It’s already time for the third major of the 2019 season. The U.S. Open at Pebble Beach begins on Thursday and of course, there are plenty of storylines. From Tiger’s return to Pebble once again, Phil’s quest for the career grand slam, Brooks Koepka winning every major, Dustin Johnson still trying to win a second major, Rory McIlroy doing RORS things, and the USGA set up, you name it, it’s out there.
As with all major championships, we open up the field so that if more than one of us or all of us want to take one particular player, we are able to do that.
Here’s a look at how we’re doing overall this season:
| (2019 – 20 Events) | Correct | Incorrect |
| Shamburger | 3 | 17 |
| Hauser | 2 | 18 |
| Two Inches Short | *3 | 14 |
| Bridget Whelan | 0 | 1 |
We clearly aren’t experts.
* Two Inches Short won our bracket challenge even though he didn’t pick the WGC-Match Play winner.
Michael Shamburger (@mshamburger1)
Ok, so… here’s the deal… I put money on three guys while in Atlantic City for the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bash with Golf Channel.
Who?
Brooks – DJ – Tiger
Yes, that’s right, I took all three favorites, but this week … here … I’m going to tell you that if you do not pick Brooks Koepka until he proves he can’t finish in the top 2 at a major championship, you’re crazy.
I love Tiger and I love DJ, but Brooks is on another level right now and as well as Rory is playing, I just don’t see the guy winning in back-to-back weeks.
So, with that said, Brooks is my guy this week and Brooks will be my guy every major until someone knocks him off the top of the podium.
Dan Hauser (@danhausergolf)
Brooks Koepka is my pick this week and will be my pick for every major going forward until someone beats him. Really going out on a limb, I know. When you have a guy though that has basically admitted that he only cares about the majors, there’s not really a lot of thinking involved.
Since 2017, Brooks has played in 9 majors (he missed the 2018 Masters due to injury). In those 9 majors he has won 4 of them and only finished outside the top 15 in one of those appearances (T39 at the 2018 Open Championship). He is the 2-time defending champion at BOTH the U.S. Open and PGA Championship currently, and since last year’s PGA he has lost to a grand total of 1 person in a major championship. Oh, and that one person just so happened to be a guy by the name of Tiger Woods.
So yea, I am riding the Brooks Major Train until someone not named Tiger Woods can beat him.
Two Inches Short (@twoinchesshort)
This probably won’t shock any of you, but we are picking Tiger Woods to win the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (Hi, haters!)
Big Cat returns to a familiar venue where he won this event by a record FIFTEEN shots back in 2000 … not to mention a T4 in 2010.
Sure the reigning Masters champion wasn’t feeling well at the PGA, but if that final round 67 at the Memorial a couple weeks ago is any indication of where his game is at, there’s a good chance he can win this thing by 20.
Pebble Beach favors ball strikers and even at 43-years-old with a fused back, Tiger is still the best iron player in the game. He leads the tour in greens in regulation AND par-3 scoring and is 5th in proximity to the hole (34 feet.)
Plus he loves poa greens and is wielding the same putter he’s won 14 majors with. Not many people can say that. Actually, nobody can say that.
When he puts on that red Nike mock neck shirt come Sunday, it’s going to be game over. 16 majors. 82 wins. Book it.