US Open: Expert Picks

Tournament Information:

US Open
Date: June 17^th – 20^th
Course: Torrey Pines
Purse: $12.5MM ($2.3MM to winner)
2020 Winner: Bryson DeChambeau (-6)
OWGR Points: 100

Course

Torrey Pines — Created in 1957 by William F. Bell and redesigned by Rees Jones in 2001, this 7,600 yard long course (longest on PGA tour) runs right along the Pacific Ocean. They host canyons and thick grass along the perimeter and require a long shot off the tee. While they are fairly open for the more inaccurate tee shots, there are traps placed throughout to trip up the golfers not prepared. The greens can run into the ocean and it’s best to fall short. Players who can drive the ball far tend to thrive but the bunkers are punishing and the coastline provides out of bounds into the ocean.

Photo by Chris Condon/PGA

My Starting 4

Tony Finau (second selection this year) – Tony has one of the best track records at Torrey Pines, finishing among the top 10 four times over the last five years.

Ryan Palmer (third selection this year) — Ryan has done well at Torrey, finishing among the top 25 each of the last four years here. He’s missed just two cuts across the last 16 tournaments coupling in six top 20 finishes.

Patrick Reed (fifth selection this year) — Reed finished 23^rd here in 2018 and has gotten better each year since then, culminating in a win here earlier this year.

Justin Rose (first selection this year) – Justin was as good as you get to a lock here from 2017 – 2019, finishing among the top 10 every year. He struggled mightily in 2020 and did not play earlier this year. He’s now back and ready to shine during a major, something he has done a few times before.

My Bench 2

Marc Leishman (third selection this year) — Marc has been a top 20 finisher at Torrey Pines four of the last five years. Leishman missed the cut at the PGA Championship last month but prior to that had a 21^st place and 5^th place finishes.

Roby Shelton (first selection this year) — Shelton finished 36^th here in 2020 and then made a nice leap up to 16^th this January. He’s made his last three cuts and appears to be hitting the ball well.

Fun Fact: This is being played in lieu of the Canadian Open, which was cancelled this year.

2020-2021 Stats

(1^st percent would be the top golfer picked every week)

Starting 4: average finish 38^th (29^th percent)
Bench 2: average finish 48^th (37^th percent)