Location
The U.S. Open returns to Pinehurst No. 2 this week for golf’s third major of the year. Although the course has gained more distance in the last two decades, it’s proven in recent history to test approach shots and ability near/on the green.
Let’s not forget it’s been 25 years since Payne Stewart’s famous win and celebration took place at Pinehurst for the US Open in 1999. Although we remember the last putt to beat Phil Mickelson by one stroke, it’s equally important to remember how much control he had in his mid to short irons. His average yardage off the tee the week he won, was only 255 yards! A wild stat to comprehend in today’s game of an average distance on tour of 295. Stewart would be killed in a plane crash only 4 months after this historic moment.
This Week's Favorites to Win.
There is no surprise Scottie Scheffler leads the field with one of the best odds to win a major (since odds came out before The Masters, in which he was heavy favorited and won). Viktor Hovland has been coming into form and DeChambeau's performance at the PGA Championship last month, have them both set firmly for contenders this week. Jon Rahm was last seen on the LIV Tour withdrawing after an apparent injury (an infected foot), however he is in North Carolina this week ready to perform. Even with the injury- this past US Open Champ is top 10 favorite entering the week. UPDATE: He was in North Carolina and now withdrawn with this injury
GOLFER | TO WIN |
Scottie Scheffler | +300 |
Xander Schauffele | +1100 |
Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
Collin Morikawa | +1500 |
Brooks Koepka | +1600 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +1600 |
Viktor Hovland | +1700 |
Ludvig Åberg | +2200 |
Tommy Fleetwood | +3500 |
Cameron Smith | +4000 |
TV Viewing If you will be viewing this week's coverage on TV, you may want to entertain the idea of purchasing a subscription to Peacock. Excited to watch Rory, Scottie & Xander group? You will need to switch to Peacock halfway through their round to continue watching them Thursday and to watch them at all come Friday. Below are time changes for TV Coverage.
Thursday, June 13
First Round (USA Network), 6:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. First Round of 124th U.S. Open (Peacock), 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday, June 14
Second Round (Peacock), 6:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. & 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Second Round (NBC), 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 15
Third Round (USA Network), 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Third Round (NBC), 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 16
Final Round (USA Network), 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Final Round (NBC), 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Featured Groups
You can find the entire list of Tee Times from the US Open site by clicking here.
7:40 AM
Justin Thomas Collin Morikawa Brooks Koepka
This group features multi major winners and two US Open past champions (Koepka/Morikawa)
7:29 AM
Will Zalatoris
Matt Fitzpatrick
Tiger Woods
Tiger will always be a group I want to see, but given Zalatoris' close calls in Majors and Matt Fitzpatrick return to form since his US Open win, this is a must follow
1:14 PM
Rory McIlroy
Xander Schauffele
Scottie Scheffler
This group has accounted for the best golf all year. It also features the first two major winners of the year and the always heavy favorite of Rory.
1:36 PM
Hideki Matsuyama
Jon Rahm - Withdrawn
Jordan Spieth
This group features the golfers that everyone was used to seeing up top. Each has struggled to crack top 5 finishes in majors recently, but no one will be surprised to see any of these names on the leaderboard come Sunday.
1:25 PM
Bryson DeChambeau
Viktor Hovland
Max Homa
Bryson has given LIV Golf Tour their best chance of winning a major this year, and will be expected to continue that run at Pinehurst No. 2. Meanwhile both Hovland and Homa are no strangers to final groups on Major Sundays!
U.S. Open Standard
It seems every year, hundreds of videos come out from reporters on the grounds with the conditions of the rough at the US Open. Normally you will find countless videos of balls disappearing in a brush of long cut grass, almost impossible to see with a camera. This year however, the videos coming out from the Monday/Tuesday practice rounds have been all green related. This course is set up to run fast, and will test the short game touch. If you're unable to attend in person, this will be excellent TV viewing with the given conditions of the course.
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