The U.S. Women's Open is widely regarded as the toughest test in women's golf. Juli Inkster called it the "ultimate test of golf" during her appearance on the podcast this week. Danielle Kang said on the show FORE! that you have to "have all 14 clubs working" this week.
Mother Nature is going to add another wrinkle to the 73rd U.S. Women's Open at Shoal Creek. As of Wednesday morning, nearly four inches of rain had accumulated in the Birmingham, Alabama area in the last 48 hours.
So, that's the backdrop for our picks. Major championships are really difficult to pick. Do you go with a known commodity like multiple major winner Inbee Park? Or hold out for a dark horse? Do you go with a long hitter or a great putter like Cristie Kerr? Your gut says go with past winners, but recent history says that it's someone new every year.
So, what do you do? We left that to Amy Rogers, Ron Sirak, Adam Stanley and Bret Lasky.
Guess who the most popular pick was? Brooke Henderson.
Ariya Jutanugarn, Sung Hyun Park and Inbee Park were each selected by two of our four experts.
The best sleeper pick was by Rogers, who took Amy Yang. Why did she do that? Well, Yang has finished T8 or better in three straight U.S. Women's Opens.
Lasky went with Emma Talley as a sleeper pick because she has been a "Tour Hopeful" member for the last two years at Shoal Creek.
Amy Rogers' Picks
Sung Hyun Park: The defending champion plays her best on golf’s biggest stages. She’s determined to defend and win her second event of 2018.
Brooke Henderson: The Canadian loves playing on, and has found success at, tree-lined courses like Sahalee and Columbia Edgewater C.C. Expect Henderson to contend this weekend at the heavily wooded, Shoal Creek.
Stacy Lewis: The experience of this veteran and multiple major champion will be an advantage this week, as patience will be important in dealing with the week’s rainy conditions and potential delays.
Amy Yang: She owns seven top 10s in 11 U.S. Women’s Open appearances. Need I say more? Yang has had a quiet start to 2018, despite two top 10s, but teeing it up in the event that inspired her to take up the game, could lead to her first breakthrough of 2018.
Adam Stanley's Picks
Ariya Jutanugarn: With a win already this year, Jutanugarn is peaking at the right time to contend at the U.S. Women’s Open. She finished T4 at the first major championship of the year and her game is tailor-made for Shoal Creek.Inbee Park: Park, No.1 in the Rolex Rankings, has won the U.S. Women’s Open twice before so she knows what it takes. She finished T2 at the ANA Inspiration and told me at the beginning of the year her focus for 2018 was to win majors. She’s ready to go after taking some time at home the last few weeks.
Jessica Korda: Korda has yet to win a major, but if there was a year when she would break through it would be 2018. Korda won her first event of the year despite recovering from off-season surgery (that she is still recovering from). It could be argued Korda is playing the best golf of her career in 2018, with no missed cuts and four top-10’s this year.
Brooke Henderson: The Canadian made her first LPGA Tour cut at the U.S. Women’s Open when she was 15, and has had a run of very impressive results at the championship since then. Henderson has a win already this year and if she can get her putting turned on this week then watch out.
Ron Sirak's Picks
Brooke Henderson: Being aggressive and accurate off the tee will be key on a wet course and she’s fearless with the driver.
Michelle Wie: Plays some of her best golf in the U.S. Women's Open and has been very consistent all season.
Sung Hyun Park: Another long hitter who could very well join the very short list of back-to-back U.S. Women's Open winners.
Minjee Lee: Comes into Shoal Creek off an impressive win at the Volvik Championship. Like all my picks, long and accurate with the driver.
Bret Lasky's Picks
Lexi Thompson: She's been playing the U.S. Women's Open since she was 12 years old and this will be her 12th try at winning the big one. She's one of the most patriotic players on Tour so you know this one means more than most. Thompson ranks fourth on Tour in driving distance and with a wet track, her length will be an advantage.
Inbee Park: She skipped the last three LPGA Tour events to prepare in Korea. She did win a KLPGA event during her time away from the LPGA so rust won't be a factor. She has two U.S. Women's Open titles and a third would put her in rare company. She's at the point in her career where major championships mean most. Remember what she did at the ANA Inspiration?
Ariya Jutanugarn: She's by far the best player on Tour this year. She has finished inside the top 10 in four straight starts and six of the last seven, including her win at the Kingsmill Championship. She's got to be the betting line favorite if you ask me. She has been Even par or better in her last 15 rounds.
Emma Talley: Talley called Shoal Creek her "heaven on earth" as she has been a member there for two years. Home field advantage has to worth something in golf and she's had a very respectable rookie season. She's only missed two cuts and ranks 43rd on the official money list.
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