2021 U.S. Open: Pro Golf Now Staff Picks to Win

The U.S. Open tees off on Thursday at Torrey Pines. The world’s best will gather, attempting to add a major title to their respective resumes.

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With so many great players in the field, there are plenty of options from which to choose. Our staff has made their picks, which you can see below.

Dustin Johnson

Chris O’Day

Brooks Koepka

Richie Randolph

Phil Mickelson

Kathy Bissell

Collin Morikawa

Mike Randleman

Collin Morikawa won his first major in his home state of California. He’s trending toward picking up another one in the Golden State. In just his second year as a pro, Morikawa separated from a crowded leaderboard at the 2020 PGA Championship to win at TPC Harding Park near where he played collegiately at Cal-Berkeley. It was his third of now four PGA Tour wins by age 24 as he won most recently at the 2021 WGC-Workday Championship. Morikawa nearly won a couple weeks ago at the Memorial Tournament, losing in a playoff to Patrick Cantlay. Morikawa has made the cut in five of six career majors, and has finished in the top 20 in both this year. The Los Angeles native posted T-18th at the Masters and T-8th at the PGA Championship.

Dalton Finkbeiner

US Open typically is a bombers type event, but I think Morikawa’s ability to hit fairways and knock his approach shots close gives him a shot to win. The putter is a bit of a concern, but I think Morikawa has the approach game to knock it close and leave himself reasonable putts.

Jon Rahm

Michael Ellis

Jon Rahm has participated in five U.S. Open’s since 2016; which include two missed cuts, two T23 and T3. More importantly, Rahm’s T3 came at Pebble Beach Golf Links in 2019. Rahm has historically played well in Southern California and it just so happens that the 2021 U.S. Open is being held at Torrey Pines South Course in San Diego, California. What makes this venue so appealing for Rahm in his quest to capture his first career Major Championship is his past success at Torrey Pines. The Farmers Insurance Open is held at Torrey Pines, and since 2017 Rahm has some impressive finishes at said event: 1st, T29, T5 and 2nd. For the sake of argument, let’s go ahead and presume Rahm starts to heat up during the summer months, gets used to his new equipment, posts a handful of top-10 finishes at PGA Tour events prior to the U.S. Open and goes on to win the 2021 U.S. Open, besting the likes of Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson.

Tim Letcher

Rahm was dominating the field at the Memorial before being forced to WD. I think he takes that motivation and wins the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

Patrick Reed

Hans Geevers

Xander Schauffele

Kasey Kuhrts

Josh Mullenix

Here’s Xander’s resume, he’s played in four U.S. Opens. His finishes are T5, T6, T3 and 5th. Clearly, he enjoys difficult golf courses and the way the USGA sets up these championships. We talked about iron play this week, Xander is 22nd on Tour in strokes gained: approach. He finished 11th in strokes gained: tee-to-green at the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this season and finished runner-up to Patrick Reed. San Diego is his hometown, he has five top 18 finishes in his last six starts and his demeanor on the course is one of a player capable of getting through the trials and tribulations of a challenging U.S. Open.

West Valentine

I’m going to pick Xander Schauffele this week. I had a chance to sit down with the San Diego native last week and it’s clear this U.S. Open at Torrey Pines has been in his sights for a long time. He’ll be at a familiar place, among friends and family, and he just seems to be in a great frame of mind. Hope he can pull it off. It would be a great story.

Scottie Scheffler

DJ Cadden

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Jordan Spieth

Bill Felber

Jordan Spieth has been making noises about capping his return to form with a major all season. I think he gets it done this week.

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