Got a hangover from the electric conclusion to the 2016 U.S. Open? Don’t worry, the 2016 Quicken Loans National is just right around the corner. A couple of the best golfers on the planet will make their way to the field with Rickie Fowler and Patrick Reed leading the charge. The likes of U.S. Open runner-up Jim Furyk and defending champion Troy Merritt are ready to tag along as well.
There’s plenty more to look out for heading into this tournament. Check out our best sleeper and long shot picks heading into Congressional Country Club.
Cash In on the Best Online Sportsbook Offers Now at TopBet!
World No. 5 Rickie Fowler finished runner-up to Troy Merritt a year ago in this tournament. He’s one of only two players in this year’s field of competitors to rank in the top 10 of the PGA Tour. The 27-year-old golfer isn’t on his best run of late, missing his last three cuts. However, Fowler should still be the best player who’ll play in the Quicken Loans National this week. Considering he gets over his hump, he’s a very good golfer with five top 10 finishes this season.
Patrick Reed owns seven top-15 finishes since the start of 2016. That’s as far as he goes as he’s currently on a title drought since winning the 2015 Hyundai Tournament of Champions last January. He’s come very close, though, with a pair of runner-up finishes at his title defense at the Tournament of Champions and at the Valero Texas Open.
You gotta feel bad for Jim Furyk, who finished second in his second trip to Oakmont for the U.S. Open despite a final round 66. His last trip to Oakmont, he tied for second with Tiger Woods in the 2007 U.S. Open. Expect Furyk to be spurred by his near miss as he takes on the Congressional Country Club for the Quicken Loans National.
Sleeper
Troy Merritt
Of course, you have to give the defending champion a chance. Troy Merritt won this tournament last year, using a sensation third round 61, hitting 11 birdies and bogeyed just one to secure his lead. Merritt then nailed five birdies for a solid 67-under par in the final round.
However, the defending champion has been up to no good recently. He’s missed three of his last six cuts and finished just 68th in his final outing at the FedEx St. Jude Classic. A return to the course he dominated last year should give Merritt a fighting chance, though.
Seung-Yul Noh has enjoyed some success at Congressional. He has three career top 30s on the course, including a tie for fourth at the 2012 National and a tie for 30th at the 2011 U.S. Open. Noh has been hit-or-miss recently, but has managed a pair of top 20 finishes in his last four starts. He even tied for seventh at the Fed Ex St. Jude Classic. The South Korean’s short game should help give him a solid performance at the upcoming Quicken Loans National.
Writer’s Prediction
Reed (+1,400) breaks his title drought with big outing at Congressional.
