2014-15 Predicting The PGA Tour Season: Featuring The U.S. Open

By Danny Norris | Jan 3, 2015

We are over halfway through the PGA Tour season as we continue on our journey predicting the PGA Tour season. We’ll be going over the second Texas Two-Step in the PGA Tour season, the Memorial Tournament, and of course, the U.S. Open. To catch up on the previous articles you can check those out here, here, here, and here. For the full schedule you can go to Golf.com. Alright, we got that out of the way, now let’s get started.

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May 18-24: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial

Colonial CC, Fort Worth, Texas

Winner: Chris Stroud

Chris Stroud is someone to keep an eye on this year. I have a hunch that he may put it all together this year and be near the top of the leaderboard at a couple of tournaments. Especially, here at Colonial. Since 2012, Chris Stroud has been fantastic at Colonial. Last year, a T-14, in 2013: T-7, 2012: T-13. Stroud’s a talented golfer and a win at Colonial may eventually be in his future.

May 25-31: AT&T Byron Nelson Championship

Four Seasons Resort at Las Colinas, Irving, Texas

Winner: Ryan Palmer

I’m sticking with my Texans win at Texas theme this year. Last year, Palmer had a really good year; he just couldn’t quite finish it at a couple of tournaments. Palmer’s on the verge of hoisting another trophy in his career and I believe he may do it at the Byron Nelson Championship where he has had a lot of success. Since 2011, Palmer has finished 2nd, T-9, T-33, and last year T-22.

June 1-7: Memorial Tournament

Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, Ohio

Winner: Rory McIlroy

Muirfield Village is an Augusta like course. The high, long bombers off the tee typically do well here at Muirfield with forgivable fairways. That’s why golfers like Bubba Watson usually do well here. So, it only makes sense that McIlroy will eventually win here sometime down the line.

June 8-14: FedEx St. Jude Classic

TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tennessee

Winner: David Hearn

More than likely, the winner will be someone you really wouldn’t expect. With the Memorial Tournament the week before and the U.S. Open taking place next week in Washington, don’t expect a star studded field. With that said, I’m rolling with David Hearn. Hearn looks like a golfer that’s on the verge of breaking through one of these times and at a tournament like St. Jude, Hearn could very well capitalize.

Since 2011 at St. Jude, Hearn has only missed the cut once and in 2013 he finished T-18. Also, Hearn only missed eight cuts last year in 28 tournaments.

June 15-21: U.S. Open

Chambers Bay, University Place, Washington

Winner: Justin Rose

If Chambers Bay plays like a typical U.S. Open expect Justin Rose to be near the top. The tougher the course, the better Rose plays. Plus, Chambers Bay has no course history so there is no familiarity. If Chambers Bay is hard, slick, fast, and unknown, I’ll take Rose who always rises to the occasion and is right in the middle of his prime right now. His window is still open and I would expect Rose to pick up a couple of more majors before his career is over.

June 22-28: Travelers Championship

TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut

Winner: Chris Stroud

Call me crazy, but I think Chris Stroud has a really good chance to be a multiple winner on the Tour this year. Obviously, very unlikely, but I like his chances at Colonial and here at Travelers. What I’m banking on is that when a really good player on the PGA Tour finally gets over that hump and wins that first tournament in their career the second win usually comes sooner rather than later.

So, that’s my thinking, but realistically, I do think he’ll win one of these two tournaments. He has a good history at Colonial and he has done really well at Travelers. Last year, Stroud finished T-18, in 2013 Stroud lost in a playoff, and in 2012 he finished T-37.

June 29-July 5: Greenbrier Classic

The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

Winner: Bubba Watson

Bubba Watson loves West Sulphur Springs. It’s a home course for him and Watson will, more than likely, be the favorite coming into the Greenbrier.

July 6-12: John Deere Classic

TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois

Winner: Zach Johnson

It’s been a couple of years since Zach Johnson won the John Deere Classic. He’s due.

That’s all for now. We are getting down to the final stretch run in the season and we’ll be getting into The Open, the PGA Championship, and the FedEx Cup Playoffs.