DFS GOLF: 2018 US Open Preview
DFS GOLF: 2018 US Open Preview
Next Thursday at 6:45 AM ET one of the most important tournaments in the world will kick or “tee” off at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. The golf community has been itching for a major of this magnitude since THE PLAYERS championship in mid-May. You can stop holding your breath golf fans, the wait is over.
The list of players competing in this tournament is full of supreme caliber contenders who will compete for a $12,000,000 purse. Being the highest purse of all tournaments on the tour, it will be imperative for these golfers to bring their A game. A win here is not only going to leave a mark in the record books but will also leave a mark in one’s bank books.
Before attempting to build a lineup, there are a few things to know about this course, tournament, and the players competing for the US Open Championship Trophy. All of the following tips should be used as a guide for what players you may want to target. OB’s Lineup will be released next Monday or Tuesday depending how long I contemplate between players. As for now, you should focus on gathering your own group of players as potential DFS Plays.
DFS GOLF: The Course
The US Open will be taking place in Southampton at the historic Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. If any “OG” golf fans remember, the tournament was hosted here in 2004 also. The Hills however, have changed quite drastically since their last dance with the USGA. Within the previous year, the Golf Association has been working tirelessly to reform the course to the once “old-school” design of William Flynn.
Before the 2018 US Open was decided to be held at Shinnecock, the fairways had been widened approximately 15 feet and the course was extended to be about 450 yards longer. The size of the greens have been reduced. This is counteracted however, by the fact that the rough around the greens is closely mowed. This leaves no room for over adjusted putts to fall too far off. The difference will expose the short game of many mediocre putters’ that are on the tour.
The course adjustments are sure to make this one of the most difficult tournaments this year. The architect of the course intended for it to be difficult, and you better believe the USGA will stay true to that intention.
There are four Par 3’s, twelve Par 4’s, and two Par 5’s on this course. So look for some of the best Par 4 scorers to have an advantage. Golfers that rely on gaining strokes by hitting rockets off the tee might not be able to play their usual game.
https://www.pga.com/events/usopen/us-open-returns-tradition-course-set-shinnecock
Ferguson, Doug. “US Open Returns to Tradition with Course Set up at Shinnecock | US Open.” PGA.com, 23 May 2018, www.pga.com/events/usopen/us-open-returns-tradition-course-set-shinnecock.
DFS GOLF: Tournament Winners
The defending champion couldn’t have had any better timing than in April to come back from injury. Brooks Koepka took home $2,160,000 last year after battling all weekend for the glorious silver trophy. Luckily enough, Koepka is back to defend his title but will face a challenge adjusting to this year’s course. He however, is not even close to the only pro in the field with a US Open win. Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Webb Simpson, and Rory McIlroy have all won within the past ten years. Also believe this, Tiger Woods is actually competing for his fourth US Open win. Another storyline we could see is Phil Mickelson reaching for revenge from his 2004 2nd place performance at Shinnecock. The talent here is undeniable, which is going to make this slate stressful, but fun. The excitement is what sells.
DFS GOLF: Groupings
The PGA Tour is not selling us short with these groupings that they have arranged for this weekend. Networks like CBS and the Golf Channel have it made, as they are blessed with groupings such as:
"Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland; Jordan Spieth, Dallas, Texas; Phil Mickelson, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.Hideki Matsuyama, Japan; Marc Leishman, Australia; Rickie Fowler, Murrieta, Calif.Bryson DeChambeau, Clovis, Calif.; Matthew Fitzpatrick, England; Matt Kuchar, Sea Island, Ga.Bubba Watson, Bagdad, Fla.; Jason Day, Australia; Brooks Koepka, West Palm Beach, Fla.Tony Finau, Lehi, Utah; Luke List, Seal Beach, Calif.; Gary Woodland, Topeka, Kan.Sergio Garcia, Spain; Jon Rahm, Spain; Rafa Cabrera Bello, SpainTommy Fleetwood, England; Francesco Molinari, Italy; Alexander Noren, SwedenJustin Thomas, Goshen, Ky.; Dustin Johnson, Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Tiger Woods, Hobe Sound, Fla.https://www.si.com/golf/2018/06/07/us-open-tee-times-pairings-groupings-tiger-woods-dustin-johnson“JT-Dustin-Tiger Highlight U.S. Open Pairings.” SI.com, Sports Illustrated, www.si.com/golf/2018/06/07/us-open-tee-times-pairings-groupings-tiger-woods-dustin-johnson."
If the idea of all these fantastic players competing side by side for one of the most prestigious titles of the year doesn’t excite you as a golf fan, I don’t know what would.
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So, sink all of these factors into your brain before pulling the trigger on any of the golfers on this slate. Hopefully your mind is primed for the release of next week’s edition of OB’s Lineup. Golf fans, get excited and get ready for the US Open!
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