SPORTSMAIL’S PICKS FOR THE TITLE

ABRAHAM ANCER

OUR 80-1 tip came up each-way trumps at the PGA last month and here’s another test that should suit the gritty, straight-hitting Mexican.

JON RAHM

QUIET for most of the season but ought to relish the chance to defend his title on a layout to suit his superior ball-striking.

MATT FITZPATRICK

Only one golfer has won the

US Amateur and US Open on the same course, and that was Jack Nicklaus. That wouldn’t be bad company for Fitz to keep.

JUSTIN ROSE

TIED 13th at the last major and coming off a round of 60 in Canada for tied fourth last week. All the signs are encouraging for the 2013 US Open champion.

COREY CONNERS

THERE are few better ball strikers in the modern game than the underrated Canadian. Lost to Fitzpatrick in the semi-finals of the 2013 US Amateur at Brookline.

MAX HOMA

BARELY gets a mention alongside all the other good, young Americans but this might be the week where he changes all that.

SELECTED TEE TIMES (UK time)

1st tee 12.18pm: C Morikawa, J Rahm, J Piot. 12.29pm: J Spieth, A Scott, M Homa.

6.14pm: J Thomas, V Hovland, T Finau.

6.36pm: M Fitzpatrick, W Simpson, D Johnson. 6.47pm: P Mickelson, S Lowry, L Oosthuizen.

10th tee 12.40pm: R McIlroy, H Matsuyama, X Schauffele.

6.03pm: T Hatton, S Garcia, K Na.

6.25pm: B Koepka, C Smith, S Scheffler.

6.47pm: J Rose, B DeChambeau, G Woodland. 6.58pm: T Fleetwood, P Reed, KH Lee.

LIVE on Sky Sports Golf from 1pm.

THE KEY HOLE The 11th, Par 3, 132 yards PERHAPS the most exciting hole is one that’s

back for the first time since 1913. It is a classic, short par-three. With a wedge, the green should be easy enough to hit but woe betide anyone who strays a fraction. A raised green means shots off-line will be repelled into bunkers on the left or rough on the right.