The third major championship of the season, the US Open, will tee off on June 13 (Beijing Time) at the Pinehurst Resort’s Course No. 2 in North Carolina, with 155 players competing, excluding Jon Rahm, who withdrew due to an injury. This article provides a preview of the event.
“Open Heritage”
Pinehurst Resort’s Course No. 2 is no stranger to major championships. The return of the US Open to this course marks the first time in over a century that the United States Golf Association has awarded four Opens to the same venue within 25 years.
This legendary course has hosted all five of America’s most prestigious golf events, including three US Opens in 1999, 2005, and 2014. Additionally, since its establishment in 1907, it has been the stage for the 1933 PGA Championship and the 1951 Ryder Cup.
Defending Champion
Wyndham Clark secured his maiden major victory at the 2023 US Open, defeating Rory McIlroy by one stroke. With this win, he became the fifth American to triumph in the past five majors, the longest such streak for the US in 40 years. At the time of the last US Open at Pinehurst, Clark was still playing college golf at Oklahoma State. Now 30, Clark claimed his third PGA Tour title at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am earlier this season but failed to make the cut in the first two majors of the year.
Fifth Major Trophy?
Rory McIlroy is laser-focused on becoming the most successful European golfer in history. He senses that a fifth elusive major title is within reach. Seeking to surpass Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo, both five-time and six-time major winners respectively, he said in a pre-tournament press conference, “I’ve always said I still feel like that’s just around the corner for me to be the most successful European golfer ever. I’m really proud of what I’ve done in the last 15 years, whether it’s winning regular tournaments, World Golf Championships, or majors. Obviously, it’s taken me a long time to try to get that fifth major, but I feel more confident than ever that I’m there, and I’m as close as I’ve ever been to winning a major championship.”
On to the Olympics
This year’s golden swing also includes the summer Olympics, with this week’s US Open determining the final list of 60 male golfers for the Paris Games.
The US is the only nation that can field four golfers in this year’s Olympics, while most countries will send two, and a few will have one representative. While some spots are already secured, competition remains intense, particularly within the US team, where Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and defending US Open champion Clark are vying for one of the coveted berths.
(European Tour)