BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS : The US Open, which begins on Thursday, will put the world’s best golfers to the test over a difficult course in a historic location, with a dash of controversy thrown in for good measure.
At The Country Club, defending champion Jon Rahm, four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, top-ranked Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, and two-time major winners Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa are the fan and betting favourites.
“To play good golf, you have to have all parts of your game ready,” said Morikawa, the defending British Open winner.
The US Golf Association, in addition to constructing dense rough and lightning-fast greens, assured drama by letting players from the upstart Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series to compete, rather than banning them as the US PGA Tour did.
As a result, US luminaries Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, and Bryson DeChambeau are among the LIV Golf rebels teeing off in the first LIV-PGA duel, a novel sub-plot to the quest for a major title.
“Who knew we were such drama junkies?” According to Morikawa. “You don’t want to be focused on this or that, therefore it becomes a distraction.” “We’re here to win the US Open,” said the team.
After a record six runner-up finishes, Mickelson, who turns 52 on Thursday, would complete a career Grand Slam with a victory and shatter his own record as the oldest major winner.
Mickelson remarked, “I’m happy to be back in this fantastic championship that has escaped me.”
Boston supporters memorably booed Europe during the US Ryder Cup triumph in 1999, and they could throw additional jabs at Europe.
“I believe it’s going to generate a wonderful atmosphere, whether it’s positive or negative toward me personally,” Mickelson said.
Tiger Woods, who is making a comeback after suffering severe leg injuries in a car accident 16 months ago, skipped the US Open to focus on the British Open at St. Andrews next month.
