POST PREDCTIONS
MARK CANNIZZARO
JASON DAY: Yes, he hasn’t won a U.S. Open. But he’s played in seven of them and finished in the top-10 five times. He’s also a great driver of the ball with one of the best short games in the land and he’s leading the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting. DUSTIN JOHNSON: The 2016 U.S. Open winner won last week in Memphis, so he’s in form, and he’s one of the longest drivers in the game.
PHIL MICKELSON: The runner-up in 2004, the last time the Open was played at Shinnecock, has been targeting this week all year. Expect him to be in the mix on the weekend. Whether he has the stamina to pull it off on Sunday is the question.
JUSTIN ROSE: The 2013 U.S. Open winner is in form, having won three weeks ago in Texas, his second win of the year. RAFAEL CABRERABELLO: Top-10 finishes in his past two starts and his caddie is Colin Byrne, Retief Goosen’s caddie when Goosen won the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock. Karma pick here.
MIKE VACCARO
JUSTIN THOMAS: No better time or place to make the sport his own.
JORDAN SPIETH: Could really use “next major” as much as most need “first major.”
DUSTIN JOHNSON: If he plays four rounds at the top of his game, the rest of the world is fighting for second.
RICKIE FOWLER: It’s going to happen for him one of these days; why not these four days?
PATRICK REED: If he ever recaptured the magic of Augusta the New York crowd would adopt him in a second.
BRETT CYRGALIS
JORDAN SPIETH: Maybe the putter hasn’t been great as of late, but his innate ability to scramble and to stay patient will pay off. JUSTIN ROSE (left): The pure ball-striking will give him an advantage from tee-togreen, and a recently hot putter should help.
RICKIE FOWLER: Either the recent engagement to his girlfriend is going to free his mind, or it’s going to bury him. Thinking the former.
JUSTIN THOMAS: The young gun has gotten over the major hump, winning last year’s PGA Championship, and playing with idol Tiger Woods will only get him more excited. DUSTIN JOHNSON: The long-bomber is always going to have an advantage off the tee, but his recent form with his approach shots will be the key in the wind.
GEORGE WILLIS
DUSTIN JOHNSON: The world No. 1 not only has the long game to overpower Shinnecock, but the short game that will be needed to win.
JUSTIN THOMAS: He should be in the mix come Sunday and has already proven he can capture a major win. LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN: He has the experience, patience and solid allaround game needed to survive the most grueling test in golf. TOMMY FLEETWOOD: The Englishman keeps knocking on the door to announce his arrival. This could be the weekend. PATRICK REED: Captain America figures to feed off a crowd that won’t be shy about cheering on the Masters champion.