This article is part of our Major Power Rankings series.
Below are our 2014 U.S. Open rankings. This list is geared toward winner-take-all leagues and leagues that reward the lowest aggregate score, but it can serve other leagues as well, no matter the nuances. Check the comments section for golfers who are scratched.
| 1. Phil Mickelson Note: Focus not lacking entering this week as evidence by his T11 in Memphis. No one wants it more than Mickelson, but will that be enough? |
| 2. Bubba Watson Note: Player of the year entering this week and he could lock it up for the entire year with a win this week. Not a typical U.S. Open golfer, but has the game to win anyway. |
| 3. Matt Kuchar Note: Quietly having a solid season, so what's new? A major championship would be new and this looks like as good of a spot as any. |
| 4. Rory McIlroy Note: Perhaps he's ready to take back the throne. His game has been solid post-break-up and he's no stranger to competing at a major. |
| 5. Adam Scott Note: Failed to defend his Masters title earlier this year, but that might serve him well this week as he comes in under the radar. Scott has never thrived with all the attention anyway. |
| 6. Jordan Spieth Note: There's no way to tell how the youngster will handle the U.S. Open layout and the pressure that comes with it, but he's passed nearly every test to date, so why not this one? |
| 7. Justin Rose Note: In a tough spot |
Below are our 2014 U.S. Open rankings. This list is geared toward winner-take-all leagues and leagues that reward the lowest aggregate score, but it can serve other leagues as well, no matter the nuances. Check the comments section for golfers who are scratched.
| 1. Phil Mickelson Note: Focus not lacking entering this week as evidence by his T11 in Memphis. No one wants it more than Mickelson, but will that be enough? |
| 2. Bubba Watson Note: Player of the year entering this week and he could lock it up for the entire year with a win this week. Not a typical U.S. Open golfer, but has the game to win anyway. |
| 3. Matt Kuchar Note: Quietly having a solid season, so what's new? A major championship would be new and this looks like as good of a spot as any. |
| 4. Rory McIlroy Note: Perhaps he's ready to take back the throne. His game has been solid post-break-up and he's no stranger to competing at a major. |
| 5. Adam Scott Note: Failed to defend his Masters title earlier this year, but that might serve him well this week as he comes in under the radar. Scott has never thrived with all the attention anyway. |
| 6. Jordan Spieth Note: There's no way to tell how the youngster will handle the U.S. Open layout and the pressure that comes with it, but he's passed nearly every test to date, so why not this one? |
| 7. Justin Rose Note: In a tough spot as the defending champ, might be too much to ask for Rose to go back-to-back, but that doesn't mean a poor outing is in store. |
| 8. Jason Day Note: Looks to be near 100% entering this week. When healthy, he's a threat to win at the majors, just hasn't found a way to close yet. |
| 9. Bill Haas Note: The poor-man's Matt Kuchar. There isn't a better player that garners less attention than Haas. A major win would change that of course. |
| 10. Webb Simpson Note: Simpson has played well since his U.S. Open win two years ago, but he's failed to capture another major. Certainly a contender this week as he understands the pressure of the Open. |
| 11. Jason Dufner Note: With a major title under his belt, Dufner should start to contend at nearly all the majors. He's either on or off, so you'll know early in the week if he's going to be a factor. |
| 12. Jim Furyk Note: His lone major win came at this event a while back. With all the trouble he's had closing over the past couple years it's hard to imagine he can win this week. |
| 13. Sergio Garcia Note: The biggest head case of the lot. Certainly has the skills to win here, but will his mind get in the way? Should see his name on the first-page on the weekend. |
| 14. Dustin Johnson Note: Another mystery, DJ has failed to be much of a factor at the majors since his close call at the PGA Championship a few years back. Has the game, has the experience on the U.S. Open layouts to win this week. |
| 15. Zach Johnson Note: Hasn't played up to the level we saw late last year and early this year, but he's mentally tough and he's straight off the tee. Two essential qualities this week. |
| 16. Hunter Mahan Note: The forgotten one when it comes to majors. Has every bit the talent of many players of his generation, but tends to disappear during the majors. |
| 17. Hideki Matsuyama Note: Picked up his first win on the PGA Tour a couple weeks back. Considering how he struggled down the stretch though, it's hard to imagine he can win here this week. |
| 18. Graeme McDowell Note: The hot pick entering last year's U.S. Open who fell flat that week. Under the radar entering this week, which should help. Former Open champ, knows how to get around the layouts. |
| 19. Henrik Stenson Note: Multiple WGC winner has yet to leave his mark on a major. Has the game to win here, but his lack of history contending at the majors is disturbing. |
| 20. Graham DeLaet Note: Was on fire late last season, but he's yet to show that form this year. Could find a hot streak again, but not likely a serious contender this week. |
| 21. Charl Schwartzel Note: A major title already under his belt, the timing seems to be right to pick up number two, but his game hasn't been as sharp as it once was this season. |
| 22. Billy Horschel Note: Horschel might be on his way back after a solid showing in Memphis. Hasn't shown the form that made him a major contender last year, but might find the magic again this week. |
| 23. Lee Westwood Note: Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Westwood is running out of realistic chances at capturing a major, this could be one, but odds are he falls short again. |
| 24. Keegan Bradley Note: In the midst of a swing change Bradley has had somewhat of a weird year, getting two seconds, seven top-10s and 15 top-25s. But he hasn't broken through, and one has to wonder how the swing holds up under major Sunday pressure. |
| 25. Luke Donald Note: Also going through a swing change, Donald has a sharp short game but an uncertain long game, where he's hitting it just over 279 yards per drive. Pinehurst may play firm and fast but he's still going to be further back than most players one very hole. |
| 26. Harris English Note: Seemingly everyone's favorite pick this side of Phil and Spieth, be on the lookout for this guy if he gets off to a good start this week. With two wins in 2013, he knows how to get to the victory circle at a young age. |
| 27. Matt Every Note: Every's win at Bay Hill was a surprise to be sure, but it does show he has talent. However, he's only played in one U.S. Open (he finished T28 in 2005), and that lack of experience could come back to bite him this week. |
| 28. Stephen Gallacher Note: Gallacher won the Dubai Desert Classic back in February, and got into the U.S. Open by being in the Top 60 in the world as of May 26. He's missed two cuts in both his prior appearances, however, and that lack of experience could hurt him as well this we |
| 29. J.B. Holmes Note: Holmes is an interesting choice this week because firm and fast conditions, coupled with his length, could lead Holmes to have some very short clubs in his hands at times. He's only a 134th in strokes gained-putting, however, so you may want to be wa |
| 30. Miguel Angel Jimenez Note: Jimenez has had a dazzling 2014, including wins on both the Champions and European Tour. The guy is seemingly ageless, and is a great flier pick for your team this week if you have a chance. |
| 31. Louis Oosthuizen Note: Having struggled with injuries over the last several seasons, Oosthuizen has flashed form at times this year to only see it amount to one top-10 and four top-25 finishes on the PGA Tour. He's one you probably want to avoid this week. |
| 32. Ian Poulter Note: Poulter has had another (by his standards) lackluster season, with a second place finish coming way back in November and struggles for top finishes ever since. But he did finish T6 in Memphis last week, and if there's anyone who likes a big stage, it' |
| 33. Patrick Reed Note: Since Reed got his second win earlier this season (and third in less than 12 months), he has cooled down, with finishes of T52-MC-T48-MC-MC-MC. Couple that with no prior U.S. Open experience and this is probably not the best week to pick Reed. |
| 34. John Senden Note: Senden -- and all the Australians for that matter -- could be super-sleeper picks this week as the restorted Pinehurst reminds them of some of the sand belt courses from Down Under. Senden won earlier this year in Tampa |
| 35. Brandt Snedeker Note: The rib injury that interrupted Snedeker's 2013 season has seemingly stopped this one from even getting off the ground. He's got just one top-10 finish this season and is not a good pick for fantasy players looking for a solid finish. |
| 36. Kevin Stadler Note: Stadler's win in Phoenix (and playing in The Masters alongside his dad finishing T8) was a nice story, but he hasn't translated that into solid finishes after it. He's got just two made cuts since then. |
| 37. Steve Stricker Note: Stricker's part-time schedule worked to perfection last year but hasn't this year, as Stricker has failed to hit his stride thus far in 2014. |
| 38. Jimmy Walker Note: Walker's three wins earlier in the season got him on everyone's radar but and while he's had several top-10s since he hasn't really contended though he did get a T10 finish at Colonial a couple weeks ago. |
| 39. Gary Woodland Note: Woodland's certainly got the length to attack Pinehurst -- he averages nearly 303 yards off the tee -- but the question with him will always be can his shaky putting (142nd currently in strokes gained -- putting) rise to the occasion. |
| 40. Jonas Blixt Note: Blixt contended at Augusta this year (finishing T2) and certainly has the game to contend this week. The question for him is does the game hold up under the most immense of pressure situations. |
| 41. Angel Cabrera Note: Cabrera, who won this championship of seemingly no positive prior results is always a threat on difficult courses like Pinehurst. |
| 42. Paul Casey Note: Casey has shown strong recent form but for someone still getting over the mental hurdles of coming back from injury, one has to wonder how his game would hold up under tough Sunday conditions in what is routinely billed as "Golf's Toughest Test." |
| 43. Roberto Castro Note: Castro is a strong young player with a lot of game but hasn't broken through into the winner's circle yet, and it would seem unlikely that this would be that week. |
| 44. Nicolas Colsaerts Note: Colsaerts is a veteran Ryder Cup player with a desire to succeed and a ton of game. He has zero top-5 finishes this season, however, so one wonders how sharp his game is. |
| 45. Niclas Fasth Note: Fasth is also a strong player with little success this year (he last won on the European Tour in 2007), though he did finish fourth in this championship in 2007. |
| 46. Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano Note: Fernandez-Castano has not been sharp at all this season, with his best finish coming via a T24 finish at The Honda Classic. |
| 47. Rickie Fowler Note: Fowler is a fascinating pick this week. He finished T5 at Augusta and third at the Match Play, yet has looked way off at times this year with his swing changes and is towards the bottom in strokes gained -- putting. He's got the talent to win this wee |
| 48. Thongchai Jaidee Note: Jaidee is a largely unknown quanity who has a ton of talent who just won two weeks ago on the European Tour. If you're looking for a hot sleeper, this may be the one. |
| 49. Matt Jones Note: Jones won in that dazzling playoff against Matt Kuchar in Houston earlier this year, but hasn't shown much form since, with three missed cuts mixed in with only two finishes in the money, and none better than T17. |
| 50. Martin Kaymer Note: Kaymer's Players win put him back on everyone's radar so of course he's a threat to win this week. Yet the 2010 PGA Champion's play has been incredibly streaky at times, so one could see Kaymer either contending or making an early exit this week. |
| 51. Joost Luiten Note: Like Jaidee, Luiten has a ton of talent that's been largely overlooked. He won on the European Tour last season. |
| 52. Aaron Baddeley Note: Baddeley has shown up on several leaderboards this season but hasn't parlayed them into any strong finishes, with his only top-10 coming in his first start of the year back in October of last year. |
| 53. Ryan Moore Note: Moore might be one of the most talented guys on the whole PGA Tour who has never performed up to his expectations on the biggest of stages. He won earlier this season in Malaysia. |
| 54. Kevin Streelman Note: Streelman's biggest detriment this week is his balky putter, as he currently ranks 116th in strokes gained -- putting. |
| 55. Steven Alker Note: Alker might be the most exhausted player in the field this week, as he won last week's Web.com Tour event in a record-setting (for that tour) 11-hole playoff. |
| 56. Retief Goosen Note: The former U.S. Open champ has fallen on hard times over the past couple years, but he just might have enough left in the tank for one last run. |
| 57. Ernie Els Note: He knows how to get around a U.S. Open layout, but the skills seem to be eroding. Might hang around the leader board for a day or two, but not deep into the weekend. |
| 58. Seung Yul Noh Note: Improving player, could be a factor this week into the weekend, but not a serious threat to win. |
| 59. Francesco Molinari Note: He's hit or miss at this event, it all depends on the layout. No way to tell how he'll take to Pinehurst. |
| 60. Scott Langley Note: No worse than T41 in three starts at the U.S. Open. Good chance he'll at least make it to the weekend. |
| 61. Victor Dubuisson Note: Playing well this year, but this will be his first U.S. Open, which is a tough spot for anyone. |
| 62. Stewart Cink Note: Steep drop after his British Open title, still exempt because of it. Non-factor this week. |
| 63. Luke Guthrie Note: Having trouble living up to somewhat-high expectations entering the year. The Open is no place for someone not playing their best. |
| 64. Brendon Todd Note: Playing well coming in, but will that translate to success at the U.S. Open? Probably not. |
| 65. Jamie Donaldson Note: T32 is his first U.S. Open start last year. Could be the start of a trend, but too early to tell. |
| 66. Robert Allenby Note: Allenby hasn't won anywhere in the world since a 2009 win in South Africa. |
| 67. Ryan Palmer Note: One of the more unpredictable players on the PGA Tour, Palmer can step up his game at the drop of a hat, but that's a tall order this week. |
| 68. Bo Van Pelt Note: Never quite took off like many expected after finally putting a couple good seasons together. Might make the weekend, won't be a factor. |
| 69. Boo Weekley Note: Quite the resurgence for Weekley last season, but he's failed to build on that momentum this year. Should be another tough week for Boo. |
| 70. David Toms Note: Surprised more than a few people by contending a couple weeks ago, but this is no ordinary tour stop, Toms will struggle this week. |
| 71. Nick Watney Note: Watney's game has fallen off dramatically over the past couple years and there's absolutely no reason to think he figures it out this week under these conditions. |
| 72. Justin Leonard Note: You'd think Leonard is the prototypical U.S. Open golfer, but he's never really had much success at this event. Nevermind the fact that his best golf was played over 10 years ago. |
| 73. Jeff Maggert Note: Maggert has surprised the golfing world a time or two by hanging around the leader board late into the weekend, but not this week. |
| 74. Geoff Ogilvy Note: Former champ who's fallen on hard times since his win. Ogilvy has at least shown some signs of a rebound this year, but that won't be enough this week. |
| 75. Ken Duke Note: Found the magic for one week at last summer, but hasn't been able to build on that momentum. 50/50 at best to make it to the weekend. |
| 76. Mark Wilson Note: Knows how to win out here, but never much success at the U.S. Open, yet to play on the weekend in three tries. |
| 77. Casey Wittenberg Note: Amazingly his 7th U.S. Open start, so he understands the layouts, too bad it hasn't helped him out much over the years. |
| 78. Y.E. Yang Note: Capable of winning a major as he proved at Hazeltine a while back, but we haven't seen that guy for quite a while. |
| 79. Brendon de Jonge |
| 80. Toru Taniguchi |
| 81. Graeme Storm |
| 82. Marcel Siem |
| 83. D.A. Points |
| 84. Henrik Norlander |
| 85. Shane Lowry |
| 86. Pablo Larrazabal |
| 87. Brooks Koepka |
| 88. Kevin Kisner |
| 89. Chris Kirk |
| 90. Russell Henley |
| 91. Oliver Goss |
| 92. Lucas Glover |
| 93. Oliver Fisher |
| 94. Craig Barlow |
| 95. Alex Cejka |
| 96. Chad Collins |
| 97. Kenny Perry Note: One of the best players on tour...the Champions Tour. Tom Watson found the fountain of youth at the Britsh Open a few years back, but these Opens are nothing alike. |
| 98. Darren Clarke Note: This is not the British Open, too difficult of a test for Clarke as he gets up in years. |
| 99. Bobby Gates |
| 100. Billy Hurley III |
| 101. Shiv Kapur |
| 102. Hyung Sung Kim |
| 103. Kevin Sutherland Note: Well past his prime. Had his moments over his long career, but won't have another one this week. |
| 104. Rod Pampling Note: Once a solid player, but those days are gone. Only his second U.S. Open in the past five years. |
| 105. Aron Price |
| 106. Kiyoshi Miyazato |
| 107. Jason Millard |
| 108. Kyoung-Hoon Lee |
| 109. Maximilian Kieffer |
| 110. Smylie Kaufman |
| 111. Simon Griffiths |
| 112. Chris Doak |
| 113. Erik Compton |
| 114. Brian Campbell |
| 115. Daniel Berger |
| 116. Wen-Chong Liang |
| 117. Nicholas Lindheim |
| 118. Azuma Yano |
| 119. Chris Thompson |
| 120. Justin Thomas |
| 121. Lucas Bjerregaard |
| 122. Donald Constable |
| 123. Matthew Dobyns |
| 124. Andrew Dorn |
| 125. Tom Lewis |
| 126. Brandon McIver |
| 127. Maverick McNealy |
| 128. Garth Mulroy |
| 129. Hudson Swafford |
| 130. Brian Stuard |
| 131. Hunter Stewart |
| 132. Brett Stegmaier |
| 133. Kevin Tway |
| 134. Robby Shelton |
| 135. James Renner |
| 136. Cody Gribble |
| 137. Matthew Fitzpatrick |
| 138. Zac Blair |
| 139. Joe Ogilvie |
| 140. David Oh |
| 141. Brady Watt |
| 142. Danny Willett |
| 143. Bernd Wiesberger |
| 144. Cory Whitsett |
| 145. Ryan Blaum |
| 146. Anthony Broussard |
| 147. Will Grimmer |
| 148. Nicholas Mason |
| 149. Rob Oppenheim |
| 150. Fran Quinn |
| 151. Clayton Rask |
| 152. Cameron Wilson |
| 153. Andrea Pavan |
| 154. Sam Love |
| 155. David Gossett |
| 156. Andres Echavarria |
