The Sky Sports Golf presenter and analyst picks out her ones to watch for the year's final major at Whistling Straights
Jason Day
It seems I always pick the affable Aussie. There’s good reason, though, and he will win a major championship soon.
He’s too good a player not to and his form is trending in the right direction, having recovered from another Open Championship disappointment with victory at the RBC Canadian Open.
His major record is very good and he now feels extremely comfortable when in the mix against the world’s best.
Now up to world No. 4 and with his vertigo health problem behind him, he is one to look out for. There’s no denying his hunger and how much he craves one of golf’s biggest prizes.
Justin Rose
I’m staying away from Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy – the two favourites – because of their prices, but I absolutely think Justin will be one of the main contenders this week.
He’s turned into a world-class force who you expect to see contending week in, week out. His form is excellent and again he knows how to get the job done.
When the Englishman won the US Open at Merion, I thought like most others it was the first of many.
The competition at the top of the game is so tough, but JR has the mental fortitude to add more majors to his impressive CV. It could well be this week.
Rickie Fowler
Another one of my popular picks. We know the American’s form in the majors last year was seriously impressive – recording top-five finishes in all of them – but this year hasn’t quite been up to scratch, with a missed cut at Chambers Bay one of the main surprises.
His general form, however, has been great and I think that’s key. Now he’s a multiple winner, I think it will help him when he gets in the mix in majors.
The way he tore the course apart down the stretch to clinch the Players Championship was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen and then he went onto win the Scottish Open at Gullane in fine fashion.
His confidence is sky high and he has the all round game to outwit Whistling Straits.
Brooks Koepka
Brooks has the game to do damage whenever he tees it up and I think his length will be an advantage here.
The Pete Dye design is a manufactured links and how it plays all depends on the wind. I expect the winning score to be in the region of 12-under-par and if Brooks’ putter stays hot he could have a great week.
The other question mark is keeping the big numbers off his card.
If the American can do that for all four days he’ll have a great chance because we know he’s a birdie machine when he get’s on a roll.
Jimmy Walker
I think this year’s US PGA Championship will be won by one of the world’s top players and pre-tournament favourities, but I really like Jimmy’s odds.
He’s a fantastic player with the all-round game you’d expect to prosper at this event.
He’s also a tough competitor and mentally strong and I’m waiting for him to really contend in a major given what’s he’s done in regular PGA Tour events.
The belief is getting stronger every day thanks to his work with Butch Harmon and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he was there or thereabouts come Sunday.
Nick Watney
I was going to opt for Shane Lowry, but his odds have shortened now he’s the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational winner. I also think it’s incredibly tough to follow a win and all the emotional highs that go with it.
So I’m throwing in a curveball here with Watney, who is a five-time PGA Tour champion and knows how to get it done.
The American hasn’t won since the 2012 Barclays, but his form this year suggests his next one isn’t far away.
Watney was also leading after 54 holes at this event five years ago – which was held at this week’s venue – only to blow up with a final-round 81.
At this price, though, he’s worth an each-way flutter, especially if conditions are pretty benign and it’s a low scoring week.
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