Jon Rahm will be back to defend his title as the 122nd US Open tees off at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.
We answer some frequently asked questions about the golf season’s third major.
When is the tournament being played?
June 16-19, 2022.
Where is it being held?
The Open Course, the Country Club, Brookline, Massachusetts.
Who conducts the US Open?
The United States Golf Association (USGA).
Who won in 2021?
Last year at Torrey Pines, Jon Rahm won his first major championship beating Louis Oosthuizen by one shot.
Who is the favourite to win in 2022?
World no.8 Rory McIlroy is favourite to win, fresh off the back of defending his RBC Canadian Open title with a final round 62. The course and conditions at Brookline will be similar to those at St. George’s Golf & Country Club just outside Toronto last week. McIlroy won the US Open in 2011.
Who are the other favourites?
Jon Rahm, no.2 in the world rankings, and the rest of the top five will be playing: Masters champion Scottie Scheffler (no.1); Patrick Cantlay (no.3); Players champion Cameron Smith (no.4); and Open champion Collin Morikawa (no.5). 2022 PGA champion Justin Thomas (no.6) will be looking to win his third major.
Is Tiger Woods playing?
No, Tiger won’t be playing this year. The 15-time major champion played in the Masters and made the cut, withdrew after three rounds at the PGA, and announced last week that his body is still recovering from injuries sustained in a car crash over a year ago.
Is Phil Mickelson playing?
Yes, due to his age-defying PGA Championship victory in 2021 at Kiawah Island, Phil has a five-year exemption into the US Open.
So, Phil playing in the LIV Golf series doesn’t affect his participation?
The PGA Tour announced that those playing in the LIV Golf series are now suspended from the Tour, but the USGA then announced that those same players are eligible to compete in the US Open.
What about Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau?
Like Phil, both players have decided to join the LIV Golf series, but will also be playing at this year’s US Open.
Why is the US Open of extra significance to Phil?
Because he needs a US Open win to complete the career grand slam of winning all four majors. Agonisingly, he has finished second six times.
What are the featured groups to look out for?
Thursday (local times)
7:18 am: Collin Morikawa, James Piot, Jon Rahm 7:29 am: Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott, Max Homa 7:40 am: Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama, Xander Schauffele 1:14 pm: Justin Thomas, Viktor Hovland, Tony Finau 1:36 pm: Matt Fitzpatrick, Webb Simpson, Dustin Johnson 1:47 pm: Phil Mickelson, Shane Lowry, Louis Oosthuizen
Friday
7:29 am: Justin Thomas, Viktor Hovland, Tony Finau 7:51 am: Matt Fitzpatrick, Webb Simpson, Dustin Johnson 8:02 am: Phil Mickelson, Shane Lowry, Louis Oosthuizen 1:03 pm: Collin Morikawa, James Piot, Jon Rahm 1:14 pm: Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott, Max Homa 1:25 pm: Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama, Xander Schauffele
What is the format and how many players are in the field?
The US Open is a four-round, 72-hole stroke-play championship, with a cut after 36 holes. There are 156 players, and the top 60 players and ties make the cut.
If players are tied after 72 holes, how is the winner determined?
The USGA sets a two-hole aggregate play-off. If still tied after two holes, players will compete in sudden death holes until a winner is crowned.
Has Brookline hosted the US Open before?
Yes, the last time was in 1988. Curtis Strange and Nick Faldo went into an 18-hole Monday play-off (the format at the time) and Strange won by shooting 71 to Faldo’s 75.
Brookline was also the site of the 1999 Ryder Cup when Team USA came back from a 10-6 deficit on Sunday to defeat Team Europe 14.5-13.5.
What’s the golf course like?
It’s par 70 and 7,264 yards long. That’s long for a par 70, with only two par fives: at holes 8 and 14. To get it ready for this event, it has undergone an extensive renovation by Gil Hanse. He has increased the size of a number of the Bentgrass greens, although they’re still notoriously small. There are a number of blind shots on the course and wild fescue rough.
What are the keys to success?
With its tiny greens, we can expect the stats that have been important over the last decade in this championship – Greens In Regulation and Scrambling – to be key again. Last US Open, winner Jon Rahm ranked fourth for GIR and third for Scrambling.
What will the weather be like?
The opening day is currently predicted to be sunny but partially cloudy with the temperature hitting a high of 26°C. Friday could be rainy with a 50% chance of precipitation, but temperatures could peak as high as 31°C. Saturday and Sunday are expected to be sunny but partially cloudy with temperatures between 11°C and 18°C through the day.
What does the winner get?
The winner lifts the US Open Trophy, which does not have a particular name. Dating back to 1947, it’s 18 inches tall and made of pure sterling silver. While the trophy must be returned each year, the winner gets a gold medal to keep, known as the Jack Nicklaus Medal since 2012.
What’s the prize money?
The purse for the 2022 US Open has yet to be announced. The purse in 2021 was $12.5 million, with the winner receiving $2.25 million. That year, second place got $1.35 million, third $859,812, fourth $602,752, and fifth $502,035. 60th and last place following the cut made $25,907.
What other perks does the winner get?
The winner receives 100 world ranking points and 600 FedEx Cup points.
Other benefits include a five-plus season exemption on the PGA Tour, a 10-year US Open exemption, as well berths in the next five years of the other three majors, as well as next year’s Sentry Tournament of Champions.
