Open Championship experts' picks

ByESPN.COM
July 15, 2015, 7:11 AM

— -- ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- The year's third major has all eyes on Jordan Spieth, but in our format of picking a golfer only once all season, almost everyone has already used the 21-year-old Texan.

So who will our experts go for at the Home of Golf? Remember, they "earn" whatever their selection makes at the end of the week.

Matt Barrie, SportsCenter anchor

Rickie Fowler: Momentum in golf is key. And right now, Fowler has it. After an absolute embarrassment at the U.S. Open, following his win at the Players, Fowler bounced back last weekend at the Scottish Open. It was a links-style course, and Fowler again showed his ability on that style track. His body is rested from the time change and travel, while Jordan Spieth is playing catch-up. Rory McIlroy not being in the field is one fewer hurdle for Fowler. Another young golf star gets his major. It's Rickie's time.

Jonathan Coachman, SportsCenter anchor

Adam Scott: This is a guy who always seems to show up. He has had positive results in The Open in recent years, and with a slow start to 2015, I think this is a great time for him to get back on the horse.

Michael Collins, ESPN.com senior golf analyst

Jordan Spieth: It's not possible to win on tour if you're under 20. It's not possible to win the Masters at such a young age. It's not possible for him to win the first two majors of the year. It's not possible for him to win the John Deere Classic last week, fly to Scotland and win The Open. Maybe we should stop saying what's not possible for this guy. (Full Top 25 Open rankings)

Bob Harig, ESPN.com senior golf writer

Adam Scott: It has been a mostly frustrating season for Scott, who attempted to play for a few weeks with a short putter, fared poorly, and then seemed to struggle going back to the long putter. But Scott appeared to get things turned around at the U.S. Open, where he tied for fourth with caddie Steve Williams back on the bag. Scott has been practicing at the Old Course for the past week, and unless he's worn himself out, that is an important and healthy sign. He loves The Open, should have won it in 2012 and has a streak of three consecutive top-five finishes. St. Andrews would top it off.

Kevin Maguire, ESPN.com senior golf editor

Shane Lowry: When you can pick players only once a year, as in this format, The Open is the perfect place to go off the map a little. When the Irishman won the Irish Open as an amateur in 2009 in horrific weather conditions, he showed he knows how to handle adversity on the golf course. St. Andrews will surely dish out a bit of that this week.

Jason Sobel, ESPN.com senior golf writer

Adam Scott: Very tough for me to go against Jordan Spieth and a chance at history, but Scott might be the world's pre-eminent links player and he looks like a different golfer with Steve Williams back on the bag. The loss in the 2012 Open still stings, especially considering it ended with four bogeys, but he can replace that memory with a much happier one at the Old Course this week.

John Ziomek, SportsCenter coordinating producer

Adam Scott: I think Dustin Johnson will win this week, but since I used him in L.A. already this year, I'm going with Scott. The Aussie's game finally seems to be rounding into form after a final-round 64 for a T-4 in his last start at the U.S. Open. Scott has come close to getting his hands on the Claret Jug with three top-five finishes in the past three years. I love the fact that he is flying under the radar just a bit, and if his putter cooperates, he very well could be the champion golfer this week.

Earlier this year, Chris Morfas commented on the Valspar Championship picks article and noted that accountability is rare these days. So in an effort at transparency, we will be updating the list below with each week's picks. Good idea, Chris.

** denotes victory

Harig: $8,862,327

-- Hyundai Tournament of Champions (Patrick Reed, $1,140,000) **

-- Sony Open in Hawaii (Charles Howell III, $42,280)

-- Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation (Bill Haas, $1,026,000) **

-- Waste Management Phoenix Open (Brendan Steele, $50,242)

-- Farmers Insurance Open (Brandt Snedeker, $76,356)

-- AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (Jimmy Walker, $63,835)

-- Northern Trust Open (Charl Schwartzel, $24,120)

-- The Honda Classic (Lee Westwood, $46,563)

-- PGA Tour/European Tour: WGC-Cadillac Championship (Dustin Johnson, $1,570,000) **

-- Valspar Championship: Luke Donald, $13,469)

-- Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard (Henrik Stenson, $680,400)

-- Valero Texas Open (Jason Kokrak, $136,400)

-- Shell Houston Open (Matt Kuchar, $13,200)

-- The Masters (Jason Day, $68,000)

-- RBC Heritage (Jim Furyk, $1,062,000) **

-- Zurich Classic of New Orleans (Sean O'Hair, $115,920)

-- WGC-Cadillac Match Play (Ian Poulter, $55,000)

-- The Players Championship (Sergio Garcia, $880,000)

-- Wells Fargo Championship (Phil Mickelson, $293,467)

-- Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial (Zach Johnson, $78,780)

-- AT&T Byron Nelson (Marc Leishman, $0)

-- Nationwide Memorial at Muirfield Village (Hideki Matsuyama, $226,300)

-- FedEx/St. Jude Classic (Harris English, $16,817)

-- U.S. Open (Ryan Moore, $0)

-- Travelers Championship (Bubba Watson, $1,152,000) **

-- Greenbrier Classic ($0 , Webb Simpson)

-- John Deere Classic ($22,678, Kevin Kisner)

-- The Open (Adam Scott)

Ziomek: $6,389,604

-- Hyundai Tournament of Champions (Matt Kuchar, $90,333)

-- Sony Open in Hawaii (Sang-Moon Bae, $12,967)

-- Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation (Ryan Palmer, $136,800)

-- Waste Management Phoenix Open (Brendan Steele, $50,242)

-- Farmers Insurance Open (Jason Day, $1,134,000) **

-- AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (Jimmy Walker, $63,835)

-- Northern Trust Open (Dustin Johnson, $589,600)

-- The Honda Classic (Paul Casey, $317,200)

-- PGA Tour/European Tour: WGC-Cadillac Championship (Patrick Reed, $83,000)

-- Valspar Championship (Padraig Harrington, $0)

-- Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard (Sean O'Hair, $40,058)

-- Valero Texas Open (Daniel Berger, $0)

-- Shell Houston Open (J.B. Holmes, $1,188,000) **

-- The Masters (Lee Westwood, $30,000)

-- RBC Heritage (Luke Donald, $100,300)

-- Zurich Classic of New Orleans (Morgan Hoffmann, $31,099)

-- WGC-Cadillac Match Play (Hideki Matsuyama, $83,000)

-- The Players Championship (Sergio Garcia, $880,000)

-- Wells Fargo Championship (Ben Martin, $27,690)

-- Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial (Jordan Spieth, $485,333)

-- AT&T Byron Nelson (Marc Leishman, $0)

-- Nationwide Memorial at Muirfield Village (Brooks Koepka, $14,458)

-- FedEx/St. Jude Classic (Billy Horschel, $168,000)

-- U.S. Open (Phil Mickelson, $23,822

-- Travelers Championship (Justin Thomas, $0)

-- Greenbrier Classic ($500,267) Kevin Kisner)

-- John Deere Classic ($272,600, Zach Johnson)

-- The Open (Adam Scott)

Barrie: $5,155,147

-- Hyundai Tournament of Champions (Billy Horschel, $70,667)

-- Sony Open in Hawaii (Matt Kuchar, $291,200)

-- Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation (Brandt Snedeker, $0)

-- Waste Management Phoenix Open (Jordan Spieth, $211,050)

-- Farmers Insurance Open (Hideki Matsuyama, $0)

-- AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (Jimmy Walker, $63,835)

-- Northern Trust Open (J.B. Holmes, $58,792)

-- The Honda Classic (Keegan Bradley, $0)

-- PGA Tour/European Tour: WGC-Cadillac Championship (Dustin Johnson, $1,570,000) **

-- Valspar Championship (Jim Furyk, $23,600)

-- Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard (Henrik Stenson, $680,400)

-- Valero Texas Open (Martin Laird, $14,839)

-- Shell Houston Open (Patrick Reed, $83,490)

-- The Masters (Bubba Watson, $40,000)

-- RBC Heritage (Russell Henley, $0)

-- Zurich Classic of New Orleans (John Peterson, $16,991)

-- WGC-Cadillac Match Play (Ian Poulter, $55,000)

-- The Players Championship (Zach Johnson, $187,500)

-- Wells Fargo Championship (Bill Haas, $14,342)

-- Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial (Kevin Na, $134,875)

-- AT&T Byron Nelson (Charley Hoffman, $530,133.33)

-- Nationwide Memorial at Muirfield Village (Chris Kirk, $29,838)

-- FedEx/St. Jude Classic (Phil Mickelson, $270,600)

-- U.S. Open (Rory McIlroy, $235,316)

-- Travelers Championship (Tony Finau, $41,234)

-- Greenbrier Classic ($500,267, Kevin Kisner)

-- John Deere Classic ($22,678, Steve Stricker)

-- The Open (Rickie Fowler)

Maguire: $4,310,507

-- Hyundai Tournament of Champions (Kevin Streelman, $70,667)

-- Sony Open in Hawaii (Matt Kuchar, $291,200)

-- Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation (Chris Kirk, $12,882)

-- Waste Management Phoenix Open (Justin Thomas, $94,500)

-- Farmers Insurance Open (Rickie Fowler, $13,608)

-- AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (Patrick Reed, $44,200)

-- Northern Trust Open (Bill Haas, $0)

-- The Honda Classic (Keegan Bradley, $0)

-- PGA Tour/European Tour: WGC-Cadillac Championship (Bubba Watson, $540,000)

-- Valspar Championship (Jim Furyk, $23,600)

-- Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard (Rickie Fowler, $40,058)

-- Valero Texas Open (Martin Laird, $14,839)

-- Shell Houston Open (Phil Mickelson, $83,490)

-- The Masters (Henrik Stenson, $135,000)

-- RBC Heritage (Zach Johnson, $0)

-- Zurich Classic of New Orleans (Justin Rose, $1,242,000) **

-- WGC-Cadillac Match Play (Jordan Spieth, $97,500)

-- The Players Championship (Hunter Mahan, $0)

-- Wells Fargo Championship (Rory McIlroy, $1,278,000) **

-- Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial (Brendon Todd, $18,993)

-- AT&T Byron Nelson (Tony Finau, $157,383.33)

-- Nationwide Memorial at Muirfield Village (Gary Woodland, $0)

-- FedEx/St. Jude Classic (Camilo Villegas, $81,000)

-- U.S. Open (Brooks Kopeka, $113,686)

-- Travelers Championship (Branden Grace, $0)

-- Greenbrier Classic ($0, Webb Simpson)

-- John Deere Classic ($9,635, David Hearn)

-- The Open (Shane Lowry)

Coachman: $3,380,672

-- Hyundai Tournament of Champions (Jason Day, $332,667)

-- Sony Open in Hawaii (Zach Johnson, $11,760)

-- Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation (Bill Haas, $1,026,000) **

-- Waste Management Phoenix Open (Jordan Spieth, $211,050)

-- Farmers Insurance Open (Brooks Koepka, $23,940)

-- AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (Jimmy Walker, $63,835)

-- Northern Trust Open (Dustin Johnson, $589,600)

-- The Honda Classic (Billy Horschel, $0)

-- PGA Tour/European Tour: WGC-Cadillac Championship (Sergio Garcia, $72,000)

-- Valspar Championship (Justin Thomas, $126,429)

-- Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard (Sean O'Hair, $40,058)

-- Valero Texas Open (Harris English, $38,502)

-- Shell Houston Open (Rickie Fowler, $13,068)

-- The Masters (Brandt Snedeker, $0)

-- RBC Heritage (Kevin Streelman, $13,334)

-- Zurich Classic of New Orleans (Johnson Wagner, $16,991)

-- WGC-Cadillac Match Play (Patrick Reed, $85,824)

-- The Players Championship (Matt Kuchar, $0)

-- Wells Fargo Championship (Kevin Kisner, $27,690)

-- Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial (Patrick Rodgers, $12,350)

-- AT&T Byron Nelson (Ryan Palmer, $157,383.33)

-- Nationwide Memorial at Muirfield Village (Kevin Na, $116,250)

-- FedEx/St. Jude Classic (Boo Weekley, $168,000)

-- U.S. Open (Phil Mickelson, $23,822)

-- Travelers Championship (Ken Duke, $147,200)

-- Greenbrier Classic ($22,851, Paul Casey)

-- John Deere Classic ($40,068, Brian Harman)

-- The Open (Adam Scott)

Collins: $3,363,057

-- Hyundai Tournament of Champions (Geoff Ogilvy, $61,000)

-- Sony Open in Hawaii (Zach Johnson, $11,760)

-- Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation (Ryan Palmer, $136,800)

-- Waste Management Phoenix Open (Jamie Donaldson, $17,658)

-- Farmers Insurance Open (Brandt Snedeker, $76,356)

-- AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (Jimmy Walker, $63,835)

-- Northern Trust Open (Dustin Johnson, $589,600)

-- The Honda Classic (Freddie Jacobsen, $0)

-- PGA Tour/European Tour: WGC-Cadillac Championship (Patrick Reed, $83,000)

-- Valspar Championship (Kevin Na, $126,429)

-- Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard (Jason Kokrak, $211,050)

-- Valero Texas Open (Matt Kuchar, $99,200)

-- Shell Houston Open (Sergio Garcia, $29,700)

-- The Masters (Rory McIlroy, $480,000)

-- RBC Heritage (Luke Donald, $100,300)

-- Zurich Classic of New Orleans (Bo Van Pelt, $0)

-- WGC-Cadillac Match Play (Hunter Mahan, $150,000)

-- The Players Championship (Henrik Stenson, $130,857)

-- Wells Fargo Championship (J.B. Holmes, $0)

-- Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial (Boo Weekley, $31,525)

-- AT&T Byron Nelson (Keegan Bradley, $62,302)

-- Nationwide Memorial at Muirfield Village (Justin Rose, 669,600)

-- FedEx/St. Jude Classic (Billy Horschel, $168,000)

-- U.S. Open (Rickie Fowler, $0)

-- Travelers Championship (Tony Finau, $41,234)

-- Greenbrier Classic ($22,851, Graham DeLaet)

-- John Deere Classic ($0, Scott Brown)

-- The Open (Jordan Spieth)

Sobel: $2,136,483

-- Shell Houston Open (Paul Casey, $191,400)

-- The Masters (Jason Day, $68,000)

-- RBC Heritage (Graham DeLaet, $0)

-- Zurich Classic of New Orleans (Justin Rose, $1,242,000) **

-- WGC-Cadillac Match Play (Ryan Moore, $163,333)

-- The Players Championship (Jordan Spieth, $0)

-- Wells Fargo Championship (Bill Haas, $14,342)

-- Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial (Ryan Palmer, $0)

-- AT&T Byron Nelson (Marc Leishman, $0)

-- Nationwide Memorial at Muirfield Village (Hideki Matsuyama, $226,300)

-- FedEx/St. Jude Classic (Harris English, $16,817)

-- U.S. Open (Rickie Fowler, $0)

-- Travelers Championship (Scott Langley, $41,234)

-- Greenbrier Classic ($14,405, Brendon de Jonge)

-- John Deere Classic ($272,600, Zach Johnson)

-- The Open (Adam Scott)