American golfers currently on top
This year's U.S. Open will be a chance to celebrate the state of golf in the country.
Americans hold all four of golf's major trophies for the first time since 2004. Patrick Reed won the Masters this year, joining PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas, British Open champ Jordan Spieth and last year's U.S. Open winner, Brooks Koepka.
The last time that happened was 2004, when Phil Mickelson won his first major. At the time, Jim Furyk (U.S. Open), Ben Curtis (British) and Shaun Micheel were the reigning champions.
But it's not just the majors. The United States also won the most recent Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, Solheim Cup and Walker Cup.
World's top ranking on line in U.S. Open
Justin Rose is one of six players with a chance to leave Shinnecock Hills on Sunday night as the world's No. 1 golfer.
And the 2013 U.S. Open champion knows just how he wants to do it.
"Becoming world No. 1 is going to be a byproduct of winning this week," he said Wednesday. "So I may as well just continue to focus on the winning. That's where the points are. That's where the fun is, to be honest with you."
Dustin Johnson entered the week as the top-ranked golfer in the world. The others with a chance to move up to the top spot are Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy.
Rose played in the U.S. Open the last time it was at Shinnecock, in 2004, but missed the cut.
That's probably why he didn't have such fond memories of the course until he came back about five years ago and played with a couple of members.
"It completely changed my impression of the whole golf course," he said. "It went from being not a very fun experience to actually, wow, now I see why it's one of the top rated golf courses in the world. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Tap ins
Tiger Woods is playing the U.S. Open for the first time since 2015. Woods has not finished closer than three shots off the lead in a major since his last major championship 10 years ago at Torrey Pines.
Martin Kaymer is the only U.S. Open champion to play in the last group in the last six years.
Different players have won the last 15 U.S. Opens, the longest current stretch of any of the four majors.