The 116th United States Open

Bogeys & Blue has been on a two (2) month hiatus - an unfortunate casualty after losing your real job.  But we would not miss the chance to preview the second golf major of the year at famed Oakmont County Club.  The US Open returns to one of America's most iconic clubs - a year removed from staging the national championship in the Pacific Northwest at Chamber's Bay.  The images of burnt out greens and fairways will be replaced by lush thick rough and church pew bunkers.

Welcome to #USOpen week.https://t.co/GpXKm6csxk

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 13, 2016

Oakmont will once again require a premium on driving and putting.  The rough, as documented by numerous PGA Tour players, is both long and thick.  This is coupled with Oakmont's 200+ bunkers which fill the historic golf course.  The greens at Oakmont are some of the most treacherous in the world and require precise approach shots to settle on the correct tier.

TV TALK

The USGA is also going to unveil a 300 yard Par 3 on Oakmont's 8th hole.  Frankly - this is absurd.  Oakmont is going to prove to be a challenging course without requiring players to pull a driver on a Par 3.  Hopefully, the USGA never utilizes the back tee box and makes this hole a *less* challenging Par 3.

This year's Open is also the second to be televised by FOX.  FOX's coverage last year came under great scrutiny.  To their credit, FOX acknowledged their mistakes and shortcomings and made some big changes to this year's broadcast.  The biggest change is the replacement of Greg Norman as the lead analyst.  Paul Azinger will now sit perched in the 18th tower alongside Joe Buck.  Azinger is a seasoned commentator having spent the last decade at ABC and ESPN, most notably, covering The Open Championship.

A lot of the criticism levied against Norman was that he did not take charge as the "lead" analyst.  That certainly won't be the case this year as Azinger's dominant personality and opinions will lead the way, with the others taking their cues from Paul.  Curtis Strange also joins the FOX team this year and will be an on-course reporter and analyst.

AND THE WINNER IS...

So who is going to win the 116th United States Open?  The No. 1 player in the option is certainly an attractive pick.  He has been on an absolute tear this year, however, Day is only hitting 56% of the fairways.  That is going to make getting it on the right tier of the tricky Oakmont green's very difficult.

Rory McIlroy has been hitting 60% of his fairways and is No. 1 on the PGA Tour in strokes gained off the tee.  Rory won the Irish Open a couple of weeks ago and is prime to win another major.  He is our pick to win the 145th United States Open.