Quick 9: Harsher penalties will curb slow play

All you need to know about the 2018 U.S. Open, including day-by-day results and analysis from Shinnecock Hills

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NOTE: Both of this week’s tournaments are treated with stand-alone columns for PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO. Look for the edition for the Barbasol Championship on the FANTASY page. Well, that was easy. Steve Stricker and Zach Johnson tied (for fifth) at the John Deere Classic, so those of us who were reliant on course history can’t complain, even and especially if we flipped a coin. No such shortcut at The Open Championship where track record is replaced by comfort on a rotation of links-style courses. Enough experience transcends the perception-is-sometimes-reality luck of the draw. So, for your instant short list of candidates, refer to The Confidence Factor that published on Tuesday. The strategic variable at the season’s third major has always been the backend of the two-step that began with THE PLAYERS Championship. For different reasons, both tournaments are veritable crapshoots. No matter how much you think you know or how confident you might be in your guy, do not submit the pick until you are absolutely certain that you won’t miss him the remainder of the season. Trust me on this. There are two types of One & Doners: Those who have learned that lesson and those that will. If we’re keeping it simple, the nominee for your attention should be one of these guys (listed in the order of my Power Rankings): Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Jon Rahm, Francesco Molinari, Henrik Stenson and Charl Schwartzel. Yes, that’s a smattering of seven, but even if you started your season at the Masters, there’s zero chance that all are available and you’re reading this space. Garcia is forever the easiest best player you’ll never miss. So consistently strong no matter where or when, a real rarity at both TPC Sawgrass and wherever the R&A takes its field of 156. Rose, Scott and Schwartzel are like 3-4-5 hitters in any batting lineup. The rest of your order, er, season builds around them. Rose is available to me, but I need to keep him on the sidelines for either the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational or as my anchor at the TOUR Championship (where I have Dustin Johnson penciled) as long as he qualifies. I burned the Aussie at Riviera and I don’t mind going an entire season without needing to use the South African. Rahm is the wild card. I don’t need to explain the risk, but he’s better suited if you’re chasing. Most responsible league contenders won’t want to roll the dice with him in this tournament no matter who favors him and by how much. Molinari is the quintessential bridge in the major. His temperament combined with consistently reliable form isn’t sexy until you look back and measure what he’s contributed. Don’t hesitate if he’s available. And Stenson isn’t necessarily high on his chances, but that’s what you’d expect him to say. Anyone who publicizes low expectations tends to be happier than having to answer for falling short after calling his shot. However, the Swede would look good at Firestone in two weeks, anyway, and especially if he successfully retains the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale. While Matt Kuchar is tempting, I’m holstering him for his prospective appearance at next week’s RBC Canadian Open. If Marc Leishman was available, I’d have all the necessary confidence that he’d get the job done in this setting. Same goes for stalwarts Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter. That leaves me with Branden Grace. In more than one way, he comps to the 32-year-old Schwartzel, but the younger South African – Grace is 29 – is cleaner on approach and around greens. He’s also perfect in six prior appearances in the tournament. By now, two-man gamers should have their minds made up, but I’ll throw in Andy Sullivan and local legend Tommy Fleetwood as worthy complements. FUTURE POSSIBILITIES NOTE: Select golfers committed to the tournament are listed alphabetically. Future tournaments are sorted chronologically and reflect previous success on the courses on which the tournaments will be held in 2016-17. All are pending golfer commitment. Paul Casey … WGC-Bridgestone; TOUR Championship Kevin Chappell … Dell Technologies Jason Day … Canadian; WGC-Bridgestone; PGA Championship; Dell Technologies; TOUR Championship Jason Dufner … TOUR Championship Rickie Fowler … WGC-Bridgestone Sergio Garcia … Open Championship; TOUR Championship Branden Grace … WGC-Bridgestone; PGA Championship Bill Haas … Wyndham Charley Hoffman … Canadian Billy Horschel … TOUR Championship Dustin Johnson … Canadian; TOUR Championship Zach Johnson … Open Championship; WGC-Bridgestone; TOUR Championship Kevin Kisner … Wyndham Russell Knox … Dell Technologies Brooks Koepka … PGA Championship Matt Kuchar … Canadian; WGC-Bridgestone Martin Laird … Barracuda Marc Leishman … Open Championship Hideki Matsuyama … PGA Championship; BMW William McGirt … Wyndham Rory McIlroy … WGC-Bridgestone; PGA Championship; Dell Technologies (defending); TOUR Championship (defending) Phil Mickelson … Open Championship; PGA Championship Ryan Moore … TOUR Championship Kevin Na … Wyndham Louis Oosthuizen … Dell Technologies Patrick Reed … Wyndham; Dell Technologies Justin Rose … Open Championship; WGC-Bridgestone; PGA Championship; TOUR Championship Charl Schwartzel … Open Championship; WGC-Bridgestone Adam Scott … Open Championship; WGC-Bridgestone; Dell Technologies; TOUR Championship Webb Simpson … Wyndham Brandt Snedeker … Canadian; Wyndham Jordan Spieth … WGC-Bridgestone; PGA Championship; TOUR Championship Henrik Stenson … Open Championship (defending); WGC-Bridgestone; PGA Championship; Dell Technologies; TOUR Championship Jimmy Walker … PGA Championship (defending); Dell Technologies Bubba Watson … WGC-Bridgestone; TOUR Championship Gary Woodland … Barracuda; PGA Championship; Dell Technologies; TOUR Championship

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