Five players to watch in the 124th US Open Championship – Golf News

Wyndham Clark will defend his title when the 124th US Open Championship takes place at Pinehurst from June 13-16.

Clark, who held off Rory McIlroy to win his first main at Los Angeles Nation Membership final yr, was taking part in at Oklahoma State College the final time Pinehurst staged the US Open in 2014.

Scottie Scheffler

Justified being a sizzling favorite for the Masters by claiming his second inexperienced jacket in three years at Augusta Nationwide, however Scheffler noticed his bid to win the US PGA derailed after being arrested following an incident with a police officer on his approach into the course earlier than spherical two. He was launched in time to return to Valhalla and shot a exceptional 66, however struggled to a 73 on Saturday with out common caddie Ted Scott, who was attending his daughter’s high-school commencement. All expenses towards Scheffler have been later dropped.

Rory McIlroy

McIlroy completed twelfth within the US PGA regardless of the week beginning with the revelation that he had filed for divorce from spouse Erica. He returned to motion with a tie for fourth within the RBC Canadian Open and has been in good kind all season with out threatening to finish that oft-mentioned look ahead to a fifth main title. McIlroy was twenty third at Pinehurst in 2014, a month earlier than profitable the Open and subsequently including a second US PGA title at Valhalla.

Brooks Koepka

Completed in a tie for fourth at Pinehurst in 2014, albeit 10 pictures behind runaway winner Martin Kaymer. Koepka revealed on the US PGA that he had confronted a collection of “punishment exercises” ordered by his health staff following a disappointing tie for forty fifth within the Masters, however might solely fare barely higher at Valhalla. He often raises his sport for the majors and will likely be decided to keep away from a third-straight poor efficiency.

Xander Schauffele

Seen in some circles as an underachiever, Schauffele answered questions on his skill to shut out tournaments within the splendid vogue with a birdie on the 72nd gap to beat Bryson DeChambeau by a shot and win his first main within the US PGA Championship. He additionally completed eighth within the Masters and will likely be anticipated to contend in lots of extra majors going ahead.

Colin Prater

Among the finest tales to emerge from last qualifying, Prater is a science instructor at Cheyenne Mountain highschool, who additionally coaches the golf staff and performed himself at college in Colorado. The 29-year-old newbie carded rounds of 68 and 73 to assert one in all simply two locations on supply from the qualifying web site in Oregon. “It’s been a dream of mine since being a child to play in a significant and to fulfil that dream is superb,” Prater mentioned.