US OPEN ’23: 10 players expected to contend at Los Angeles CC
By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A capsule look at 10 players expected to contend in the U.S. Open, which starts Thursday at Los Angeles Country Club (listed in predicted order of finish):
PATRICK CANTLAY
Age: 31.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 4.
Worldwide victories: 8.
Majors: None.
2023 Majors: Masters-T14, PGA Championship-T9.
U.S. Opens appearances: 7. Best finish: T14.
U.S. Open moment: Low amateur at Congressional in 2011.
Backspin: No real weakness in his game except for not seriously contending in enough majors, a narrative that is starting to irritate him. Played two years at UCLA, so he is more familiar with LACC than most. He is due for a breakthrough in a major.
BROOKS KOEPKA
Age: 33.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 13.
Worldwide victories: 14.
Majors: PGA Championship (2018, 2019, 2023), U.S. Open (2017, 2018).
2023 Majors: Masters-T2, PGA Championship-Won.
U.S. Opens appearances: 9. Best finish: Won.
U.S. Open moment: Becoming the first player in 29 years to win the U.S. Open back to back in 2018.
Backspin: Koepka had the 54-hole lead at the Masters and won the PGA Championship. “Major Brooks” is back, and another win could send him to a year in the majors not seen since Jordan Spieth in 2015. His power should be an asset at LACC.
MAX HOMA
Age: 32.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 7.
Worldwide victories: 6.
Majors: None.
2023 Majors: Masters-T43, PGA Championship-T55.
U.S. Opens appearances: 4. Best finish: T47.
U.S. Open moment: Qualifying for his first U.S. Open in 2013 as the NCAA champion from Cal and having his caddie set his bag next to Tiger Woods on the range so he could meet him.
Backspin: Homa winning a major would further validate his status as one of the elite in golf. It also would be the most feel-good story for the guy who has become among golf’s most engaging personalities on social media. His U.S. Open record, while limited, needs work. Homa has made the cut only once in four ties.
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER
Age: 26.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 1.
Worldwide victories: 6.
Majors: Masters (2022).
2023 Majors: Masters-T10, PGA Championship-T2.
U.S. Opens appearances: 5. Best finish: T2.
U.S. Open moment: Missing a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole at Brookline that would have forced a playoff with Matt Fitzpatrick last year.
Backspin: Scheffler played LACC at the Walker Cup in 2017. His issue at the moment is putting, which has kept him from having an even better year. He has not finished out of the top 12 in the 13 tournaments he’s played this year.
RORY MCILROY
Age: 34.
Country: Northern Ireland.
World ranking: 3.
Worldwide victories: 32.
Majors: PGA Championship (2012, 2014), U.S. Open (2011), British Open (2014).
2023 Majors: Masters-Cut, PGA Championship-T7.
U.S. Opens appearances: 14. Best finish: Won.
U.S. Open moment: Winning at Congressional in 2011 with a record score for an eight-shot victory and his first major.
Backspin: McIlroy is coming up on the nine-year anniversary of his last major, hard to believe for a 34-year-old who already has 32 wins worldwide. He again is in the spotlight, not only under pressure to get another major but as the voice against Saudi-funded LIV Golf and now coming to grips with the PGA Tour’s business deal with the Saudi group funding LIV.
JON RAHM
Age: 28.
Country: Spain.
World ranking: 2.
Worldwide victories: 20.
Majors: Masters (2023), U.S. Open (2021).
2023 Majors: Masters-Won, PGA Championship-T50.
U.S. Opens appearances: 7. Best finish: Won.
U.S. Open moment: Birdies on the final two holes to win his first major at Torrey Pines in 2021.
Backspin: Rahm leads golf with four wins this year, including a dominant performance at the Masters. The PGA Championship was a scramble just to make the cut. But his power and ball striking typically keeps him in the mix at every major. He’s coming off a week at the Memorial where nothing went right and he still tied for 16th.
VIKTOR HOVLAND
Age: 25.
Country: Norway.
World ranking: 5.
Worldwide victories: 8.
Majors: None.
2023 Majors: Masters-T7, PGA Championship-T2.
U.S. Opens appearances: 4. Best finish: T12.
U.S. Open moment: Withdrawing after one round at Torrey Pines in 2021 because of sand stuck in his left eye from a bunker shot.
Backspin: Hovland is coming off his signature win at the Memorial against a strong field on a tough course. He’s been trending in the majors as much as anyone, playing in the final group in two of the last three majors.
COLLIN MORIKAWA
Age: 26.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 18.
Worldwide victories: 6.
Majors: PGA Championship (2020), British Open (2021).
2023 Majors: Masters-T10, PGA Championship-T26.
U.S. Opens appearances: 4. Best finish: T4.
U.S. Open moment: One shot out of the lead with six holes to play in 2021 at Torrey Pines until taking a double bogey.
Backspin: He hasn’t finished in the top 10 since the Masters and had to withdraw from the Memorial with back spasms. But he is among the best iron players in golf and has contended in the last two U.S. Opens. He also went 4-0 in the Walker Cup at LACC.
JORDAN SPIETH
Age: 29.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 10.
Worldwide victories: 16.
Majors: Masters (2015), U.S. Open (2015), British Open (2017).
2023 Majors: Masters-T4, PGA Championship-T29.
U.S. Opens appearances: 11. Best finish: Won.
U.S. Open moment: Winning at Chambers Bay in 2015 to become the first player since Tiger Woods to win first two legs of the Grand Slams.
Backspin: The wrist injury that raised questions at the PGA Championship no longer appears to be an issue. Spieth is not hitting as many foul balls that have cost him, and he’s a leading candidate to handle the green complexes at LACC.
XANDER SCHAUFFELE
Age: 29.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 7.
Worldwide victories: 7.
Majors: None.
2023 Majors: Masters-T10, PGA Championship-T18.
U.S. Opens appearances: 6. Best finish: T3.
U.S. Open moment: Finishing double digits under par (10 under) to tie for fifth in his U.S. Open debut in 2017 at Erin Hills.
Backspin: He tied for 14th at Brookline last year, notable because it was his first finish outside the top 10 in his six U.S. Open appearances. Much like Patrick Cantlay, there is no real weakness in his game, although his driving accuracy could use some improvement.
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