The Post’s Mark Cannizzaro makes his picks for the U.S. Open, which begins Thursday at Torrey Pines in San Diego:
Xander Schauffele
It’s time. He’s due. And he’s good. Schauffele has played in four U.S. Opens and finished tied for fifth, sixth, third and fifth. As a San Diego native, this one is at one of his home courses. It all makes too much sense.
Jon Rahm
It makes sense for Rahm to win here, too. He’s had a terrific season and, when we last saw him play, he was 18-under par through three rounds at the Memorial before having to withdraw with a positive COVID-19 test. Oh yes, Rahm has won the Farmers Insurance Open on this course, too. He has the best strokes-gained number over the last decade at the Farmers.
Brooks Koepka
It’s difficult to ignore his two U.S. Open victories and the four top-10s in his last seven U.S. Open starts and 13 top-10s in his last 20 major starts. He has the best cumulative score to par in majors since 2016 at 82-under par Dustin Johnson is next best at 23-under.
Louis Oosthuizen
He’s been in good form this year, he hasn’t finished outside the top 25 at a U.S. Open since 2014, he hasn’t missed a cut at a major since 2017 and he has top-three finishes in two of his last four majors. Sneaky good.
Phil Mickelson
He has to be on this list because of his remarkable PGA Championship victory last month. Though he’s listed at 50-1 to win this week, it would be foolish to count him out. A win would be one for the ages, completing the career Grand Slam and winning a seventh career major at age 51.
