The US Open is set to begin at Shinnecock Hills, where golf's top players will compete for the third major title of the year. Defending champion J. J. Spaun is looking to retain his title, while Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler headline a glittering field.
Rory McIlroy's 'Stupid' Claim
Shinnecock Hills has hosted the US Open on five previous occasions, with the last two visits mired in controversy. In 2004, Tiger Woods accused the USGA of losing control of the course after greens became dangerously fast. In 2018, Phil Mickelson deliberately struck a moving ball. McIlroy addressed the course conditions this week, admitting he initially thought the USGA's decision to water the greens between early and late groups was misguided but has since changed his tune.
“I understand it,” he said. “When I first heard of it, my first reaction was, ‘That’s stupid, why are they doing that?’ But then once you actually listened and you let them break it down to you, you’re like, yeah, that makes sense.”
“My concern was you don’t want it to look as if you’ve lost the golf course, and you’re starting to put water on it, which I don’t think is what they’re going to do.”
Brooks Koepka's Injury Worry
Brooks Koepka will take his place at this year's US Open despite withdrawing from the RBC Canadian Open with an unusual hand injury. The five-time major champion, who triumphed the last time the US Open was staged at Shinnecock Hills, endured a difficult week in Canada, revealing his ailment left him with numb fingers and unable to grip his clubs properly.
Nevertheless, following a nine-hole practice round on Tuesday, Koepka offered an encouraging update. He said: “It’s getting better day by day. I would say yesterday was pretty much how it was on Sunday, but today there was quite a bit of improvement. I don’t think I would have gone out and played if it wasn’t.”
“I don’t think the grip strength is 100 per cent, but it’s good enough. It’s fine. There’s no pain. There’s absolutely no pain, which is kind of the weirdest part of this whole thing.”
