US Open favorites, storylines, Scottie vs. Rory and more

Welcome to the week of the US Open, where we head to Shinnecock Hills on Long Island for the sixth time in the history of the national golf championship. What is your biggest US Open storyline that you can’t wait to see happen?

James Colgan, news and features editor (@jamescolgan26): I love Shinnecock, and I love that the US Open is going there even though it makes no earthly sense, programmatically speaking. I’m tired of learning from the best living golfers why It is very different from other golf courses that play every year. Normally, I’m not a course guy, but here I am.

Zephyr Melton, game development editor (@zephyrmelton): Can Scottie Scheffler complete the career grand slam? It would be an achievement if he could do it before he turns 30. I can’t wait to see him fight Shinnecock.

Jack Hirsh, equipment editor (@JR_HIRSHey): I’m with Zephyr this time. Scottie Scheffler’s first crack at a career grand slam is a huge hit. But we were treated to a US Open surprise on Sunday morning with Brooks Koepka’s WD in Canada. We wish Brooks a speedy recovery, and await news of what that means for his US Open availability. But he was the big story before the injury news broke, coming to Shinnecock in trending form and holding the belt as the winner of the 2018 US Open at Shinnecock.

The world’s top-ranked players, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, have not finished outside the top 20 in a tournament since March (both at The Players). How does Shinnecock Hills stack up? And who do you choose to have a better week?

Colgan: I think it sets them both up well, especially since Scheffler and McIlroy are two of the best iron players alive. Shinnecock has been changed since its last US Open – it’s wider and more forgiving now – but it’s not that easy to shoot good scores. It appears that these changes will make Shinnecock twice as big a golf course as it already is, meaning it will benefit the likes of Scheffler and McIlroy more than pedestrian golfers. If I were to choose one of them, I would lean towards Scheffler, because he is very accurate with the driver, and even an unusual fairway this week can make a difference.

Melton: I’m going to lean a little more towards Scottie on this one. As the best metal player in the world, the test presented by Shinnecock should be well suited to his skill set. He seems to like the USGA’s setup for this tournament, too, as he’s finished in the top 10 in all but one US Open since he’s been off the Tour.

Hirsh: I think Scheffler will have a better week because, as silly as it sounds, he has to. He is a machine at the US Opens in even though he has yet to record a victory. What better place to do it than at one of the historic sports venues. He was also a top 5 finisher this season but only won one in his first start of the year.

For those unfamiliar with Shinneock Hills, why is it known as such a quality test for the US Open? What do you want from the players and what are you looking for as the tournament begins?

Colgan: As someone who played there in 35 mph non-stop winds a few weeks ago, I can answer this question by heart. What makes Shinnecock great is that there is nowhere to miss. The greens and fairways may be large, but the actual spaces that allow you to safely advance your ball are small. If the course plays hard and fast (which it will), spin control and ground motion will be at a premium. In other words, it’s impossible under the best conditions … and only a player with an unearthly sense of precision and confidence will be able to survive the US Open.

Melton: Having never set foot in the place, I can’t give a definitive explanation of why Shinnecock is great, but from the stories I’ve heard I can say this: It’s very difficult. Ready for the US Open.

Hirsh: James did you play? How rude of you not to invite Zephyr and me.

The last time the tournament was played here, in 2018, Brooks Koepka defeated Tommy Fleetwood by one to win his second consecutive US Open. The leaderboard that year was stacked, too – guys like DJ, Reed, Finau, Hatton, Xander and Rose all finished in the top 10. Any lessons we can learn from that tournament as we head into this week?

Colgan: Of course, the lesson is that there will probably be no fluke winners here. Only the big dawgs will be in contention.

Melton: Famous last words, Jimmy. I hope you are right! And what can we expect? I’ll say it again: It will play hard.

Hirsh: My reading is that, surprisingly, all but two of those guys are legitimate players. Fleetwood is now a PGA Tour winner, Reed is in great form, even though he has only played the PGA since the Masters. Rose is having one of the best seasons of his career. Hatton and Schauffele need no explanation. The only question marks will be DJ and Koepka with his injury.

LIV Golf star Bryson DeChambeau hasn’t been doing too well this season. Does that change this week? Where does Bryson finish, and who do you pick as LIV’s bottom player?

Colgan: I don’t like how DeChambeau’s bomb-and-gauge strategy is setting him up for Shinnecock, especially after McIlroy and Scheffler revealed that the wider fairways were designed to be more punishing for those Miss the fairway. I think Bryson is a shoe in to make the cut, but I highly doubt his disqualification for a third US Open victory here given the setup.

Melton: I think he’s successful, but I don’t think he’ll be a serious contender for the weekend. You have to be firing on all cylinders to compete at the US Open, and this year he hasn’t been in that kind of form.

Hirsh: I don’t think he is cut. I think he is in over his head. I expect Jon Rahm to play well and finish as LIV’s bottom player.

Bud Cauley won the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday, although big-name players like Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland, Tommy Fleetwood and Wyndham Clark all had strong weeks. How much US Open stock do you put on the trending players right now, and who is the hottest player going into this week?

Colgan: Putting stock in it! It’s funny how recent form can help avoid a Big Mistake in a big tournament. And the US Open sounds like a place where you’d want to avoid a Big Mistake.

Melton: The form is always good, and no one has more at the moment than Wyndham Clark with a win, a top-three and another strong showing in Canada a few weeks ago. I kept an eye on him as we headed to Shinnecock.

Hirsh: Definitely putting stock in it. Speaking of Clark, he won a month before his 2023 US Open success. Clark is hot again this year, but god forbid Tommy Fleetwood can compete and do it this week. Knocking on the door two weeks ago after a putter change – and holding on for one of the biggest championship rounds we’ve seen or anywhere at the 2018 US Open at Shinnecock. That would be an incredible victory.

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