U.S. Open Appearances: 7
Cuts Made: 4
Rounds played: 23
Scoring Average: 73.39
2010 Finish: T47
Best Finish: T12 (2006)
Low Round: 69
(Two times - most recent R2 '06)
Money Won: $243,531
In his first major championship as the No. 1 player in the world, Donald will most definitely be the favorite. His consistency over the last two years is staggering and this year, he hasn't finished outside the top in an event since his second tournament of the year. Donald may have supplanted Phil Mickelson for best short game in the world. He's not great at hitting fairways, which hurts at a U.S. Open, but it hasn't hurt him so far this season. The Englishman may also be the world's best ball-striker. It's hard to imagine him not contending for his first major.
Lee Westwood
Age: 38
Country: England
World Rank: 2nd
U.S. Open Appearances: 11
Cuts Made: 10
Rounds played: 40
Scoring Average: 72.72
Westwood briefly returned to the No. 1 ranking during the spring, but lost a playoff to Luke Donald at the BMW PGA Championship and is back in second. Won this year's Ballantine's Championship on the European Tour. Has an ideal game for the U.S. Open and should contend here. Westwood is getting close to 40 and the clock is ticking on his major championship chances.
Martin Kaymer
Age: 26
Country: Germany
World Rank: 3rd
U.S. Open Appearances: 3
Cuts Made: 2
Rounds played: 10
Scoring Average: 72.90
The former world No. 1 and reigning PGA Champion availed himself nicely last year with a top-10 finish. Kaymer was runner-up to Luke Donald at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and has four top 10s in the 2011 season. There are no flaws in this man's game and winning a U.S. Open wouldn't shock anyone. If he drives it well, Kaymer's name will be on the leaderboards all weekend.
Steve Stricker
Age: 44
Country: USA
World Rank: 4th
U.S. Open Appearances: 15
Cuts Made: 13
Rounds played: 56
Scoring Average: 72.60
2010 Finish: T58
Best Finish: 5th (1998, 1999)
Low Round: 66
(Two times - most recent R2 '09)
Money Won: $866,798
Stricker is the highest-ranked American in the world. He just won the Memorial and has to be on a short list of favorites this week. Stricker is among the best putters in the world. Finished second at the 2007 AT&T National at Congressional. It's impossible for your eye not to wander toward Stricker this week. Remember this, only Tiger has won as many as times on the PGA Tour as Stricker has since the start of the 2009 season.
Phil Mickelson
Age: 41
Country: USA
World Rank: 5th
U.S. Open Appearances: 20
Cuts Made: 18
Rounds played: 76
Scoring Average: 72.07
2010 Finish: T4
Best Finish: 2nd
(1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009)
Low Round: 66
(Two times - most recent R2 '04)
Money Won: $3,478,727
Phil turns 41 on Thursday and it would be quite a birthday present to finally win his country's national championship. After five runner-ups, Mickelson has certainly been close. This year hasn't been spectacular, other than a weekend in Houston. Lefty may struggle keeping the driver on the short grass, but he always manufactures a way.
Matt Kuchar
Age: 32
Country: USA
World Rank: 6th
U.S. Open Appearances: 8
Cuts Made: 3
Rounds played: 22
Scoring Average: 74.00
Turns 33 the Monday after the U.S. Open, so a first major would be quite a birthday present. Kuchar owns a terrible U.S. Open record, but since he's turned into an elite player, he tied for sixth last year. He's clearly in form after his runner-up a few weeks ago at the Memorial. Top 16 on the tour in driving accuracy and greens in regulation. Impossible not to like him a little this week.
Graeme McDowell
Age: 26
Country: Northern Ireland
World Rank: 7th
U.S. Open Appearances: 5
Cuts Made: 5
Rounds played: 20
Scoring Average: 73.15
It's hard to imagine a better year than the one McDowell had last year. He won this championship in a brutal final round at Pebble Beach, clinched the Ryder Cup for Europe and toppled Tiger in a playoff at his own event. That was then and the now hasn't been sterling. With the third-round lead at the Players, he shot a 79 in the final round and shared 33rd. Then a few weeks later, as the defending champion at the Wales Open, he was one back at the midpoint, shot an 81 on Saturday and it was all she wrote. Seems to be battling his swing in a big way.
Rory McIlroy
Age: 22
Country: Northern Ireland
World Rank: 8th
U.S. Open Appearances: 2
Cuts Made: 1
Rounds played: 6
Scoring Average: 72.33
One of the biggest spotlights this week will be shone on young Mr. McIlroy. After his epic meltdown at Augusta National, what will happen if Rory gets into contention by Sunday? Can he withstand the pressure, or does he wilt? McIlroy missed the cut last year at Pebble Beach, but he's officially a world-class star and a bona fide contender. If he has a short memory that's Masters-free.
Dustin Johnson
Age: 26
Country: USA
World Rank: 9th
U.S. Open Appearances: 3
Cuts Made: 3
Rounds played: 12
Scoring Average: 72.66
By all rights, Johnson should've won both the U.S. Open and PGA Championships last year. A final-round disaster of 82 at Pebble Beach and forgetting a rule at the PGA cost him his first major title. An absolute masher of the golf ball, Johnson's got a slew of top fives in '11, but no wins. It's just a matter of time until Dustin is holding a major trophy.
Paul Casey
Age: 33
Country: England
World Rank: 10th
U.S. Open Appearances: 8
Cuts Made: 4
Rounds played: 23
Scoring Average: 74.04
It's been a rather pedestrian year for Casey. Yes, he's ninth on the PGA Tour in greens in regulation, but he's 141st in fairways hit. He hasn't made a cut in the U.S. since the Masters. Hard to see Casey as a viable threat this week.
Charl Schwartzel
Age: 26
Country: South Africa
World Rank: 11th
U.S. Open Appearances: 4
Cuts Made: 3
Rounds played: 14
Scoring Average: 73.78
The Masters champion vaulted into golf immortality, but does the only man with a chance at the single-season Grand Slam, actually have a chance? Of course he does, but Schwartzel's definitely had ups and downs since Augusta. He tied for the 11th the week after the Masters in Malaysia and shared fifth at the Volvo World Match Play Championship. He snuck up on everyone at Augusta and he can do it again at Congressional.
Bubba Watson
Age: 32
Country: USA
World Rank: 12th
U.S. Open Appearances: 4
Cuts Made: 2
Rounds played: 12
Scoring Average: 72.83
2010 Finish: Did Not Play
Best Finish: T5 (2007)
Low Round: 67 (R3 '09)
Money Won: $350,257
Bubba may not be the guy you think of for a U.S. Open contender. He swings so hard he's almost airborne, but he mashes it a country mile. Bubba is second on tour in driving distance, but first in greens in regulation. Watson has two wins this season and got to the semifinals of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. He can overpower a course and his playoff loss last year at the PGA shows he's ready for the major stage. Withdrew and missed the cut in two appearances at Congressional for the AT&T.
Ian Poulter
Age: 35
Country: England
World Rank: 13th
U.S. Open Appearances: 7
Cuts Made: 5
Rounds played: 23
Scoring Average: 73.43
After a great 2010 campaign, Poulter has slipped a bit this year. Though, he did win the Volvo World Match Play Championship not too long ago. Poulter is a solid guy, but is he a major winner in waiting? Hard to say. He's a match-play stud, but this hasn't been his major. Streaky player who could be tough if he gets the flat stick rolling.
Nick Watney
Age: 30
Country: USA
World Rank: 14th
U.S. Open Appearances: 4
Cuts Made: 2
Rounds played: 12
Scoring Average: 74.91
Don't be fooled by the hideous U.S. Open record, he's not the same guy. He won the WGC-Cadillac Championship this year and started the campaign with five straight top 10s. Watney's been in the top 10 his last two starts as well. Watney's top 20 in distance, greens in regulation and putting strokes gained. Fantastic iron player and a guy to keep your eye on. Watney's in the hunt on Sunday.
K.J. Choi
Age: 41
Country: South Korea
World Rank: 16th
U.S. Open Appearances: 10
Cuts Made: 5
Rounds played: 30
Scoring Average: 74.03
Choi's win at the Players Championship made him a trendy pick this week, but those trend-setters should be on to something. This is as consistent a player as there is. Choi's a great iron player and an above-average driver. The win at Sawgrass should make him comfortable in the spotlight and remember this, Choi captured the 2007 AT&T National at Congressional and although the course has been altered, there are good memories.
Jason Day
Age: 23
Country: Australia
World Rank: 18th
U.S. Open Appearances: 0
Cuts Made: 0
Rounds played: 0
Scoring Average: 00.00
2010 Finish: Did Not Play
Best Finish: N/A
Low Round: N/A
Money Won: $0
This kid is having a sensational season, highlighted by the runner-up finish at the Masters. He had two top 10s before Augusta and since - three in his four starts. Day is top 25 on tour in distance and strokes gained in putting, but he's a little erratic off the tee. A second in the Masters can do wonders for people.
Jim Furyk
Age: 41
Country: USA
World Rank: 19th
U.S. Open Appearances: 16
Cuts Made: 15
Rounds played: 62
Scoring Average: 72.43
One year after winning the FedExCup, Furyk has been dreadful in 2011. He has only two top 10s all year and both were ties for ninth. He missed the cut by a mile two weeks ago at the Memorial. All that being said, Furyk is a U.S. Open guy with fairways, greens, below-average length and a decent putter. He also owns a spectacular record at Congressional at the AT&T Classic with two T3s, and a T7.
Hunter Mahan
Age: 29
Country: USA
World Rank: 20th
U.S. Open Appearances: 5
Cuts Made: 3
Rounds played: 16
Scoring Average: 72.50
2010 Finish: Missed Cut
Best Finish: T6 (2009)
Low Round: 68
(Two times - most recent R2 '06)
Money Won: $445,287
Mahan's in the same boat as Poulter or Casey, is he a major-championship caliber player, or just a really strong golfer? He missed the cut at the Masters, but has seven top 10s in 14 starts. Mahan is fifth in greens in regulation and took second at the 2009 AT&T National at Congressional.
Ernie Els
Age: 41
Country: South Africa
World Rank: 23rd Player Bio
U.S. Open Appearances: 18
Cuts Made: 15
Rounds played: 66
Scoring Average: 72.09
It was 14 years ago when Els outlasted Colin Montgomerie and Tom Lehman for his second U.S. Open title. Last year, the Big Easy almost picked up his third at Pebble Beach, but came up short late. Els won the South African Open Championship to begin his season on the European Tour, but that actually happened in late 2010. Els hasn't finished in the top 10 once in 2011. He's ninth in greens in regulation on the PGA Tour, but his putting is letting him down. Would be a heck of a story if he could do it though.
Toms is the feel-good story of the 2011 season. He blew the Players title in the playoff with Choi, then came back with a win at Colonial the next week. After years of mediocrity, Toms became rejuvenated when his son got interested in the sport. On top of the playoff loss at Sawgrass and the victory at Colonial, he had a pair of top fives. Statistically, Toms is having the best year of anyone on tour with a second in greens in regulation, a third in driving accuracy and a sixth in strokes gained - putting. Not just a good story anymore, Toms is a contender for a second major 10 years after his first.
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