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Chronicle of Carlo Blanchard – United States Omnium: who are the favorites?

Tuesday, June 15, 2021. 1:03 PM

RDS and RDS Diect will present the US Open starting Thursday at 2 p.m. ET.

No one has forgotten the famous duel between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate during the United States Open in 2008. It took an additional round and more to finally crown Tiger with another major title. It is on this same course south of Torrey Pines that the United States Open will be set in motion, this Thursday, in conditions very similar to those of 2008, with a few exceptions.

The course par will be changed to 71 as hole number 6 will drop from a par 5 of 560 yards to a par 4 of 515 yards. The 2e hole remains the only par 4 that measures less than 400 yards, hole number 3, a par 3 of 195 yards that offers a splendid view, is designated the signature hole for its beauty and versatility. Depending on the wind direction, players will use a fairway wedge or a long iron. The small lake in front of the green of the 18e remains the only body of water on the course and this par 5 should again be the easiest hole on the course. The alleys and the long grass are covered with kukuyu type grass, a very resistant and robust grass.

A contingent of 156 professional and amateur players will start for the first two rounds, including 68 players from qualifying. With reduced fairways and very punishing long grass, strategy will play a key role. The players will have to keep the ball in play and avoid the many pits of alleys located in strategic places. Despite the length of the course, many will opt for fairway wood on some holes even if they will face longer second shots. It remains to be seen the strategy reserved for us by very long hitters like Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Tony Finau to name a few.

As is the case with every occasion of this major tournament, conditions will be extreme and players will need to be patient and resilient. We will again rediscover the real value of a normal because the scores below the normal will not be so frequent. If the wind is clear, very few participants will show a cumulative score below par at the very end. In this kind of competition, we hope to crown the best player of the moment in all facets of the game. You have to be very strong mentally to pass this test successfully, but Sunday at the end of the day, we will have a winner. Who will he be?

Quality players abound on the various circuits around the world. While it’s not easy to predict who will be successful this week, I do find some players have more chances than others. Here is a selection of favorites among which we have a very good chance of identifying the eventual winner.

  1. Jon Rahm: No one is more hungry and motivated than the Spaniard now. He still has not digested his forced withdrawal as he led the Memorial tournament by 5 strokes after the first 3 rounds and, besides, he is in great shape.
  2. Collin Morikawa: this young man has everything it takes to win on this course. The quality of his game from the tee to the green gives him a certain advantage.
  3. Brooks Koepka: the man of great occasions at major tournaments. He remains the strongest of all mentally. It remains to be seen if the physique will hold up.
  4. Rory McIlroy: With such talent, you have to include it in the equation. If only he could have a good start!
  5. Dustin Johnson: You don’t sit at the top of the world rankings for 133 weeks by chance. The great DJ isn’t necessarily at the top of his game, but he still showed some great things last week.
  6. Xander Sc Chaudele: possibly the best player without a major title on his record. The quality of his horseshoes should allow him to fight to the end if he can correct his shortcomings on putts under 5 feet.
  7. Justin Thomas: who would dare bet against him? He is definitely part of the elite and knows how to win. He will have to control his emotions during more difficult sequences.
  8. Patrick Cantlay: there is no doubt that he can win on such a course. He has all the tools in his bag and his level of concentration should keep him in the game until the very end.
  9. Tony Finau: without a doubt my sentimental choice! It is due for a little more recognition even if everything seems more difficult when the pressure mounts at the end of the tournament. He finished 2e at the Farmers Insurance tournament earlier this year and shows 3 top-10s in the last 3 majors.
  10. Bryson DeChambeau: true box of surprises, it’s good or it’s bad in his case. Already winner of this tournament, we can not wait to see what strategy he will use to try to tame this course.
  11. Viktor Hovland: the talent comes out of his ears and he is very strong mentally. Honestly, he has what it takes to win such a tournament. I admire his ability to get up from a bad hole.
  12. Louis Oosthuizen: with a momentum like his, anything is possible. Known for the precision of his shots, we seem to forget that he dominates in putts on the circuit this season. With such a combination, it’s hard not to include it among the favorites. I like his chances of winning.
  13. Jordan Spieth: In light of what we have seen of him in recent months, we can conclude that he is back among the world’s elite. Able to shine in major tournaments because it has proven itself.
  14. Justin Rose: Even though he’s been a little under the radar for some time, Rose is still able to win on such a demanding course. The quality of his game in general allows him to avoid bugs. He will need a good week on the greens, however.
  15. Marc Leishman: just like Tony Finau, the great Australian needs a major title to be fully appreciated. There is no doubt about the quality of his game, it remains to collect 4 good rounds to reach his goal.
  16. Patrick Reed: winner of the Farmers Insurance tournament by 5 strokes on his last visit (under-14), Reed has proven that he feels very comfortable on this course. The quality of his little game should serve him well again.
  17. Tyrell Hatton: fighter to the extreme, he is sometimes his worst enemy when he goes through a difficult sequence. He has no weaknesses in his game and appears to be in great shape. The control of emotions is essential in his case.
  18. Hideki Matsuyama: He proved his worth in the Masters tournament. He has nothing to envy anyone from the tee to the green and his putts have improved greatly this year. He remains a logical candidate to win a 2e major title.
  19. Will Zalatoris: He might not be the most flamboyant player, but what talent he has. His 2e Augusta’s place injected him with a dose of confidence that could lead him to top honors this week.
  20. Webb Simpson: Consistent as a Swiss watch, Simpson is capable of avoiding mistakes and squeezing into the lead. His proofs are made, it only remains to prove his great talent again.
  21. Tommy Fleetwood: After a few narrowly missed opportunities, his turn may have come to rise to the top. I like his style and his attitude.
  22. Daniel Berger: here is a neglected that could surprise more than one on this long course. Skillful at keeping the ball in play, an important asset on narrow fairways. No one would be really surprised if he had to win.
  23. Sungjae Im: another talented player who has what it takes to win. The precision of his irons should serve him well to place his ball in the right places on the capricious greens of Torrey Pines.
  24. Corey Conners: The Canadian has shown us that he has his place among the elite thanks to the consistency of his play. He will however have to be more aggressive on the greens and overtake the cup more often. He is among the best irons on the circuit.
  25. Darrick Higgo: impossible not to include him among the favorites. Winner at only his 2e tournament on the circuit last week, this young man has not finished impressing. Success comes quickly with exceptional players!

There you have it, all that remains is to see who gets off to a good start and who will have the most success on the greens. One thing is certain, we are going to see a great competition and witness some amazing golf shots.

RDS offers you full coverage of the 4 rounds starting Thursday, 2 p.m. Have a good golf!

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