ONES2WATCH
In addition to Tiger Woods, here are our top five golfers to watch at the 2018 U.S. Open, which begins Thursday at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, L.I.
1. PHIL MICKELSON
The only blemish on Lefty’s career resume are his six runner-up placings without a victory in U.S. Open play, including a second-place finish to Retief Goosen at Shinnecock in the ’04 Open. Mickelson was among the players to criticize the USGA’s handling of the course that year, saying the greens were burned out and too firm, necessitating water to be applied to them during the final round.
2. JUSTIN THOMAS
The No.1-ranked player in the world copped his first major title at last year’s PGA Championship after placing ninth at the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills (Wisconsin). Thomas also won the FedEx Cup championship last year and the Honda Classic in February, and he finished eighth last week at The Memorial.
3. JORDAN SPIETH
Like Mickelson, Spieth has notched three of the four major titles, excluding only the PGA Championship. The 2015 U.S. Open winner hasn’t won on tour since the British Open last summer, however, slipping to No.5 in the world rankings. But his Sunday surge at The Masters in April – firing a final-round 64 to finish third – shows that Spieth always must be considered a factor in golf’s marquee events.
4. RICKIE FOWLER
Ever since Sergio Garcia won the 2017 Masters, Fowler has taken on the dubious “best player to never win a major” label. He’s come close a few times, most notably a second-place finish to Patrick Reed (one stroke back) at Augusta earlier this year. In all, Fowler has posted top-5 showings eight times in the majors, including another tie for second behind Martin Kaymer at Pinehurst in 2014.
5. BROOKS KOEPKA
The defending champion returned from a wrist injury that cost him a couple of months earlier this year and had been playing well again entering this weekend at the St. Jude Classic. Koepka fired a course record-tying 63 in the final round at The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in May and registered a secondplace finish at the Fort Worth Invitational at Colonial two weeks later.