Strange love from US Open made me want to doctor my swing..

IT was the US Open that got me excited to play golf.

I remember as a 15-year-old watching Curtis Strange winning at Brookline in 1988.

Nick Faldo was my favourite player and, when Strange beat him, the American was my new hero.

I was out the next day trying to swing like him.

Kids need heroes, adults need to be entertained. Who knows how it will all come out in the wash in terms of the emergence of LIV GOLF and how the PGA Tour responds?

But the year’s third Major should be a reprieve from the sales pitch from all sides – I’m hoping, at least.

Rory Mcilroy turned back the clock to 2019 on Sunday and produced a brilliant and gutsy performance to outlast Justin Thomas and Tony Finau to defend his Canadian Open title.

It was the perfect prep for this tough challenge in Boston and hopefully the test in Canada will be a reminder that all is well with his game.

He buckled slightly coming in and looked like he was on the ropes on 16.

I hope he can learn from that – and maybe he did as he went back to type on 17 to finish like a champion with back-to-back birdies.

Majors will define Rory’s status in the game, of course, and he is a long time waiting for win No.5.

At least he has his best vibe in years this week so the signs are all in his favour.

Stats are never more in play than for a US Open and Shane Lowry ticks two valuable boxes trying to win his second major.

He is first in scrambling and top five in strokes gained from approach shots.

His form this season has been excellent and he is just missing a win. Shane does have a habit of winning the bigger prizes so he will be relaxed in his preparation this week and he should slide into the first round demanding to just be himself and to not force it. All too often players take on too much pressure for the majors.

Shane needs to treat this like it is any other week and he will be in the mix. His game favours a tougher test and Brookline will be just that.

The crowds will also be a huge factor. Nobody can forget the mess that was the 1999 Ryder Cup. The price of beer at the US PGA seemed to do the trick as the atmosphere was excited but controlled.

The LIV GOLF players will be in for a hard time and I hope the Phil Mickelson pairing for Lowry does not become a sideshow.

This is a special tournament. You cannot replicate over 100 years of history. I hope the fans play their part and inspire the players to produce a week to remember.

Jon Rahm will try to defend his title after his unforgettable finish in Torrey Pines last year. He has not finished off some brilliant play this season as his putter is misbehaving.

If he can rediscover his form on the greens he will mount a stern defence.

The two hottest players are World No.1 Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns. Between them, they have seven wins this season.

It is their national open so the stakes are high.

And that is the beauty of having only four majors per season.

Shane Lowry ticks two valuable boxes