Expert Picks: The US Open

by Kyle Porter | Golf Writer
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Each week during the official PGA Tour season, CBSSports.com's Kyle Porter will give his best shot at pegging the winner and seeing what other golfers will have a good week. The picks are based on a combination of homework, guesswork and just plain instinct.

Want to make your picks? Tweet your Winner, Top 10 finisher and sleeper to @EyeOnGolf

Odds provided by Bovada.lv

Field | Course Guide | Previous Champions | Schedule Rankings, FedEx Points

Merion Golf Club -- Ardmore, Penn.

Purse: $1.4 million

Defending Champion: Webb Simpson

FedEx Cup Points: 600

TV Schedule

Thursday: ESPN -- 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., 5-7 p.m., NBC -- 3-5 p.m.

Friday: ESPN -- 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., 5-7 p.m., NBC -- 3-5 p.m.

Saturday: NBC -- Noon - 7:30 p.m.

Sunday: NBC -- Noon - 7:30 p.m.

Pick to Win
 

Brandt Snedeker


Odds: 33 to 1

World Ranking: 7

Yes, I realize Snedeker is coming off two straight missed cuts at the Memorial and St. Jude Classic, but did you know Webb Simpson missed his last two cuts before winning at Olympic Club last year? And Graeme McDowell was cut in two of the three tournaments before he won in 2010 also. This tournament is about understanding how to play a US Open more than it is streaking into the tournament. Snedeker has top-11 finishes at three of his last four US Opens (didn't play last year) and I see him finally getting that slippery first major at a wet Merion later this week.
Lock for Top-10 finish
 

Lee Westwood


Odds: 28 to 1

World Ranking: 11

Never have I been so confident that a man would finish somewhere between No. 2 and No. 10 in the field than I am with Westwood this week. He has three top 10s in his last five US Opens including a third behind Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate back in 2008. I genuinely don't think Westwood will ever win this major but that won't keep him from stacking up top 10s for me.
Sleeper
 

Henrik Stenson


Odds: 66 to 1

World Ranking: 33

Stenson is No. 1 on the PGA Tour in driving accuracy and No. 3 on Tour in greens in regulation. This ESPN article does a great job of outlining why hitting greens in regulation at the US Open is one of the best indicators of who's going to win. At 66-1 in a loaded field I think Stenson provides a ton of value and should improve on his best finish ever (9th in 2009).
Bet I love
 

Big guns (Scott, McDowell, Kuchar, Mickelson, Woods, Rory) to win


Odds: (7 to 4)


I know I picked Snedeker but it seems like this group is coming in at a pretty good value at 7-4. Picking the field (anyone not in this group) only pays out at 2-5 and I could see three or four of the guys in the big guns group getting the W at Merion.
Head-to-head
Tiger Woods vs. Rory McIlroy Tiger Woods (-220) Rory McIlroy (+165) Woods
Matt Kuchar vs. Phil Mickelson Matt Kuchar (-115) Phil Mickelson (-115) Kuchar
Jim Furyk vs. Sergio Garcia Sergio Garcia (-115) Jim Furyk (-115) Furyk
Steve Stricker vs. Dustin Johnson Steve Stricker (-120) Dustin Johnson (-110) Johnson
Bill Haas vs. Zach Johnson Bill Haas (-115) Zach Johnson (-115) Haas

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