U.S. Open 2012 Pairings: Predicting Best Finisher from Each Top Trio

As we get set for the 2012 US Open, there are several intriguing pairings to sort out.

Each trio has at least one legitimate contender, some even have three. Complete with upstarts, underdogs and favorites, the pairings to start off the US Open on Thursday have a little bit of something for everyone.

Here's a look at the best pairings of the 2012 US Open, complete with predictions.

Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson

First Round: 7:33 a.m., Hole No. 9 

Second Round: 1:18 p.m., Hole No. 1

This is my favorite pairing of the tournament. In fact, I have Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson finishing first, second and third respectively at the 2012 US Open.

Woods is coming off a spectacular showing at the Memorial, in which he hit a 50-foot chip shot on the 16th to propel himself to victory. He finished the tournament with a five-under-par 67 in the final round.

Mickelson has placed second or tied for second five times in his career at the US Open, but has yet to win the major. I think withdrawing from the Memorial will help him, but I don't see him winning.

Watson missed the cut at the Memorial, and he can certainly be unpredictable, but he's played well overall this year, with four top-10 finishes in 10 PGA Tour events. He also showed that history doesn't mean anything—he finished 38th at the Masters in 2011 before winning the major this year.

Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood

First Round: 1:29 p.m., Hole No. 1

Second Round: 7:44 a.m., Hole No. 9

Rory McIlroy certainly hasn't been as dominant this year as in 2011, when he set records at the US Open. He has five top-10 finishes in eight PGA Tour events, but he placed 40th at the Masters and missed the cut at the Players Championship and the Memorial.

I think Lee Westwood will place the best out of the group. He has four top-10 finishes in seven PGA Tour events this year, including a third-place finish at the Masters.

 

Martin Kaymer, Hunter Mahan, Justin Rose

First Round: 1:25 p.m., Hole No. 9

Second Round: 8:10 a.m., Hole No. 1

Martin Kaymer hasn't played particularly well on the PGA Tour this season, finishing 44th at the Masters. Hunter Mahan finished 12th at the Masters, but has only three top-10 finishes in 12 PGA Tour events this season.

Justin Rose, however, has five top-10 finishes in 11 PGA Tour events this year, including a victory at the Cadillac Championship, and eighth-place finishes at the Masters and the Memorial. I expect Rose to be in the top 10 by the time the US Open is through.

 

Steve Stricker, Ian Poulter, Matt Kuchar

First Round: 1:36 p.m., Hole No. 9

Second Round: 8:21 a.m., Hole No. 1

Steve Stricker recently placed 47th at the Masters, missed the cut at the Players Championship and placed 50th at the Memorial. I don't see this working out well for him.

Ian Poulter has played well in his last three PGA Tour events, placing third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, seventh at the Masters and 25th at the Players Championship. He's a long shot, but I could see him placing in the top 10 at the US Open.

I ultimately like Matt Kuchar to emerge out of the group, though. He's been inconsistent this year, but he placed third at the Masters and won the Players Championship, the two biggest PGA tournaments of the year. He's playing better in the big tournaments and I expect him to come ready to play at the US Open.

 

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