This week marks the 32nd event of the 2014-15 PGA Tour season, as 156 players tee it up at the U.S. Open. Each week, a panel of experts will offer up their picks from four groups of players, based on Golf Channel’s fantasy game, Fantasy Challenge. We will also keep track of their scores and standings. The panel includes: senior writers Rex Hoggard and Randall Mell; editorial director Jay Coffin; associate editor Will Gray; ‘Morning Drive’ host Gary Williams; host Charlie Rymer and defending fantasy champion Ryan Lavner.
Randall Mell
Group 1: Jordan Spieth: Spieth can scramble with the best in the world, and the ability to scramble for pars will be a large factor in who wins at Chambers Bay.
Group 2: Phil Mickelson: That celebrated short game will be a greater asset than it’s ever been. So will his attitude. It’s a winning combination in his quest to reach the career Grand Slam.
Group 3: Brendon Todd: Sticking with scramblers at Chambers Bay. These long courses often end up being chipping contests.
Group 4: Tony Finau: Going with a big hitter in this grouping, a player who’s showing good form with back-to-back tops 10s and four consecutive top-20 finishes.
Rex Hoggard
Group 1: Justin Rose: The last time so many players used the word “different” to describe a U.S. Open venue was in 2013 at Merion and we all know how that turned out for the Englishman.
Group 2: Phil Mickelson: Chambers Bay is a test Lefty is uniquely suited for, from his desire to analyze large amounts of data to a refined short game the links-like layout is a perfect fit for Mickelson.
Group 3: Paul Casey: Resilient enough not to be flustered by Chambers Bay’s humps and bumps and finally healthy enough to continue his quest to win his first major.
Group 4: Lucas Glover: Although opinions vary wildly about Chambers Bay, the one thing players will need this week is a positive attitude and the 2009 champion recently told your scribe that he “loves” the course.