US Open 
/ Mike Norman / 14 June 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Luke Donald has been in sensational form in 2011
"Luke Donald also leads the highly competitive FedExCup points standings despite playing four and five tournaments less than his nearest rivals, is the leading money earner in 2011, has the lowest Scoring Average (69.26) on the PGA Tour, and not forgetting, he is a brilliant putter on fast greens."
Mike Norman finds it very hard to select anyone other than Luke Donald at this week's US Open, but he also believes a few other in-form Europeans are set for an excellent four days in Washington.
Defending champion Graeme McDowell has confidently predicted that not one golfer will finish under par at Congressional this week, and that even a score of +10 could win this year's US Open. I'm not so sure about the latter, come on, when was the last time robot-like Luke Donald made the equivalent of 10 bogeys in one tournament?
One thing is certain this week though, and that is the fact that - as Paul Krishnamurty points out in this must read article - the Congressional Country Club course will play much tougher than it has done in the past when hosting regular PGA Tour events.
Measuring close to 7,600 yards you'd be forgiven for thinking this par 71 course is a long-hitter's paradise. It isn't! This course is one thing and one thing only; a straight-hitters haven. Finding the fairway off the tee is going to be absolutely crucial during the course of the next four days or so, and it also helps if your game going into this tournament is in excellent shape - and this is something that can be said about all three of these very capable Europeans.
Luke Donald ([14.0] Winner market; [6.0] Top European market; [4.5] Top 5 Finish market)
The biggest surprise to me pre-tournament is that Donald isn't favourite to win his first Major championship. The Englishman fully deserves to be the new world number one given the extraordinary form he has demonstrated this season, and it just adds to the confidence that he is one of the straightest drivers on tour (he ranks second in Driving Accuracy only behind McDowell amongst all Europeans on the PGA Tour this season).
Donald has recorded an incredible 10 consecutive top-10 finishes either side of the pond since missing the cut in the Northern Trust Open back in February (I can only assume he forget his clubs that week). That run includes two prestigious wins - at the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship and the BMW PGA Championship - two second place finishes, and a fourth place finish at the US Masters. He also leads the highly competitive FedExCup points standings despite playing four and five tournaments less than his nearest rivals, is the leading money earner in 2011, has the lowest Scoring Average (69.26) on the PGA Tour, and not forgetting, he is a brilliant putter on fast greens.
It's hard to be more confident about Donald performing well this week. Put simply, he only has to find the fairways and putt as well as he has done all season to be a leading contender come Sunday evening.
Matteo Manassero ([110.0] W; [28.0] TE; [19.0] T5F)
After opposing Manassero at last week's Italian Open because of how long the course was playing this may be seen by some as a bit of a contradictory selection. But the Italian's accuracy from the tee is going to be a huge advantage this week, and his ball will trundle much further down the fairway than it did in Turin seven days ago. Besides that, this 18-year-old starlet is a genius with his long irons and I can see him having a very good tournament in Washington.
Manassero comes into this event in fine form too after recording back-to-back Top 10 finishes on the European Tour, and whilst it's expecting a bit much of him to win a US Open at his very first attempt, it's not too difficult to envisage him enjoying a splendid few days.
Alexander Noren ([250.0] W; [70.0] TE; [46.0] T5F; [20.0] Top 10 Finish)
Noren owes betting.betfair a few quid of that there is no doubt. He's been a selection of my own many times this season, Steve 'The Punter' Rawlings has backed him without success, and so too has Paul Krishnamurty. Did any of us have a penny on when he won in Wales a fortnight ago at odds of [80.0]? Do I even need to answer?
Like Manassero, Noren is making his debut in the US Open but he arrives at Congressional in terrific form having finished in the top five in three of his last six events including that excellent win at a competitive Wales Open; the same tournament McDowell won in 2010 prior to winning at Pebble Beach - an omen perhaps? Admittedly he can be a bit wayward off the tee - which isn't great - though he is generally straight, and his current form and sky high confidence make his odds too big to ignore in most markets. I'm happy to have a wager in the Top 10 Finish one.
Recommended Bets
Back Luke Donald @ [14.0] in Winner market
Back Luke Donald @ [6.0] in Top European market
Back Matteo Manassero @ [19.0] in Top 5 Finish market
Back Alexander Noren @ [20.0] in Top 10 Finish market
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