overseas. His boring draw ballflight should help him in the windy conditions.

Jim Furyk Did any of us expect him to play that well at Oakmont? Returning from injury, Furyk made a huge jump in the Ryder Cup standings up to 17th and can suddenly smell the top 8. Another top finish in a major would put him in position to make the team this fall. Already named Assistant Captain to this year’s team, Furyk has the dubious honor of having lost the most matches of any American in the Ryder Cup. You can bet that Furyk would rather be a part of a winning team by playing rather than being an Assistant Captain. If the weather gets bad at Troon, and it is supposed to, there are few players better than Furyk that are prepared to mentally grind it out.

Jordan Spieth While the popular perception is that Spieth is having a tough year that really isn’t the case. No one set the bar higher than Spieth in 2015 with two major championship victories along with two other top 5 finishes in the Open Championship and PGA Championship. Spieth already has two PGA Tour victories this season, but his blown 5 shot lead at Augusta is all that most people can remember. His game is still right there and like Patrick Reed, he loves the style of play that is required in an Open Championship.

Phil Mickelson Mickelson has had some solid stretches of golf this season, undone quickly by some inconsistency. The 2013 Open Champion is becoming a bubble player for the Ryder Cup Team. Mickelson could take a lot of pressure off Captain Davis Love if he could finish strong during the second half of the season. The outspoken leader of the American team for the last 20 years, you have to believe he knows the window is closing on his chances to play on future Ryder Cup teams. While Mickelson has played on every USA Ryder Cup team since 1995, he is only been in two winning teams. I expect Mickelson to make a strong final push and lead the USA team this fall at Hazeltine. It all starts will a solid week at Troon.

When the clouds roll away and the Claret Jug is awarded, I believe the Champion Golfer of the Year will be Rickie Fowler, and just one more boost for Team USA heading into the Ryder Cup.

 

Mike Barge, Director of Instruction

It’s hard not to pick the hottest player in the world to win this years’ Open Championship but I am staying away from Dustin Johnson. Based on nothing more than gut feeling, I think Rory McIlroy will conjure up his best golf of the year. Troon is a true links course, seaside with 9 holes out and 9 holes in. Depending on wind, scores can vary wildly from one 9 to the next. Rory has won an Open, can play in wind, but needs to hole some putts. He hasn’t come close to playing up to his capabilities this year but feel he will turn it around this week.

 

Adam Chandler, Assistant Golf Professional

Favorite  Dustin Johnson – No player is playing better than Dustin Johnson.  I know it’s obvious pick but it would be hard to bet against a guy with that much talent and who is also playing at his peak.

Contender Brenden Grace – Solid player who has been around the leader board over the last year and half at a few of the majors.  Great player is bad   conditions which could be beneficial if weather turns tough.

Sleeper Andy Sullivan – Currently in the top 5 in the European Ryder Cup standings.  Great from tee to green and if he can have a great putting week it wouldn’t surprise me to see Andy up top on the leaderboard.

The post Hazeltine’s Golf Pros Pick the Open Championship appeared first on Hazeltine National Golf Club.


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