The season's third major tees off later this week, with a number of intriguing storylines playing out in California. Here’s the lowdown.
Event:
US Open, Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, California.
What is it:
The 119th edition of the Unites States’ national open, it features 156 players. The prize fund is $12.5 million (Dh45.9m), making it the most lucrative event in major championship golf. The winner is expected to take home $2.25m.
When is it:
Thursday to Sunday (June 13-16).
Where is it:
Pebble Beach Golf Links: 7,075 yards, par 71. Running along the Pacific coastline, the celebrated course regularly features among the top tracks in the world. It has hosted six major championships – five US Opens, one PGA Championship – and is a staple on the regular PGA Tour calendar, with the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Past champions:
Not surprisingly, Americans have dominated the tournament, with Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Jones and Ben Hogan holding the most victories, at four. However, they are joined on that number by Scot Willie Anderson, whose wins arrived between 1901 and 1905.
Tiger Woods and Hale Irwin both have three titles, while 16 other players boast multiple victories. South Africans Ernie Els and Retief Goosen the only non-Americans on that list. Brooks Koepka is the defending champion this week.
In regards to the course, the US Open winners at Pebble are: Nicklaus (1972), Tom Watson (1982), Tom Kite (1992), Woods (2000) and Graeme McDowell (2010). Lanny Wadkins captured the PGA Championship there, in 1977. Earlier this year, Phil Mickelson won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Standout storylines:
- Koepka is attempting to become the second man to win the tournament in three successive years (Anderson is the other).
- Woods is seeking a second major of the season and 82nd PGA Tour victory, which would draw him level with Sam Snead's record. It's worth remembering Woods won the tournament at Pebble in 2000 by a record 15 shots.
- Mickelson is bidding to become only the sixth man to complete the career grand slam.
- Rory McIlroy is coming off a comprehensive win in Canada on Sunday and aiming to end a five-year major drought.
- Fellow former world No 1 Jordan Spieth is back, finally, on form.
Notable threeballs Rounds 1 & 2:
- Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose
- Brooks Koepka, Francesco Molinari, Viktor Hovland (am)
- Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Marc Leishman
- Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Graeme McDowell
- Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, Kevin Kisner
- Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Si Woo Kim
How to watch:
Still, no PGA Tour or European Tour golf is broadcast live on UAE television, but the United States Golf Association website will be showing "featured groups" and "featured holes". The action begins on Thursday at 6:45am local time, which is 5:45pm in the Emirates.
