U.S. Open: Top 10 Erin Hills fantasy power rankings

Charl Schwartzel

I wasn’t going to include this South African on my list, but that was before his impressive performance at last week’s FedEx St. Jude Classic. Schwartzel shot three rounds in the 60s to tie for second, slowed only by a Saturday 74; given those results, he looks primed and ready to torch Erin Hills for some more low scores this week.

Schwartzel’s recent runner-up hasn’t been his only podium finish of 2017 — he also finished in third place at the Masters just a few weeks ago, so the form has been there for a while. Between those finishes, his confidence should be soaring; that’s certainly an advantage when it comes to a mental test like the U.S. Open. With five career top 25s at this event, Schwartzel is used to the USGA’s tricks, and at ninth on the PGA TOUR in strokes gained: putting, he’s got the touch to get himself out of any jam.

He remains criminally underrated by casual golf fans, but Schwarzel should actually have a decent shot to win the tournament this week. If he does, he’ll join Ernie Els and Retief Goosen as the only South Africans to pick up multiple major titles in the new millennium.

Next: Top 20 U.S. Open Triumphs

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