This article is part of our Major Power Rankings series.
1. Tiger Woods -- Despite a poor recent showing at the Memorial, Woods is still the undisputed favorite having notched four wins already in 2013 and possesses the elite shotmaking necessary to excel at Merion.
2. Phil Mickelson -- Of Lefty's 41 PGA Tour victories, none have come at the U.S. Open, but with five runner-up finishes at this storied major, he covets this championship as much as anyone. Coming off a gutsy runner-up last week at the Fedex St. Jude Classic.
3. Rory McIlroy -- 2011 U.S. Open and 2012 PGA Championship champion by eight shots, the 24-year-old McIlroy can definitely compete at Merion if he can find the fairway. He's third in the all-around ranking and fourth in GIR percentage.
4. Matt Kuchar -- With two signature wins and a plethora of top-10 finishes in 2013, Kuchar is arguably the hottest hand in golf going into Merion. The last four U.S. Open champs have made the win their first major, and Kuchar looks as primed as ever to do the same.
5. Graeme McDowell -- McDowell has the steady temperment necessary for tough conditions, collecting a U.S. Open Championship in 2010 and a runner-up effort last year. He also won the RBC Heritage in April, so he's in solid form as well.
6. Adam Scott -- The recent Masters champ now has the confidence of knowing he can pull off a major championship, and represents the only player who could amass a grand slam in 2013. Has not
1. Tiger Woods -- Despite a poor recent showing at the Memorial, Woods is still the undisputed favorite having notched four wins already in 2013 and possesses the elite shotmaking necessary to excel at Merion.
2. Phil Mickelson -- Of Lefty's 41 PGA Tour victories, none have come at the U.S. Open, but with five runner-up finishes at this storied major, he covets this championship as much as anyone. Coming off a gutsy runner-up last week at the Fedex St. Jude Classic.
3. Rory McIlroy -- 2011 U.S. Open and 2012 PGA Championship champion by eight shots, the 24-year-old McIlroy can definitely compete at Merion if he can find the fairway. He's third in the all-around ranking and fourth in GIR percentage.
4. Matt Kuchar -- With two signature wins and a plethora of top-10 finishes in 2013, Kuchar is arguably the hottest hand in golf going into Merion. The last four U.S. Open champs have made the win their first major, and Kuchar looks as primed as ever to do the same.
5. Graeme McDowell -- McDowell has the steady temperment necessary for tough conditions, collecting a U.S. Open Championship in 2010 and a runner-up effort last year. He also won the RBC Heritage in April, so he's in solid form as well.
6. Adam Scott -- The recent Masters champ now has the confidence of knowing he can pull off a major championship, and represents the only player who could amass a grand slam in 2013. Has not finished better than 15th at this major but will be an intruiging player to watch.
7. Justin Rose -- World class talent and has won big tournaments before, but never a major. Best finish is fifth at a U.S. Open in 2003 and will need to get the putter going to put himself into the weekend mix.
8. Jim Furyk -- It was Furyk's tournament to win last year at Olympic Club, but a botched drive cost him his second U.S. Open. With an impressive resume with six top-5 finishes at the U.S. Open, Furyk is no stranger to playing well in the toughest conditions.
9. Lee Westwood -- Five top-5s in the U.S. Open and numerous top finishes in majors make Westwood a strong candidate for a major breakthrough. Has the ballstriking prowess to navigate Merion and was top-10 at last year's U.S. Open.
10. Luke Donald -- Top-notch iron player with an immaculate short game, Donald has the tools to contend, especially at a shorter venue like Merion. Has never finished better than 12th at the U.S. Open.
11. Charl Schwartzel -- The South African is in good form with two top-10s in his last three events and is third on tour in scoring average this season. Has just one career win on American soil but produced a top-10 at 2011 U.S. Open.
12. Jason Day -- Day has three top-3 finishes in major championships since 2011, including a runner-up finish at the 2011 U.S. Open. Played very well at the Masters this year and appears to be on the brink of making a splash.
13. Sergio Garcia -- Played 70 great holes at The Players Championship before a flushing his chances on 17 and 18, Sergio has the game to contend if he can keep his focus through four rounds. Four top-10s at the U.S Open, his most recent in 2011.
14. Dustin Johnson -- Five top-15 finishes this season including a win and is coming off a top-10 finish at the FedEx St. Jude Classic. Was the 54-hole leader at the 2010 U.S. Open before shooting 82 on Sunday.
15. Brandt Snedeker
16. Keegan Bradley -- Playing in just his second U.S. Open, Bradley has six top-10s and is fifth in total driving this season. A bit under the radar despite nearly winning the HP Byron Nelson Championship less than a month ago.
17. Hunter Mahan -- Ninth in total driving on tour, which will prove useful on the daunting rough Merion is known for. Hasn't fared well in strokeplay events this year with just one top-10, but finished sixth at the U.S. Open in 2009.
18. Jason Dufner -- Finished fourth last year at Olympic Club as part of a rock solid 2012, but lately has been cold with zero top-10s in 2013. Has the consistent demeanor to contend but his recent form has been anything but that.
19. Louis Oosthuizen -- Has just one top-10 in three starts at the U.S. Open (MC in the other two), but knows how to win a major and is unwavering in his approach.
20. Steve Stricker
21. Webb Simpson -- Last year's U.S. Open champion has three top-6 finishes this year, including a runner-up at the RBC Heritage. Will face plenty of media attention coming into the week, so how he responds to it will likely govern his play to some degree.
22. Rickie Fowler
23. Henrik Stenson
24. Nick Watney
25. Angel Cabrera -- 2007 U.S. Open champ nearly won the Masters this year but is 152nd in driving accuracy this season, which will be at a premium given Merion's notoriously thick rough.
26. Ernie Els -- Two-time U.S. Open champion who surged back onto the scene in winning the 2012 Open Championship. Has zero top-10s this season but was top-10 at last year's U.S. Open.
27. Bill Haas
28. Padraig Harrington
29. Zach Johnson
30. Martin Kaymer
31. Nicolas Colsaerts -- Was in the mix at last year's U.S. Open before a Sunday 76 derailed him. He's third in driving distance on tour (nicknamed "The Belgian Bomber") and 20th in GIR percentage.
32. Ian Poulter
33. Bubba Watson -- Last year's green jacket winner has struggled this season with just one top-10 in strokeplay. Capable of surprising given his length and shotmaking ability, but his form is a bit off.
34. Tim Clark -- Third in driving accuracy on tour at nearly 71 percent, Clark can score on the short Merion course and gain an advantage by avoiding the penalizing rough and favoring his shotmaking ability. Finished third in 2005.
35. Peter Hanson
36. Geoff Ogilvy
37. Matteo Manassero -- Recently became the youngest to win the BMW PGA Championship and followed that up with a top-5 at the Nordea Masters. In great form but has not finished better than 46th at the U.S. Open.
38. Bo Van Pelt
39. K.J. Choi
40. Martin Laird
41. Francesco Molinari
42. Aaron Baddeley
43. George Coetzee
44. Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano
45. Ryan Moore
46. Boo Weekley -- Coming off a win at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, Boo has form on his side but has yet to finish inside the top-25 at the U.S. Open.
47. Kevin Streelman
48. Scott Stallings -- Making his first U.S. Open appearance and playing great golf with three consecutive top-5s.
49. Jamie Donaldson
50. Billy Horschel -- Notched six top-10s this year and making his first U.S. Open appearance. Won the Zurich Classic about a month ago and coming off a top-10 at the FedEx St. Jude Classic.
51. Scott Piercy
52. John Senden
53. Robert Garrigus
54. Stewart Cink
55. Lucas Glover -- 2009 U.S. Open champion has two top-5s this season but little else.
56. Branden Grace
57. Carl Pettersson
58. John Huh
59. D.A. Points
60. David Toms
61. Y.E. Yang
62. Kevin Chappell -- True sleeper who quietly has top-10s in the last two U.S. Opens. Coming off a solid runner-up effort at the Memorial.
63. Steven Alker
64. Sang-Moon Bae
65. Marc Leishman
66. Kyle Stanley
67. Matt Bettencourt
68. Freddie Jacobson
69. Jay Don Blake
70. Brandon Brown
71. Thorbjorn Oleson -- The 23-year-old Dane won his first European Tour event in 2012 and has two top-10 finishes in his first four major starts, including a T6 at the Masters this year. Definitely a player to watch as he's showed up at big events.
72. Ryan Palmer
73. Paul Casey
74. Darren Clark
75. Wil Collins
76. Brandon Crick
77. Chris Doak
78. Zack Fischer
79. Marcus Fraser
80. Hiroyuki Fujita
81. Mathew Goggin
82. Estanislao Goya
83. Luke Guthrie
84. Adam Hadwin
85. John Hahn
86. Rory Sabbatini
87. Jordan Spieth -- Last year's top amateur at the U.S. Open at 18 years old, Spieth is mature beyond his years with four top-10s in 2013.
88. Matt Harmon
89. David Hearn
90. Russel Henley
91. Peter Hedblom
92. Jim Herman
93. Justin Hicks
94. Michael Thompson -- Last year's runner-up broke through for his first win at the 2013 Honda Classic and more recently finished top-10 at the Memorial.
95. Charley Hoffman
96. Robert Karlsson
97. Morgan Hoffman
98. David Howell
99. Mackenzie Hughes
100. Michael Weir
101. Randall Hutchison
102. Jung-Gon Hwang
103. Thongchai Jaidee
104. Brandt Jobe
105. Jerry Kelly
106. Simon Khan
107. Bio Kim
108. Russell Knox
109. Cliff Kresge
110. Doug Labelle II
111. Casey Wittenberg
112. Scott Langley
113. Paul Lawrie
114. David Lingmerth
115. Edward Loar
116. Morten Orum Madsen
117. Hideki Matsuyama
118. Ryan Nelson
119. John Nieporte
120. Joe Ogilivie
121. Jose Maria Olazabal
122. John Parry
123. Eddie Pepperell
124. John Peterson
125. Ted Potter Jr.
126. Josh Teater
127. Alistair Presnell
128. Michael Campbell
129. Marcel Siem
130. Geoffrey Sisk
131. Jesse Smith
132. Brendan Steele
133. Shawn Stefani
134. Brian Stuard
135. Chris Williams (a) -- Top-ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking at age 21.
136. Ryan Sullivan
137. Kevin Sutherland
138. Steven Fox (a) -- 2012 U.S. Amateur champion making his first appearance as a 22-year-old.
139. Andrew Svoboda
140. Roger Tambellini
141. Nicholas Thompson
142. Yoshinobu Tsukada
143. Yui Ueda
144. Jaco Van Zyl
145. Matt Weibring
146. Harold Varner III
147. Ryan Yip
148. Rikard Karlberg
149. Gavin Hall (a)
150. Michael Weaver (a)
151. Max Homa (a)
152. Kevin Phelan (a)
153. Cory Mcelyea (a)
154. Grayson Murray (a)
155. Michael Kim (a)
156. Cheng-Tsung Pan (a)
