The eyes of the golfing world will be fixed firmly on North-West America over the next four days as the biggest names in the sport contest the second Major of the year. Here, Sports Mole runs the rule over the course and takes a look at the contenders to win the 115th US Open.
The course
Name: Chambers Bay, University Place, Washington
Distance: 7,585 yards
Par: 72
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Info: Many players regard the US Open to be the toughest of the four Majors on the PGA Tour, but Chambers Bay will provide the 156-strong field with a completely different set of questions that have never previously been asked at the event.
Opened in June 2007 on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, Chambers Bay is a links-style course the likes of which we are more used to seeing in Britain rather than Stateside. Indeed, during a recent press conference, world number one Rory McIlroy commented that "it's really like playing a [British] Open championship in the United States, apart from the fact that it's about 20 degrees warmer".
The USGA have received plenty of criticism, even from some of the players that will be on show, for picking the eight-year-old course to host the tournament. Its selection certainly breaks tradition, with the US Open usually played on courses with narrow fairways, high rough and fast greens.
At Chambers Bay, many of the tees are extremely long, which will have an impact on yardage, while the fairways are wide and the greens are huge. Throughout the competition, it will not be uncommon to see players taking on 70-foot putts.
Those that have been warming up in Washington this week have also noted the dryness of the course, which boasts just one tree.
Last year's winner
Hitting 43 of 56 fairways, Martin Kaymer romped to victory at Pinehurst in 2014. Then 29, he led the field from start to finish as he became the first German to have ever won the US Open. His score of nine-under for the tournament was the second lowest ever at the event. Americans Rickie Fowler and Erik Compton finished as joint runners-up, but they were some eight shots short of Kaymer. It was the second Major of his career, having triumphed at the PGA Championship in 2010.
Five contenders
1. Rory McIlroy
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With the greatest of respect to the other 155 players on show, if McIlroy can bring his A-game to the table, there is a good chance that the rest will be left to battle it out for second spot. The problem for the 26-year-old is that he does not head to Chambers Bay in the greatest of form. After comfortably winning at Wells Fargo in May, McIlroy was way below his best at the BMW PGA and Irish Open, where he shot an unfathomable 80. Nevertheless, the Northern Irishman will no doubt take plenty of confidence from his 2011 US Open triumph by eight shots.
2. Jordan Spieth
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If there is anybody that could live with McIlroy in top form, it's probably this 21-year-old from Texas. He got his first taste of winning a Major at The Masters earlier this year, where he showed maturity well beyond his age. His form overall in 2015 has been good, with two titles and three runners-up finishes. There were some concerns recently over his swing, but Spieth appears to have gone away and worked on that. It may be a tough course, but the youngster has an advantage in the form of his caddie Michael Greller, who grew up nearby and knows the 18 holes well.
3. Dustin Johnson
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Every time that Johnson enters a Major, his recent off-the-course problems are often brought up. But, now a father, the 30-year-old seems to be in a positive place mentally. He's also in good form on the course, having recently beaten JB Holmes to win the WGC-Cadillac Championship by one stroke. If, as has been claimed, Chambers Bay favours the biggest hitters on the circuit, there are few that can bomb the ball further down the fairway than Johnson. If his short game can match up to that, Johnson may very well be celebrating a first Major come Sunday.
4. Justin Rose
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This is a Major close to Rose's heart, having become the first Englishman to win it in 43 years in 2013. It was also the maiden Major of the 34-year-old's career. Some players have already openly criticised the standard of the Chambers Bay course, but there will be no moaning from Rose, who is regarded as one of the calmest and patient players around. It's those characteristics that could prove to be crucial on what is an unpredictable course. He is also in good form in the big events this year, having gone close at The Masters and The Memorial Tournament, before winning in New Orleans.
5. Brandt Snedeker
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As a multiple winner of PGA Tour titles, the only thing lacking from Snedeker's trophy cabinet is a Major. At the age of 34, his chances are by no means gone, particularly when you consider that he is the same age as Rose and Adam Scott, who only recently broke their Major ducks. Snedeker has certainly flirted with winning a Major in the past, twice at The Masters and once at The Open. After those near misses, his fast and firm style may very well be perfectly suited to Chambers Bay. With some bookmakers offering odds of 50/1 that he tops the field on Sunday, the 2012 FedEx Cup winner should be regarded a decent each-way bet.
Liam Apicella
