THE CONTENDERS
Only one World No.1 – Tiger Woods – has won the US Open in the past 13 years, and nobody has won back-to-back titles since Curtis Strange. So, who has the form and the game required to deny Dustin Johnson from winning his second major?
RORY MCILROY won the US Open in 2011 at Congressional and set the tournament’s 72-hole scoring record – 16-under, 268. The Northern Irishman is a statistician’s dream, and is hard to look past. He’s the longest off the tee, has the lowest scoring average of 68.87, and is second on Tour for strokes gained approaching the green. He also sits inside the top-10 for scrambling. McIlroy’s biggest downfall, however, is well-documented and sees him outside the top-100 for strokes gained putting.
JORDAN SPIETH won in 2015 and is one of the only notable players who’s played competitively at Erin Hills before. He made the quarter finals at the course during the 2011 US Amateur. The 23-year-old American has an exquisite short game, is inside the top-5 for his scoring average of 69.43 and leads the Tour for strokes gained approaching the green. But Spieth is ranked outside the top-100 for strokes gained off the tee, which could be magnified at the lengthy Erin Hills.
SERGIO GARCIA has shaken the tag of being the best player without a major championship after winning The Masters. The Spaniard’s scoring average of 69.38 is third on Tour and he is ranked first for strokes gained off the tee. He’s also inside the top-10 for greens in regulation and for distance off the tee. However the 37-year-old might struggle with his natural fade around a course that requires so many draws.
RICKIE FOWLER has long been a consistent performer at the majors without breaking through. The 28-year-old is currently second on Tour for his scoring average of 68.99. He’s inside the top-10 for strokes gained putting, top-5 for scrambling, second for sand saves and third for strokes gained approaching the green. The Californian is also around the top
10 percent for distance off the tee and is hitting more fairways than ever. Hard to fault statistically.
HIDEKI MATSUYAMA looked unstoppable early in the season. The 25-year-old has three wins and two runners-up from his 11 starts. He averages the fourth most birdies per round on Tour with 4.53, hits a lot of greens in regulation and is inside the top-20 for distance off the tee. But, like McIlroy, he ranks 180th for strokes gained putting and will need to roll the ball better if he’s to become the first Japanese male to win a major.
JUSTIN ROSE won the championship in 2013 and will be hurting after that unsuccessful playoff at The Masters. His scoring average of 69.48 is fourth on Tour, and he’s inside the top 10 percent for both distance off the tee and greens in regulation. A consistent player with no considerable weaknesses.
JON RAHM has started his professional career with a bang, winning the Farmers Insurance Open and recording a further four top-10s in his first 11 events. The Spaniard is third on Tour for strokes gained off the tee and can drive the ball as far as anyone. He’s inside the top-10 for both birdies and eagles per round, and second for strokes gained tee-to-green. The 22-year-old’s all-round putting is solid, and he leads the Tour for putts made within three feet (he’s yet to miss from 281 attempts).
ADAM SCOTT and JASON DAY should both fare well for Australia with their length off the tee and ball striking. But Day’s putting and bunker play should see him more likely of the two to challenge for the championship, which hasn’t been won by an Aussie since Geoff Ogilvy’s 2006 victory at Winged Foot.