KARZMER: Great Scott! British Open on deck

This week is yet another chance for me to prove just how wrong I get every one of these majors. I really went out on a limb at last month’s U.S. Open and picked world No. 1 Dustin Johnson.

He immediately missed the cut.

In majors past, I’ve done my research; studied the course; found a player “type” I thought would do well there; identified 5-10 players in that category; looked up past results and recent trends.

And then picked from there.

I’m winless for five years worth of picks.

This week, I’m changing it up and bypassing the analytics. I’m going with the gut.

Here are my predictions for the upcoming 2017 British Open.

The defender: Henrik Stenson proved he can beat the world in last year’s battle with Phil Mickelson. He’s streaky. But I don’t think he’s streaking in the right direction. I don’t see the 2016 champion as a factor this year.

The Spring Breakers: Smylie Kaufman, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler.

I think Rickie will once again be in it. He felt the Sunday pressure last month at Erin Hills.

The last time he actually competed for a major (Masters 2014), he rattled off four Top 5 finishes in a row. I think he’s close; but not there yet. I pick him best out of this group with another solid Top 10.

The Americans: Honestly, I don’t know who’d I’d go with if I had to pick an American winner.

Steve Stricker has made about 12 straight years of major cuts, but I think he’s too old.

Matt Kuchar will smile his way to a Top 20.

Charles Howell will make another check without being in contention.

Maybe Phil Mickelson? He missed the U.S. Open, so he may have something to prove.

In the end, my great American hope will lay on Patrick Reed. His finger wag at Rory McIlroy in last year’s Ryder Cup just may have had enough cocky adrenaline to carry him to a Top 10 finish in Europe’s biggest tourney.

The Euros: Seriously, there are just too many contenders to choose from.

Rory hasn’t been great, but can win at any time.

Sergio Garcia got the major monkey off his back and has always seemed destined for an Open Championship victory.

Justin Rose would love to win at “home.”

John Rahm is rookie of the world by a mile and just won the Scottish Open.

Thomas Pieters was my U.S. Open dark horse. Hometown boy Tommy Fleetwood showed some stuff at the U.S. Open.

And Lee Westwood is still on my radar for his overdue first major.

In the end, I think there are a lot of European contenders, with Sergio leading the way with a Top 5, but I don’t see a Euro win on home soil.

Rest of the World: Yes, I am going to go with an international player to win it all.

Louis Oosthuizen has won before. So has Ernie Els.

But for some reason, I think this year’s champion will hail from down under.

I think Adam Scott, for no logical reason whatsoever — outside of the most perfect swing in the world — will end the “first time major” streak and capture his second major championship victory.

So there it is ... Another major, another pick.

Sorry to Adam in advance.

Jonah Karzmer is a former golf professional who writes a Sunday golf column for The Vindicator. In his spare time he sells commercial insurance and loves getting feedback on his weekly columns via email at Jonah@thekarzmerinsurance.com.