This article is part of our Weekly PGA Preview series.
There were many storylines from the 115th U.S. Open worthy of this space this week. In fact, there were far too many and deciding on one was nearly impossible. After all, there was the course, the greens, the Tiger, the vertigo, the double-bogey, the 3-putt; I could go on and on, but the one thought that I've stewed over the most since the tournament ended Sunday was "the choke."
It might surprise you to learn that I'm not speaking of any particular choke, seeing as how Dustin Johnson three-wacked from 15 feet, but what I'm questioning here is our collective view on what a "choke job" is. Let me explain where I am coming from.
As DJ walked up the 18th fairway, there were three potential outcomes. The first was he makes the putt and wins the U.S. Open. The second, and, to be honest, the most appealing, was a two-putt and a Monday playoff. The third, of course, was a three-putt and another major for Jordan Spieth. We all know what happened, and while most feel bad for Johnson, there's simply no way of getting around that Johnson choked in that spot. Tough putt or not, 15 feet for a professional of that level should not require three putts.
After I gasped and removed my right hand from my face, I began to wonder ... how would we have viewed the players if DJ had made the first putt? Obviously, DJ would have been lauded for his "toughness" down
There were many storylines from the 115th U.S. Open worthy of this space this week. In fact, there were far too many and deciding on one was nearly impossible. After all, there was the course, the greens, the Tiger, the vertigo, the double-bogey, the 3-putt; I could go on and on, but the one thought that I've stewed over the most since the tournament ended Sunday was "the choke."
It might surprise you to learn that I'm not speaking of any particular choke, seeing as how Dustin Johnson three-wacked from 15 feet, but what I'm questioning here is our collective view on what a "choke job" is. Let me explain where I am coming from.
As DJ walked up the 18th fairway, there were three potential outcomes. The first was he makes the putt and wins the U.S. Open. The second, and, to be honest, the most appealing, was a two-putt and a Monday playoff. The third, of course, was a three-putt and another major for Jordan Spieth. We all know what happened, and while most feel bad for Johnson, there's simply no way of getting around that Johnson choked in that spot. Tough putt or not, 15 feet for a professional of that level should not require three putts.
After I gasped and removed my right hand from my face, I began to wonder ... how would we have viewed the players if DJ had made the first putt? Obviously, DJ would have been lauded for his "toughness" down the stretch, but what about Spieth? Would we have called him a choker for butchering the 17th hole? I don't have the answer, I'm just spit-balling here, but I think the answer is yes, that would have been considered a choke because for all intents and purposes, he had the tournament wrapped up after taking a three-stroke lead with two to play. Personally, I think Spieth's hiccup on 17 was a result of relaxing too soon rather than tensing up, but I have a feeling I'm in the minority, though I digress.
Think about this, however. Spieth's fate, being labeled as a choker or a champ, was based solely on someone else's actions. Again, I don't think Spieth could be considered a "choker" because he's already proven his grit under the toughest of circumstances, but what happened on the 71st was inexplicable for a player of his caliber. It is funny, though, that how we view someone can change on the actions of someone else.
This week: Travelers Championship - TPC at River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn.
Last Year: Kevin Streelman shot a final-round 64 on his way to a one-stroke victory over Sergio Garcia.
PLAYERS TO CONSIDER
Bubba Watson
Bubba's pace has slowed considerably since his hot start early in the season, but if he's going to pick up the pace again, it will be at River Highlands were he's finished in the top 5 in three of his last five starts, including a win in 2010.
Marc Leishman
Leishman won this event in 2012 and backed it up with a T11 last year. His form is also pretty good lately as he's finished in the top 30 in five of his last seven starts on the PGA Tour. Yes, he missed the cut at the U.S. Open last week, but that's an entirely different beast.
Tony Finau
This will be Finau's first attempt at TPC River Highlands, but that hasn't mattered at every other stop recently. Finau is on a roll and even the quirky Chambers Bay course couldn't slow him. Expect another strong showing from the up and coming Finau this week.
Francesco Molinari
Molinari seems to be figuring out how to play in the U.S. as evidence by his top-3 at the Memorial three weeks ago and a top-30 at the U.S. Open last week. Again, the U.S. Open is a different beast, but the fact that his game held up, for the most part, is surely a good sign.
Branden Grace
Another first-timer who played well last week at the U.S. Open. Either I'm putting a lot of stock in last week's results or there just aren't that many good options this week. It's actually the latter, but I was impressed with Grace last week.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Steven Bowditch
Give Bowditch some credit, he could have mailed it in after his win at the Byron Nelson a few weeks ago, but he's kept his head in the game and played decently. The problem this week is that he's never made a cut at this event in three tries.
Zach Johnson
Johnson just simply doesn't play well on this track. He's teed it up here nine times and only made the top 10 just once. He's made the cut in seven of those nine tries, but he's failed to do much on the weekend here.
Robert Garrigus
Garrigus is in the midst of a huge rut, and it doesn't look like he'll pull out of it this week. Garrigus has teed it up here six times and made the weekend just twice. That number is likely to stay the same come late Friday.
Ken Duke
Duke won this event just two years ago, but it hasn't been smooth sailing for Duke since that win. Duke has managed to make the cut in his three most recent starts, but prior to that he missed six consecutive cuts and his track record at this event is less than stellar.
Luke Donald
Donald is also a first-timer here, but unlike the previous names mentioned, his prospects don't look so good. Donald has yet to turn his game around as evidence by his lack of top-10s this year, just one in 13 starts.
ONE AND DONE GOLFER
Last week: Dustin Johnson (T2) - $877,144; Season - $4,532,121
This week: Marc Leishman - After burning some big names the last few weeks, it's time to take it back a notch. Luckily, Leishman looks to be a solid play as his game is good and his track record here is solid.
YAHOO PICKS
Points: 3,713
Rank: 7,265
This Week:
Group A: Bubba Watson, Harris English
Group B: Marc Leishman, Hunter Mahan, Brandt Snedeker, Billy Horschel
Group C: Tony Finau, Branden Grace
SURVIVOR PICK
Last week: Jordan Spieth (1); Streak - 3
This week: Vijay Singh - Pulling it back a notch here as well, but Singh appears to be a safe play as he's never missed a cut here in 11 tries. Proving that his play in the early rounds is no fluke, Singh generally plays well on the weekend here as well.
