US Open Golf Predictions 2013: Projections for Tiger Woods and Biggest Stars

The U.S. Open might not have the fanfare of the Masters, but the second major of the year still features the biggest superstars in the sport. The question is how each of them will do over the weekend.

Tiger Woods enters the event as the favorite as the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world. He has won four tournaments already this season and is playing as well as he has in years. On the other hand, he has still not won a major since 2008.

Meanwhile, there are a number of other top contenders for the tournament at Merion Golf Club who are certain to post low scores, including Matt Kuchar, Adam Scott and others.

Still, fans want to know what the biggest stars on tour are going to do in this event. Here is a projection of the most popular players in the world.

Rory McIlroy

Although Rory McIlroy has been a bit inconsistent this season, the talent is there for him to succeed. He has four top-10 finishes this year and has not missed the cut yet this year.

Additionally, he has been great with his ability to save himself with strong holes despite his lack of accuracy. This season, he ranks fourth on tour by making 70.31 percent of his greens in regulation.

On a short course, McIlroy has the ability to get close to the green in a hurry on virtually every hole.

Unfortunately, the driving accuracy will be a problem. He is hitting less than 60 percent of his fairways this season, which will be a big issue at Merion with extremely long rough. He has the experience to save himself, but it will be tougher than usual at this tournament.

The young player will stay close in this event, but it is hard to imagine him finishing at the top of this leaderboard.

Predicted Finish: 12th

Phil Mickelson

Although Phil Mickelson has never won the U.S Open, he has been close a number of times. Not only does he have nine top-10 finishes, but he has finished second an amazing five times.

The problem is that he has struggled mightily in the past two tournaments. He finished tied for 54th in 2011 and tied for 65th in 2012, only managing to break 70 once in that stretch.

Additionally, he has had some poor showings this year with two cuts and three finishes outside the top 50 in 12 events. His ranking of 160th in driving accuracy is certain to really hurt at this tournament as well.

Unlike McIlroy, he does not have the length off the tee to make up for the struggles he is certain to encounter on the rough.

Mickelson will have plenty of good tournaments this year, but the U.S. Open will not be one of them.

Predicted Finish: 46th

Tiger Woods

Despite the poor showing at Memorial, it is hard to deny Woods' current run. He has four tournament titles, including a win at the Players' Championship, which is considered the "fifth major."

He also had a solid showing at the Masters and could have won if not for his little mishap in the second round. 

The key for him has been his putting. He has been incredibly consistent on the greens all year and ranks fifth on tour in strokes gained in putts. While the rest of the field struggles on this tough course, Woods will be able to make up a lot of ground at the end of each hole.

His success is likely to come down to his strategy. Merion is not built for those that get too aggressive, so Woods has to make sure he takes the shots in front of him and does not go for a shot that is not there. 

It is better to be short in the fairway than in the long rough.

Still, the superstar has done enough to show that he is capable of winning this event if things go right, earning his first major championship in five years.

Predicted Finish: First

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