And the Champion Golfer of the Year Is…

This week players venture over the pond to play in the third major of the year. The high wind and cold, rainy weather brings a refreshing change of pace to the low scoring courses on the US circuit. When players play in the Open, not only are they battling the others in the field, but they are also battling the elements. It is as much a competition of players as it is a competition of man against nature, and this year should be no different with rain and high winds forecasted for three of the four days. Throughout the week, Royal Birkdale is guaranteed to bite back, and it will be thrilling to see how it affects play. That being said, an Open winner not only needs to be at the top of his game, but also at their peak mental capacity. Here are my picks:

Winner: Tommy Fleetwood

I’m keeping in line with the first time major theme, but definitely going with a bit of a dark horse here. Fleetwood is a well known player on the European Tour, but less well known in the states. However, he has been playing tremendous golf. In his past four starts, he has 4 top 10’s, including 2 top 5’s and a win. The icing on the cake? He lives in Southport, England, the same town as Royal Birkdale.  With strong play and a hometown crowd cheering him on, look for him to be hovering at the top of the leaderboard on Sunday.

Top 10: Jon Rahm

It’s hard to pick an Open winner without talking about Rahm. He ventured over the pond last week to play the Irish Open, and proceeded to tear apart the course, setting a course record and winning the tournament. Rahm’s game also sets up nicely for links style play, with a low ball flight, plenty of power, and just as much control over the golf ball. Put it all together, and as long as he can keep his temper in check, he has a great shot at hoisting the Claret Jug on Sunday.

Top 25: Phil Mickelson

I keep saying it and I keep picking Phil, but he’s definitely due for a win very soon. He’s played well all season, and was in contention throughout the week last year at Troon, until Henrik Stenson just flat-out beat him. After missing the US Open for his daughter’s graduation, look for him to come to Birkdale prepared and ready to go. Phil also took his driver for the week, and if he can hit it straight and far enough, a top 25 this week is almost a guarantee for Mickelson.

Written by Paul Choma