My "5 to Watch" at the US Open

The majors come rapid and thick in the course of the summer, and this week the men are again within the highlight with the United States Open.

I do not need to present you all the information, what with GC's day-to-night coverage main up to the occasion and FOX's similar insurance beginning Thursday. But the occasion's first return to Shinnecock considering the fact that 2004 and "Greengate" affords us with captivating possibilities -- particularly because the music is now 7400 yards.

I suspect that Jordan Spieth is accurate while he says analyzing preceding Shinnecock Opens won't be very helpful this time round. Agronomic practices have evolved dramatically for the reason that 2004, so situations will possibly be precisely what the USGA needs... And we surely do not know what they've deliberate for the next few days.

Consequently, my "5 to Watch" are primarily chalk choices, although it's honest to say there are possibly 15 chalk choices I may want to make.

• Let's start with Phil Mickelson , the man gunning for the career Grand Slam at this major. Lefty isn't just a sentimental pick this time around, as his game has been very good this year. He comes into this major with a win earlier this season and several high finishes leading into this week. And while past history here is probably no indication of success this week, the fact remains that Phil is one of the few players to have played this course in major condition -- twice -- and he finished Top5s both times. (One of them is, of course, a runner-up.) That bodes well for him.
• Defending champ Brooks Koepka has never played Shinnecock, but his excellent play at Erin Hills last year proves he can hold his own on a fairly wide course, which the new Shinnecock is. Having recovered from his wrist injury, he looks to be back in the kind of form he was at last year's event, He's not getting a lot of attention this week, but I think he has to be taken seriously...
• As does 2016 champ Dustin Johnson . DJ seems to be fully recovered from last year's tumble down the steps at Augusta, and he's coming off a win last week. Given how well he's played so far this season and how easily he got that win last week, I see no reason to think he'll slow down this week. DJ has a proven ability to post wins in bunches, so why not continue the run?
• Justin Rose has been on a tear for the last few months, having four total wins on the PGA, European and Asian Tours in just the last nine months. He won in Fort Worth just a couple of weeks back, so he too is on a promising career trajectory coming into this week. I think the diversity of his recent wins may give him a leg up on the rest of the field.
• And my flier is... Tiger Woods . Why make Tiger a flier pick this week? He has improved much more quickly this season than I had anticipated, and he has gotten into contention a few times already this season. It really is just a question of whether he can get his driver, irons and putter all working at the same time. But Shinnecock's sinuously undulating fairways should minimize his driver problems and, given that his irons have been the most dependable part of his game so far, it's just a question of whether he can get the putter to cooperate. The good news for him is that a US Open course usually doesn't require extremely low scores, so the scores he's shot with a balky putter may be enough.

And my pick? Look, I really want to pick Phil because I'd like to see him make some history that no one else has done -- the oldest player to complete the career Grand Slam. But my gut says Dustin Johnson is playing too well right now and he has too much to prove -- remember Butch's comments that he wasn't working hard enough? So I have to go with DJ at Shinnecock.

But hey, Phil, if you're listening... I may not cry if you prove me incorrect. Good success, bud.