US Open 2017: 10 bold predictions

2. Rickie Fowler just misses his first major in playoff

One of the players I see making it to the playoff on Monday is Rickie Fowler. The hunt for his first major is one of the defining characteristics of Fowler at this point in his career. He’s consistently been one of the best players in the world since turning pro. However, winning a major is the thing that has eluded him to this point. And, unfortunately, it’s going to elude him again this week at Erin Hills.

There are a ton of reasons to believe that Fowler is going to perform well this week. Despite recent struggles (two missed cuts in his last four events), his performance this season has been quite great. He has five top-10 finishes to his name in the 2017 season. On top of that, he has come in the top 25 on eight different occasions, in addition to winning once, coming in second once, and finishing in third-place once as well.

What’s more, Fowler is yet another player that has the ability to blast off the tee. He should put that on display, flexing his ability with the driver and letting that distance to the work for him at the US Open. However, when it gets to the playoff, the pressure will ultimately be too much. He won’t be able to keep up with his foe in that format and will again fall short of winning a major.