Golf World UK - August 2017

88 Golf WorldAugust 2017

PAU L

CASEY

Age: 39

World ranking: 14

US Open record: MC/T39/T56/

T45/DNP/MC/T40/MC/T65/

T10/15/WD/MC/MC

Arguments for: His mid irons,

short irons and chipping have

been outstanding this season.

Arguments against: His record

in this tournament is woeful for

a player of his talent.

Verdict: Top 40

RUSSELL

KNOX

Age: 31

World ranking: 28

US Open record: T23/DNP/

DNP/T45

Arguments for: Extremely tidy

from tee to green and tends to

keep ‘big’ numbers off his card –

a must in the US Open.

Arguments against: Lacks

distance from the tee and has

been putting poorly.

Verdict: Top 60

TOMMY

FLEETWOOD

Age: 26

World ranking: 29

US Open record: DNP/T27

Arguments for: He is striking

the ball brilliantly and

enjoying the best season of

his life.

Arguments against: He is

still relatively inexperienced

when it comes to the game’s

biggest events.

Verdict: Top 20

JUSTIN

ROSE

Age: 36

World ranking: 8

US Open record: MC/T27/

T12/1/T21/MC/DNP/MC/MC/

T10/DNP/DNP/MC/T5

Arguments for: Unflappable,

knows how to win this event and

in contention most weeks.

Arguments against: Augusta

heartbreak in last major.

Verdict: Top 10

MATT

FITZPATRICK

Age: 22

World ranking: 36

US Open record: T54/DNP/T48

Arguments for: Has both the

short game and the

temperament you need to win

the US Open.

Arguments against: Has been

struggling with his driver so far

in 2017 and missed fairways

won’t get it done here.

Verdict: Top 40

TYRELL

HATTON

Age: 25

World ranking: 16

US Open record: Debut

Arguments for: Performed well

on his US PGA debut and is one

of the world’s best putters.

Arguments against: Still

relatively hot-headed – and

that’s not ideal on a testing US

Open course.

Verdict: Top 40

ROSS

FISHER

Age: 36

World ranking: 45

US Open record: DNP/DNP/

DNP/DNP/DNP/DNP/MC/5/MC

Arguments for: Has

contended in the last three

WGC events.

Arguments against: Not the

most accurate driver and

doesn’t putt well enough

often enough.

Verdict: Top 60

SHANE

LOWRY

Age: 30

World ranking: 69

US Open record: T2/T9/MC/

DNP/DNP/MC

Arguments for: He clearly loves

this event and has been in

contention in each of the last

two years.

Arguments against: Has been

struggling to find form since last

year’s US Open.

Verdict: Top 10

GRAEME

MCDOWELL

Age: 37

World ranking: 84

US Open record: T18/MC/T28/

MC/T2/T14/1/T18/DNP/T30/

T4 8/ T8 0

Arguments for: Has a great US

Open record and is currently

driving and putting well.

Arguments against: His iron

play and chipping have yet to

fire this season.

Verdict: Top 20

DANNY

WILLETT

Age: 29

World ranking: 21

US Open record: T37/MC/T45

Arguments for: He knows he is

good enough to beat the best

and win a major and will

probably be more relaxed post-

Augusta.

Arguments against: Every part

of his game seems to be out of

sync in 2017.

Verdict: Top 60

What are the chances of

BritishorIrishwinner?

,anegative:BritishorIrishgolfershavewonjusteightofthelast100USOpens.Now,apositive:

5

boyshavewonthreeofthe last seven andfinished second in two more ofthem. This gives us

ontobelievethatthereisagoodchancethatwewillbecelebratingonJune18andthe

kmakers agree, with Paddy Power offering odds of 11/4 on a British or Irish champion

dypower.com). Here are our leading contenders.

RYMCILROY

: 28

ld ranking: 2

Open record: MC/T9/

/T41/MC/ 1 /MC/T1 0

uments for:The most

ntedplayer in theworld,

heisdue abigweek.

uments against:Not a

twindplayerandoften

sn’t chip andputt well

ughto win.

Verdict: Top 3