Who will be King of the Hills?
Who is your outsider to keep an eye on?
Mark: Seems odd to include Adam Scott as an outsider but he’s 66/1 so that seems fair enough and he’s got a local caddie on the bag. Qualified recently, his game is on the up and shot a 63 there in a casual game in 2013.
Alex: Surprised to see Tommy Fleetwood at 40s and 50s with the bookies, but it makes my answer to this question very easy.
Keel: Fleetwood for me, too. Shinnecock is really going to suit a good ball-striker, so he has every chance of improving on his 4th place at Erin Hills last year.
James: Francesco Molinari is at 66/1, which for a player who rarely misses a fairway and is in red-hot form seems quite generous.
Dan: If you can count Molinari as an outsider, he is playing the best golf of his life and has barely missed a shot in the last month.
Steve: Not an outsider to European audiences but Ben An is 125/1 and playing very well – finishing runner up at Memorial just a couple of weeks ago.
Which British or Irish player will finish highest?
James: Well, as you’ll see soon I’m predicting a British winner. But second best will be Tommy Fleetwood.
Keel: I’m also predicting a British winner. I’m also picking Fleetwood to be second best.
Mark: Fleetwood for me too. Rose is the obvious pick but Fleetwood is the slightly sexier pick and it’s supposedly a ‘second-shot course’ so let’s go with him.
Alex: Sign me up for the Fleetwood fan club.
Dan: I want to say Rory – despite what I have said above. He’ll finish fast to sneak into the top 10. But let’s go for Justin Rose who is bang in form and well suited to this particular challenge.
Steve: Justin Rose is on the fringes of being World No. 1 because he’s been in contention seemingly every event for the last year. Why should this be any different?
And finally, who will lift the trophy on Sunday?
James: Justin Rose seems to be in a very good place right now and ready for another big one.
Keel: Rose is in top form and this is a perfect chance to win his second major championship on a golf course that looks ideal for the Englishman.
Alex: You all seem to be backing Jordan Spieth to come unstuck this week, but I think he’ll do it. He just knows how to turn it on in major week, regardless of form.
Steve: Dustin Johnson is an obvious choice, I know, after events at St Jude, but he seemed to have rediscovered his strut. He often follows victories with more – check out his stats the last two years – and Shinnecock could bow to his power.
Mark: Seems about time that Justin Thomas will win again. Nothing not to like about his chances and, for some reason, he strikes me as the ultimate US Open champion.
Dan: Yes, Jon Rahm gets hot and bothered but he is as tough as they come and will win a major very soon. He has already contended in a US Open – two years ago as an amateur.
Click here to visit our dedicated US Open site for more from Shinnecock Hills
