US Open leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2018/us-open/leaderboard.html
US Open tee times/pairings http://www.usopen.com/tee-times.html
This morning at 6.45am in Southampton NY (Long Island) this 118th US Open gets underway at venerable Shinnecock Hills under clear blue, sunny skies with the breeze gusting up to 25mph. There are some fascinating pairings so check out my tee times link above.
You may remember it was 14 years ago here in 2004 that South African Retief Goosen put on a display of putting on the tricky burnt out greens to win his 2nd major. Before him Ray Floyd won in 1986 and Corey Pavin was at his best in 1995.
It is a links style par 70 course, with six of the par 4's playing over 475 yards, a 610 yard par 5, where long accurate driving will be an asset just to reach the fairways, which are lined with typical US Open 4" rough.
Brooks Koepka won last year at Erin Hills with a score of -16, it's unlikely to be that low on this course this year.
The bookies have Spanish star 23 year old Jon Rahm (#5) as one of the favourites along with Henrik Stenson, who is #1 on tour with strokes gained from the tee, Rahm is #2, so I expect good weeks from them.
It's an incredibly strong field, set to have their games examined by a tricky, tough championship course.
The top 10 are all here.
I like Tommy Fleetwood at #9 for his long accurate drives and one of the best iron games.
Also Jason Day at #7 who is back in form with 2 wins and T2 this year on tough courses, and 4 T10's at the US Open in the last 5 years and he leads the tour in strokes gained putting.
Brooks Koepka at #6, the defending champion, was T2 recently in Fort Worth and his length and all around skills may allow him to win a rare repeat.
Rory McIlroy at #4 has struggled at the US Open since he won in 2011, in fact he has MC 3 of his 6 visits.
#3 Justin Thomas set a US Open record 63 last year and has all the tools should this be his week.
#2 Justin Rose won in 2013 at Merion GC, won 2 weeks ago at Fort Worth, and was T6 last week. Straight off the tee with superb iron play, he can win this week if he is still putting well.
#1 Dustin Johnson is the betting favourite, he won last week so is in form. He is one of the few who can overpower this course.
There are 3 Canadians in the field, Adam Hadwin hasn't missed a cut so far this year and say's " I feel like I’m hitting it well. I’m hitting the ball both ways and I’m seeing different shots. It gives me a lot of confidence moving forward that I’m continually doing the right things and I’ve just got to keep at it.”
Mac Hughes shot -10 over a 36-hole qualifier in Tennessee to finish T2 and has played in the US Open in 2013. However he's only made 5 cuts this year.
Garret Rank is a full time NHL referee and a damn good amateur golfer with 3 Canadian Mid Amateur titles to his credit. He won a qualifier in Georgia and will be paired with his pal Mac Hughes today.
It won't be easy, but then the US Open should be the sternest test of golf in America and with the breeze affecting scores, I expect -4 66 to be a great score today.
Bryan Angus
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