Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA will give us a memorable U.S. Open including their unique pin markers as seen here on the 17th green during the practice round of the 113th U.S. Open golf tournament, Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

It’s time for the second Major Championship of the year as the golf world turns its attention to a soggy Merion Golf Club. Merion is a short course that has the typical U.S. Open rough that will force golf balls to disappear. No player has played a competitive round at Merion so fantasy picks are based on general form and history at other U.S. Opens. This Open will be unique to be sure with drivable par-4′s, drying out greens, and the unique flagless poles that have wicker baskets on the top not flags (read why here).

Last week, Harris English got the surprise victory at the St. Jude Classic, and even though no one in our group had the first-time champion it was a high-scoring week overall. My entry finished with an even 200 which was good enough four fourth in our group with the win for the week going to Above Par. Foot-Wedge stayed atop the Spring segment standings with a good week and was able to pass Eagle’s Nest to take the top overall spot by two points.

This week I’ll give you my picks for both the Yahoo format and the ESPN Best Ball which they fire up for the Majors. Each night I’ll give my picks for Best Ball on twitter @FantasyCPR so give us a follow to see who we’re playing each round. For the picks that lock for the whole tournament, this is the way I’m going:

A-List

June 10, 2013; Ardmore, PA, USA; Tiger Woods walks from the 17th tee during the practice round of the 113th U.S. Open golf tournament at Merion Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Eileen Blass-USA TODAY Sports

Tiger Woods- Tiger lives for these Majors but hasn’t won in five years. He’s coming off a rough week at the Memorial which may scare some fantasy owners away, but even if he doesn’t win I expect him to be in contention like he has in most of the recent Majors. He’s won four times this year already and definitely has the ability to win at Merion. Whether he will or not is the top story going into the weekend.

Graeme McDowell- McDowell won in the U.S. Open in 2010 and finished co-runner up last year. He’s also won in two of his last four events which both took place in Europe. There are many good A-list options, but McDowell is always a top option at the Majors.

B-List

June 1, 2013; Dublin, OH, USA; Jim Furyk chips the ball in from the bunker on the 13th green during the third round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Jim Furyk- The veteran Furyk finished fourth last year at Olympic coming just short as Webb Simpson got the win. It was his sixth career top-5 a the US Open and has solid all year with just one missed cut and six top 25′s in 12 tournaments.

Scott Stallings- Stallings has three top 5′s in his last three tournaments and made his way here to his first US Open through sectional qualifying. He did well for me last week so I’ll keep him for another start and hope his momentum continues. He has the shot-making ability to attack the course but lack of experience is a bit of a concern.

Matt Kuchar- Kuchar is one of the best picks to win the tournament, but I’ll start with him on my bench since I’ve already used so many of his starts. He won his last tournament at the Memorial after finished runner-up at Colonial.

Keegan Bradley- Bradley finished second at the Byron Nelson a month ago for his sixth top-ten of the season. He has Majors experience and if he gets his putter dialed in could be a major threat this week.

C-List

June 10, 2013; Ardmore, PA, USA; Grounds crew work near the bunker on the 16th hole during the practice round of the 113th U.S. Open golf tournament at Merion Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Eileen Blass-USA TODAY Sports

Charl Schwartzel- The South African continues his steady play with top ten’s in 11 of his last 16 tournaments around the world. He doesn’t rely solely on length meaning his game could be the right fit for Merion.

Jason Day- Day always brings his A-game to Majors. He’s been around the leaderboard at the Masters and has a solo second at the US Open from 2011. He’s a bit of a flier pick, but he’s made the cut in every tournament he’s entered and I think he’ll be solid again this week.

Best Ball Lineup-Day One

Phil Mickelson

Graeme McDowell

Scott Stallings

Fredrik Jacobson

Click here to join our Best Ball challenge group on ESPN

One of the big questions fantasy golf owners hope to answer this week at the St. Jude Classic is whether Phil Mickelson can get in form before the US Open next week. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports

As the golf world gears up for the US Open, some players head to Memphis for a final PGA Tour event before the second Major of the season. The FedEx St. Jude Classic takes place on the difficult TPC Southwind for the 25th consecutive year and is typically the week right before the US Open. Length off the tee has been a common characteristic of recent winners, and weather is also expected to add some more teeth to Southwind.

Last week, another one of my “other options” won the tournament as Kuchar won the Memorial. Next year, I think I’m creating a team called “other options” which may very well outperform my actual picks. As my entry continues its slump, in our FantasyCPR group Foot-Wedge and Hoochblues split the win with a robust 196. The win has Foot-Wedge atop the Spring Segment scoring by 36 over Team Tiger while Eagle’s Nest continues to cling to the top spot overall with Foot-Wedge and Hoochblues running two and three and both within 75 points.

Here are my picks for this week’s St. Jude as I try to break out of my slump before the US Open: (Hey, if nothing else, my other options are performing well)

A-List

May 10, 2013; Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, USA; Brandt Snedeker tees off the third hole during the second round of the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Brandt Snedeker: Sneds missed the cut last week at the Memorial where he historically struggles, but gets to play in his home state in Memphis where he’s looking for his seventh top ten of the year. He finished t15 two years ago which was his best finish at this event since a tie for fifth back in 2007.

Phil Mickelson: Phil has been up-and-down this year from dominating in Phoenix to missing the cut at his most recent event at THE PLAYERS. He does have a trio of top three’s this year on tour and represents the ultimate wild card since he’s only played this event twice in the past. I won’t start with him in the lineup in case he stumbles, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him dominate, win, and head into the US Open with a full head of steam. Lefty is always a fascinating player whether you love him or hate him.

Other Options: Charles Howell III, Boo Weekley

B-List

John Merrick: Merrick finished runner-up to DJ last year and won earlier this year at the Northern Trust Open. He’s missed six cuts this year, but is comfortable at this course and should finish well again.

June 2, 2013; Dublin, OH, USA; Scott Stallings fist bumps his caddy during the final round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Scott Stallings: Stallings played his college golf at Tennessee Tech. He’s all the sudden found his form chasing four straight missed cuts with a pair of T4′s the last two weeks. He’s played the St. Jude the last two years missing the cut last year and finishing t25 two years ago.

Dustin Johnson: Johnson won this event last year as he was just coming back from a back injury. This year again, he’s coming back from a back issue. DJ hasn’t been able to finish a tournament since the Masters, so he’s a risk that I’m ok taking in a shallow B-list.

Freddie Jacobson: Jacobson has made 10 straight cuts which is why I’ll grab him for my last spot to help make sure all my risks don’t come back to bite me. He’s made the cut in nine of ten career appearances here and has a handful of top 20 finishes.

Other Options: Jimmy Walker, Ben Crane, Aaron Baddeley, Steve Marino

C-List

John Rollins: Rollins has made 11 of 14 cuts this year and is coming off a t4 at the Colonial. He will be looking for his 10th top-25 of the season and has two top-25′s in his last three trips to the St. Jude.

Russell Henley: Henley made a splash early this season winning the Sony Open in his first PGA start. He’s played well lately too with a pair of t6′s in his last four starts including last week at the Memorial. It’s his first appearance here, but that hasn’t slowed him in the past so I’ll get him on my team this week.

Other Options: Jordan Spieth, Ryan Palmer