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“Keegan Bradley will win this year’s U.S. Open. I am a big fan!” —Eric Shillinger, Moselem Springs
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“Matt Kuchar will win the U.S. Open.” —Clint Deibert, The Ridge at Back Brook
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“I’m picking Graeme McDowell. The premium will be on hitting fairways, as most U.S. Opens are, and he’s a very accurate driver of the ball. In addition, he’s a wonderful putter and has performed well on this stage two of the last three years. I think this U.S. Open is right up his alley.” —Jeff Kiddie, Aronimink
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“What I’m looking forward to the most is that I think this Open, more than any other in the last 10 years, will be wide open—given the premium on shot-making vs. distance. While Merion won’t play as short as some people think, I believe there will be a lot more possible contenders vs. a course that is 7,500 yards long. Don’t be surprised to see a senior player do well—perhaps a guy like Fred Couples or Mark Calcavecchia. That said, my pick would be Luke Donald. He’s a precise player who putts it great and hits his wedges well.” —Jim Smith Jr., Philadelphia Cricket Club
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“My money is on Tiger Woods to win the Masters. But come the U.S. Open, it’s going to take a guy with a great short game and discipline … I’ll take Rory McIlroy. This will start the year, jab for jab with these two.”
—Jeff Simon, French Creek
“I’m going with Steve Stricker—great putter and wedge player on a course where you don’t need to bomb it. I also like Ian Poulter; I think he definitely wins one of the majors this year.”
—Dave McNabb, Applebrook
“I think Brandt Snedeker gets it done and wins his first major at Merion. The U.S. Open has produced a bunch of first-time major winners over the past 10 years, and I think Brandt is ready to win one. He’s driving the ball well, and he’s one of the best putters on tour. Excelling in those two things will be needed at Merion.”
—Chris Wilkinson, Llanerch Country Club
“Sneds! (Brandt Snedeker).”
—Neil Maurer, Bear Trap Dunes
“Being a Nike staff player, I’m going with my leader, Tiger. He already has an early season win, and his game seems to be coming around.”
—Frank LaVacca, III, Hartefeld National Golf Club
“My prediction is a player like Luke Donald—straight and steady, since length won’t be a huge issue at Merion.”
—Ryan Lagergren, Stonewall
“Graeme McDowell. Seemingly, over the last five years, he’s always hanging around in the majors, and he’s a grinder. I think the traditions of Merion with the fescue will remind him of Northern Ireland, and he will get his second U.S. Open.”
—Scott Reilly, Philadelphia Country Club
“Tiger is going to win one, and that might be the one—or Brandt Snedeker.”
—Bob Crowther, Bayside Resort Golf Club
“I’ll be cheering for Tiger. The dream would be him and Rory to be in the final pairing coming up the 17th hole to the wicker baskets, even score.”
—Dan Shupard, The Golf Club at Glen Mills
“I think it will be hard to bet against Rory!”
—Kent Thomas, DuPont Country Club
“If I had my wishes, my fellow lefty Phil Mickelson would win the tournament. Logically speaking, I believe that Tiger Woods will break through and win it. With the setup of the course, he will not need to hit a driver as often, which recently has become his Achilles’ heel. He will be able to use the famed stinger to put himself in position to hit his approach to the green. If he gets hot with the putter, I believe that he will be very tough to beat this year.”
—Anthony Hollerback, Baywood Greens
For more from the 2013 Golf Guide, click here.
