Why I'm Riding with Rory this Week

It's just moments into the first round 126th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. The fog has cleared and it's time to put all that hard work to the test...and at a course like this, it's a test you better have studied for. With the third men’s major championship underway, I figured it was time to finally make a pick. So, without further ado…

*Cue ESPN’s NFL Draft pick music*

Come Sunday afternoon in the Hamptons, there isn't an ounce of doubt in my bones that Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy will once again earn ownership of the U.S. Open trophy, the Jack Nicklaus medal, his seventh major championship, and will stand one Open win away from a second Career Grand Slam—joining just Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

Now, let’s get into the why.

U.S. OPEN: How to Watch | Tee Times

First and foremost, judging by everything he’s said leading up to the tournament, he really enjoys this golf course. On Tuesday, he called it the best major championship test in the United States. Shinnecock is truly one of the cathedrals of golf—it’s the only golf course to host a U.S. Open in three centuries—and McIlroy has prioritized winning at these types of places for the rest of his career.

Secondly, I think the course sets up for him really, really well. The fairways are cut more generously compared to 2018, meaning his recent struggles with the driver shouldn’t come back to bite him too often. There’s no rough around the greens, meaning players have to be creative with their short games. McIlroy’s short game is criminally underrated. He won the Masters in April because he got up and down from everywhere. Oh, and he has the ability to pull off shots like this:

With heavy wind in the forecast for Thursday and steady wind for the rest of the week, someone who thrives in those kinds of conditions will more than likely come out on top. You may not know this, but McIlroy is one of the best wind players in the game.

U.S. OPEN: Watch: What Would a 5-Handicap Shoot at Shinnecock in U.S. Open Conditions?

And finally, no one in golf has been better in U.S. Opens over the last seven years than McIlroy. After missing the cut in 2018, he rattled off six straight top-10 finishes, including two silver medals at Los Angeles Country Club and Pinehurst No. 2. When the going gets tough, McIlroy gets going.

The wait for Shinnecock and the 126th U.S. Open is nearly over. Enjoy the golf this week, folks.