Spieth, Day, McIlroy: One Of Them Should Win The U.S. Open At Oakmont

“I really think it is the hardest golf course we’ve ever played.”

Phil Mickelson made that observation last week when he went to historic Oakmont to get in some early prep work for this week’s U.S. Open Championship, one of golf’s most revered titles and the one that is arguably the hardest to win.

This will the ninth time the U.S.G.A. has staged its premier championship there, not far outside Pittsburgh. The last time Oakmont dressed up for this championship defending champion Jordan Spieth was 13 years old. It was tough and Angel Cabrera walked off with the title at five-over par.

The speed and difficulty of the greens is legendary. Two weeks ago at The Memorial when it was rumored that the Oakmont greens might play at 14 on the stimp meter, host Jack Nicklaus chuckled and said: “Then nobody will finish. If they’re truly at 14, they won’t finish. It would be a really tough golf course at that speed.”

Oakmont will always be remembered for “Miller’s Miracle” in 1973 when Johnny Miller shot 63 to win on the final day. A feat that has never been equaled. Sixty-three has been equaled, but no one since Miller has shot a final round 63 to win a major.

With all of this in mind, we present our preview, our picks on who might walk away with the 2016 U.S. Open title:

JORDAN SPIETH:  If this U.S.G.A. is indeed going old-school and bringing back some serious rough and greens so difficult that they present the ultimate challenge, then we’d best go with a throw-back golfer and that would be the defending champion. Spieth’s short game came to life last month when he won The Colonial and he’ll need every bit of it this week. When his putter is on, no one putts better and putting will be at a premium this week.

JASON DAY:  The world’s No. 1 has looked every bit of it this year but he couldn’t cut it at The Masters. Looks like he’s ready to contend at Oakmont. He hits it straight enough and putts it well enough to be a factor this week. His power will allow him to hit his driving iron off of a lot of tees. No one hits it higher than Day and that will serve him well this week.

RORY MCILROY:  The biggest question mark is his putting. After his left-hand-low experiment ended at The Memorial, he went conventional and finished fourth. His length and iron game can make him the man if he has his “A” game but you could say that about any of these “Big Three” players. One of them should win this week, seriously.

DANNY WILLETT:  Okay, here’s where it gets tricky. If neither Spieth, Day or McIlroy step up, who will? At Augusta it was Willett. He has the length, the accuracy and the putting skills. Now that he wears The Green Jacket, he has the confidence. He hasn’t played well since Augusta.

BUBBA WATSON:  Sure, this is a questionable pick. Watson’s U.S. Open record leaves a lot to be desired but he did manage to tie for fifth back in 2007. He’s supposed to be a better player now. Still, his attitude can go south in a hurry and he’s not the most patient guy on the planet. And patience is a must this week.

PHIL MICKELSON:  Here’s your sentimental pick. Like Sir Galahad in quest of the Holy Grail, Mickelson desperately wants to put the U.S. Open on his resume to accomplish the career Grand Slam. He’s running out of time. He’s hoping for his Jack Nicklaus moment. Problem is that even though he finished runnerup in Memphis last week, he still missed a lot of fairways. If Lefty can’t hit fairways at Oakmont, he might be down the road like he was back in 2007 when he shot 74-77 — 11 over after 36 holes.

JUSTIN ROSE:  This pick comes with a caveat — if healthy. Rose has been experiencing some back problems and couldn’t play in the European Tour’s big event, the BMW PGA. He’s proven a solid U.S. Open player and tied for 10th last time they played at Oakmont.

ADAM SCOTT:   Not sure his putting can handle those Oakmont greens but his ball-striking can.

MATT KUCHAR:  Hits it straight enough and is a good scrambler.  Anyone else out there getting sick of the crowds chanting: “Koooooooch”?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA:  Has all the skills, not sure his short game is up to the demands that Oakmont will require. If he were to win, they might take a week off of work in Japan.

RICKIE FOWLER:  The kid’s been missing in action this season.  What’s up with Rickie?  Missed the cut at The Masters and there’s no excuse for that when you are the fourth-ranked player in the world.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: D.J.? Seriously?  No, not really. He’s the guy you have to include because he gets in the fight but simply isn’t cerebral enough to win a major. Putting is suspect as well and U.S. Opens will reveal any weaknesses in your game. He should have won in Memphis by three shots but managed to botch up a bunch of chips and putts.

What could transpire this week at Oakmont is golf’s version of Survivor, Last Man Standing and that sort of thing? For four days at Oakmont, par will have real value.

There’s an old saying about this championship:

“You don’t win the U.S. Open, it wins you!”