Gary Van Sickle
Sports Illustrated Senior Writer
Pick: Steve Stricker

History suggests that the game's best players rise to the top when the Open comes to Oakmont — Hogan, Nicklaus, Miller. Tom Watson was the game's best in 1983, but Larry Nelson sank an unlikely 60-footer at the 16th. Colin Montgomerie was in his prime when he nearly won the '94 Open, and Ernie Els was no slouch, either. Oakmont is so demanding, only the best of the best can handle it. That would be Tiger Woods. He can't drive it in the fairway? It doesn't matter. He'll still find a way. And doesn't the thick rough around the greens play into his hands? With the exception of Phil Mickelson, no one is in Tiger's class when it comes to flop shots.

But there is no sport in picking Tiger, so I'll go with Steve Stricker. He's played some of the best golf of his career for the last year. I think the Oakmont winner will be someone who drives it straight and putts great. That's Stricker, and this isn't his first time around the block. He's been on the board in majors and won't faint if he's in the lead. At 40, he's ready to win the big one. In the wake of Zach Johnson at the Masters, '07 could be the year of the Nice Guy Grand Slam.

• See the latest news about Steve Stricker
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