It is the third major of the season, with the U.S. Open set to tee off from the Los Angeles Country Club in California. This is sure to be a unique challenge for a field worthy of a major. When dealing with majors, the LIV guys being available for One and Done that has created an interesting game theory aspect. There are a ton of options and ways to play this, so let’s dive into U.S. Open One and Done selections and see who makes sense this week.
U.S. Open One and Done Picks and Targets
It is hard to argue against Brooks Koepka being a relatively safe option considering his major play in 2023 and his historic U.S. Open history. He was trying to go for a threepeat at one point in U.S. Opens, which is unheard of, and this year he has a runner-up at Augusta followed by a win at the PGA. Plus, many people still have him available since there have only been two opportunities to use him in One and Done this year.
Given the unknowns of the Los Angeles Country Club and the difficulty of this event, one can never truly bank on a floor for golfers, but Koepka sets up incredibly well. His ability to grind through this type of layout is proven over a long period of time, and he makes sense as a reliable One and Done choice.
Contrarian Pick: Collin Morikawa
Only in a major can anyone say that a guy as good as Collin Morikawa could be considered against the grain as a One and Done selection. It is not even his suspect putting, which at times has really held him back, but it is more the unknowns coming off a bizarre situation at the Memorial. Morikawa was in prime position to contend after Saturday, and he had to withdraw before his Sunday round due to back issues. That basically never happens to a golfer in contention, and it certainly is cause for concern.
Coming into the U.S. Open, there are still limited ideas on if that was a one-time thing or an ongoing issue for Morikawa. With so many options, the majority of One and Done selections should be guys with fewer unknowns, and that could create a situation where Morikawa comes in criminally under-owned in One and Done fields.
Ben Rasa’s One and Done Pick: Xander Schauffele
Sorry not sorry, but I am going with an obvious choice in my main One and Done teams. Xander Schauffele has been dominant in his young U.S. Open career, with six appearances and no finishes worse than 14th. This is a rotational, but like Koepka, Schauffele clearly has the right game to handle the common themes across U.S. Open venues.
Things could not set up better for Schauffele, both from a recent form standpoint and an overarching theme. He is a California guy with the U.S. Open splits, and currently his putter and driver are both clicking. The biggest knock has been the lack of wins both this season and in majors, but quality golf eventually results in victories. Schauffele might be the highest-owned One and Done option, but he is the best choice for the U.S. Open.
