Club pros weigh in: Who will win the U.S. Open at Merion
Tight fairways. No secondary cuts to give some separation between the thick rough and those lean fairways. Long par 3s.
Merion Golf Club's East Course will prove a monumental test of golf for numerous reasons when the 113th U.S. Open comes to town June 13-16, despite being one of the shortest courses to host America's national championship in years.
Philly.com asked club professionals from some of the region's best-known golf courses to weigh in on who can't win at Merion East, who can win and who will win over those four arduous days.
Scott Reilly, Head Golf Professional
Philadelphia Country Club, Gladwyne, Pa.
Who can't win:
Bubba Watson: He has been playing well, but he struggles from out of the rough.
Jim Furyk: Although a champion in 2003 at Olympia Fields, not sure if he can keep in together for four rounds at Merion.
Who can win:
Tiger Woods: (Of course) With his stinger of the tee and leading scoring average on the PGA tour (68.51). Tough not to put a little bit of money on him.
Matt Kuchar: Not the longest player off the tee, but finds a way to be in contention. He may be able to finally break through on a course which requires precision.
Phil Mickelson: Quite possibly the best wedge player, his creativity and ability to get up and down after errant shots makes him one to watch.
Who WILL win:
Graeme McDowell: The Northern Ireland player leads the tour in driving accuracy and is in the Top 20 in Putts Per Round on the PGA Tour. Plus, he has won the U.S. Open before and knows how to play out of tough rough.
Doug Delaney, Head Golf Professional
Sand Barrens Golf Course, Swainton, N.J.
Who can't win:
Webb Simpson and Rickie Fowler: I have a hard time picking Simpson only for the simple fact the last U.S. Open Champions to go back-to-back was Curtis Strange (1988-89) and Ben Hogan (1950-51). It's rare enough to bet against. Fowler has the game to win any golf tournament, but he has been too unpredictable the entire season so I really don't know what to expect.
Who can win:
Lee Westwood and Steve Stricker: With the exception of the obvious picks (Tiger and Phil), watching the feel good stories of Westwood and Stricker winning a first Major would be exciting. Westwood seems to always play well in majors and Stricker limited his schedule so he can be rested for these very moments and I'm sure both will be ready to go.
Who WILL win:
Matt Kuchar: Luke Donald, Tim Clark and Brandt Snedeker all rattled through my rolodex of choices, but Kuchar feels like the pick. If hitting it straight and keeping the ball in play wasn't enough, Kuchar has the shortgame, temperament and heart for moments like this. All the talk is about Merion and how the course won't play as long as other U.S. Open venues. If this holds true, that opens the door for the entire field. Kuchar is a solid pick and he has been playing well all year so he is my choice to win.
David Cartwright, Head Golf Professional
Trump National Golf Club, Pine Hill, N.J.
Who can't win:
Bubba Watson: Merion isn't set up for a bomber like Bubba.
Boo Weekley: Despite the win last week, his putting stats are near the bottom on the PGA Tour.
Who can win:
Luke Donald: His short game caters to a shorter U.S. Open set up like Merion.
Brandt Snedeker: His stats cater to this golf course: very accurate driver of the golf ball, great putter, and good inside 100 yards.
Who WILL win:
Lee Westwood: It's his time — too good of a ball striker and player not to contend and win a major at Merion. (OR...)
Charl Schwartzel: He is peaking at the right time and he has the golf swing that is made for the pressure of a major championship.
Ian Dalzell, Head Golf Professional
Huntingdon Valley Country Club, Huntingdon Valley, Pa.
Who can't win:
Tiger Woods: He just doesn't hit enough fairways, and the combo of thick rough and fast greens will be too much. He will contend at some point, but the long putts for par will eventually wear him down.
Bubba Watson: His length is negated by the course set up and his game is simply not well-suited to this kind of precision examination.
Who can win:
"GMAC" (Graeme McDowell): Very consistent off the tee — leading the driving accuracy stats at the moment with 71% hit — so he will stay out of the rough more than most and a good clutch putter who is coming into form with his recent win at Harbor Town (another short but tight course I might add).
Kevin Streelman: Gutsy competitor who is having a great yeay. Ccurrently ranked 7th in scoring average for the season, this shorter course will benefit him significantly.
Who WILL win:
Luke Donald: A precision player with a great work ethic, his time is due and it will come at Merion. He is one of the best strikers of the golf ball out there and his work ethic reminds us of one Ben Hogan, who also had some success at Merion. Luke is your U.S. Open champion for 2013.