US Open 2013: Golf Monthly office picks
Ahead of the 2013 US Open at Merion Golf Club, each member of the Golf Monthly team makes two picks....
Mike Harris - Editor
Matt Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker
"Both these players have unflappable demeanours and ideal US Open skill sets, and I think they are both ready to break their major ducks."
Neil Tappin - Digital Editor Kevin Chappell and Scott Stallings
"I've decided to go with a couple of outsiders as there is no value with the favourites. Stallings has finished 4th, 4th and 3rd in his last two events and Chappell is a US Open expert, finishing 3rd in 2011 and 10th last year." Jezz Ellwood - Associate Editor
Graeme McDowell and Luke Donald
"McDowell has proved himself as a US Open expert in recent times - finishing 1st, 14th and 2nd in the last three years - and Donald could thrive around a short, tight golf course." Paul O'Hagan - Senior Staff Writer
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Matt Kuchar and Keegan Bradley
"Kuchar looked in fine form at the Memorial and the tight golf course will require the consistent and patient type of game that he has.
"Bradley has enjoyed plenty of top-10 finishes this year and he's the type of player who seems to thrive on demanding courses when under pressure." Tom Clarke - Content Editor
Rickie Fowler and Lee Westwood
"In 2009, Fowler won all four of his matches at The Walker Cup played at Merion. It was a very happy hunting ground for him then and if he can get his putter to work then it could be once more.
"We know about Westwood's fantastic iron play, but he's currently 4th on the PGA Tour stats for scrambling from within 30 yards of the green." Nick Bonfield - Junior Staff Writer Graeme McDowell and Kevin Chappell
"G-Mac has an exemplary US Open record and he currently ranks 1st on the PGA Tour in both Scrambling and Driving Accuracy - a perfect US Open combination.
"Chappell is very well priced given his past record on tough courses and his performance at the Memorial Tournament, where he displayed a brilliant short-game en route to a second-place finish." Kieran Lee - Sub-Editor
Brandt Snedeker and Graeme McDowell
"Snedeker is straight driver, superb putter and, with a number of top 10 US Open finishes already to his name, this could be his year.
"McDowell, the 2010 champion, has the experience to win and is in decent touch, having triumphed twice already this season. He's not the longest hitter - so Merion's shorter layout should suit - but he is top of the fairways-hit stats on the PGA Tour." James Bunce - Senior Designer
Tiger Woods and Justin Rose
"It'll only be a matter of time before Woods wins his 15th major. If he finds fairways and controls his wedge distances, he'll be extremely hard to beat.
"Rose has become one of the best ball strikes in the world. If he holes his fair share of putts, he'll be there or there abouts."
Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
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