5 MOST LIKELY TO THRIVE
RORY MCILROY
Age: 29. World ranking: 6. Victories: 22.
Majors: U.S. Open (2011), British Open (2014), PGA Championship (2012, 2014)
Best U.S. Open: Won in 2011 at Congressional.
U.S. Open memory: Winning the U.S. Open with a record score (268) just 10 weeks after losing a four-shot lead in the Masters.
Backspin: McIlroy has missed the cut four times in the U.S. Open, compared with once for the other three majors. He at least has a victory this year (Bay Hill) heading into the major season. Goes into this U.S. Open following more Augusta National disappointment, playing in the final group with Patrick Reed and shooting 74.
DUSTIN JOHNSON
Age: 33. World ranking: 1. Victories: 17
Majors: U.S. Open (2016)
Best U.S. Open: Won in 2016 at
Oakmont.
U.S. Open memory: Winning his first major without knowing the score over the final seven holes at Oakmont.
Backspin: Johnson regained his No. 1 ranking with an easy victory this past weekend in Memphis. He hasn’t finished out of the top 20 in stroke play since September. The one problem is not seeing enough putts going in.
JUSTIN THOMAS
Age: 25. World ranking: 2. Victories: 8
Majors: PGA Championship (2017)
Best U.S. Open: Tie for ninth in 2017 at
Erin Hills.
U.S. Open memory: Hitting 3-wood from 310 yards to an elevated green on the 18th at Erin Hills and making an 8-foot eagle putt to shoot a record-tying 63.
Backspin: Coming off a breakthrough year, Thomas is getting better each week and turning average performances into good results. Faded last year in the final round at Erin Hills when he started one shot out of the lead. He doesn’t have a weakness in any part of his game. The key element for him at Shinnecock Hills is keeping his patience.
JORDAN SPIETH
Age: 24. World ranking: 5. Victories: 14
Majors: Masters (2015), U.S. Open (2015), British Open (2017)
Best U.S. Open: Won in 2015 at Chambers Bay.
U.S. Open memory: Getting the second leg of the Grand Slam at the Chambers Bay course where his caddie used to work.
Backspin: Spieth is off to perhaps the slowest start of the year, not because he hasn’t won, but he hasn’t given himself many chances. His only opportunity was the Masters, where he closed with a 64 and wound up two shots behind. He has struggled with short putts for a little over a month. That’s getting better, and then his swing was out of whack at the Memorial.
JASON DAY
Age: 30. World ranking: 8. Victories: 13
Majors: PGA Championship (2015)
Best U.S. Open: Runner-up in 2011 at Congressional and in 2013 at Merion.
U.S. Open memory: Posting a score that would have won or tied 26 of the previous 29 U.S. Opens, only to finish eight shots behind Rory McIlroy at Congressional.
Backspin: Day has turned the corner in his bid to return to his best form, which is not to suggest he’s all the way back. He has won twice this year, in a playoff at Torrey Pines and by two shots at Quail Hollow.