It is known as The National Championship of Golf. Can you hear that? It is the sound of the fans cheering at the 1^st tee at the U.S. Open. The hardest test ever for a golfer is playing the U.S. Open. This year Open is no different where the fairways are narrow, the rough is ridiculously long, and you better hit it a mile off the tee. Many will come to play the Blue Course at Bethesda, Maryland only to be turned away after the course destroys their hopes of hoisting up the trophy. This Open is held at the Congressional Country Club in our nation’s capital. This will be the third time that this venue will host the Open Championship. To win this Championship it will take great skill, determination, and true grit. Here is a list of contenders that could be the last man standing on Sunday afternoon

My top 5 favorites to win

Luke Donald

The number one player in the world will try this week to get his hands on his first Major Championship. Luke Donald is playing his best golf of his career. Here is a mind-blowing stat, Luke has made 8 cuts this year on tour and has finished in the top 10 every single time. He also finished 4^th at Augusta this season. Can Luke Donald get his first Major this week? I believe so.

Matt Kuchar

Here is an American that wants to win his National Championship. Kuchar is getting hot at the right time. At the Memorial, two weeks ago, he finished 2^nd. Kuchar has all the skills to win a Major. He is accurate off the tee, and he is deadly with an iron in his hand. The only thing that could keep Kuchar from winning this week is his distance off the tee. The U.S. Open is notorious for rewarding longer hitters, and Kuchar will not be able to reap that reward. If Kuchar can channel his inner “John Daly” then he has a great shot this week.

Graeme McDowell

I have to put the previous Open winner on my list.  McDowell is not playing his best golf of late, but this man has nerves of steel. I watched him win last year’s Open at Pebble Beach without ever showing signs of being nervous. This is another player that is not the longest off the tee, but he found a way last year and he can find away this year. Can Graeme McDowell win back-to-back U.S. Open’s and turn his season around? Yes he can.

Phil Mickelson

How close can you come to winning a National Championship without winning it? Phil is the Buffalo Bills of golf when it comes to winning a U.S. Open.  He has finished runner-up at the Open 5 times, which is a record. This is the last golf accomplishment Phil has not received. I have to admit I will be pulling hard for Phil this week, as it seems like fate that he must win one. Phil is a crowd favorite so hopefully they can cheer him on to hitting more fairways if he is to win his first.

Bubba Watson

This long hitter has a great chance this week. Like I said before, this layout is long and is set up to reward long hitters, and Bubba is the 2^nd longest hitter on tour. Bubba has played great this year with already winning twice on tour. He has never won a Major but he can and he will if he can find the fairways at Congressional.

Two dark horses that could win it

Ian Poulter

Poulter is quickly becoming a fan favorite because of his huge play in the social media, and his attire on the course. Poulter is a machine in match play, because he waits for people to make mistakes and then capitalizes on it. If he can play a little more aggressive this week and post a low number before the weekend he has a great chance. I just have a strong feeling that he will have a great showing this week and boy, will twitter be blowing up if he does. Get you one, Poults!!!!

K.J Choi

Well, they say winning the Players Championship is a stepping-stone to winning a Major. Choi won this year’s Players and is looking for that first Major trophy as well. KJ is second on this years money list so he has definitely played well in a lot of tournaments this year. I think KJ will play well enough to still be in the picture on Sunday.

This is the first time I can remember that there is not a clear favorite to win. I think that is very exciting time in golf with the World Golf Rankings changing weekly. There are so many golfers that are so close in skill. So, who will separate themselves this week and bring home the greatest Father’s Day gift of all? It should be an exciting and action filled weekend so sit back and enjoy the show. I bet it will be a good one.