U.S. Open 2019: Dark Horse candidates for Pebble Beach

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 11: Erik van Rooyen of South Africa acknowledges the crowd on the 9th hole during the completion of the final round of the Joburg Open at Randpark Golf Club on December 11, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images) /

6 of 7

CARNOUSTIE, SCOTLAND – JULY 22: Erik Van Rooyen of South Africa waits on the third hole during the final round of the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Club on July 22, 2018 in Carnoustie, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /

Erik van Rooyen – 150/1

Erik van Rooyen hasn’t played in a ton of events this year on the two big stages. He spent most of the last few seasons on the Sunshine Tour. Combined between the European Tour and the PGA Tour, he has only appeared in ten events total. When he does show up, he brings it.

He has finished in the top 30 in nine of those ten events, missing the cut in the other one. Three top tens, as well as three more top 20’s. Two more were in the top 30’s.

If the name looks a little familiar to you, that is because van Rooyen recently made a splash at a tournament you may have heard of. He finished T-8th at The PGA Championship last month, shooting 70-68-70-73, finishing at +1.

He also played well at the only other major he has attended, which was the 2018 Open Championship, where he finished T-17th, shooting rounds of 67-71-71-73. Seems like he likes shooting 73 on Sundays at Majors. Which truth be told, almost anyone would take.

van Rooyen seems to play well whenever he plays, and I feel like going out on a limb and picking this dark horse to finish in the top 20 this week at The U.S. Open. The South African will only continue to grow in notoriety, especially after another strong performance this week.

Home/US Open