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“It’s frustrating ... I feel like a lot of it just has to do with I just haven’t putted very well,” Johnson said last week before going on to finish in a share of 10th place in his US Open tune-up.
“That’s kind of been the trend or the reason why I’ve just been struggling a little bit is more just with the putting.”
Bryson DeChambeau after winning the 120th US Open Championship at Winged Foot.Credit:Getty
Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, who overpowered Winged Foot last year to win his first major by six strokes, comes into the year’s third major having finished in a share of 18th place at the Memorial Tournament.
DeChambeau was unfazed by Winged Foot’s narrow fairways as he pounded the layout into submission with his driver and then muscled the ball onto the greens from the thick rough, a strategy the world No.5 could lean on again this week.
Six-time runner-up Phil Mickelson missed the cut at last year’s US Open but arrives this year brimming with confidence after winning last month’s PGA Championship where he became the oldest major winner at the age of 50.
‘I wouldn’t ever rule Phil Mickelson out. I never have.’
Paul Azinger
For Mickelson, a three-time winner of the PGA Tour event at Torrey Pines, the course he grew up on, this week offers him an incredible chance to become only the sixth person to complete the career grand slam of golf’s four majors.
“I wouldn’t ever rule Phil out. I never have,” former PGA champion Paul Azinger said.
“I can’t rule him out until he quits working at it and from what we observe every week, Mickelson’s out there and he spends as much time practising as anybody.”
Everything you need to know about the 2021 US Open
WHEN IS IT?
The US Open will be held from Friday, June 17 until Monday, June 21.
WHERE IS IT HELD?
For the second time the tournament will be played at Torrey Pines in San Diego after Tiger Woods won the 2008 edition in an epic 19-hole play-off against Rocco Mediate.
Marc Leishman won the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines last year.Credit:Getty
HOW CAN I WATCH?
The 2021 US Open will be broadcast on Fox Sports 3 from 4am Friday and Saturday, 3am Sunday and 2.30am Monday.
WHO IS THE DEFENDING CHAMPION?
Bryson DeChambeau vindicated his radical reinvention at Winged Foot in New York last year, winning by six shots from fellow American Matthew Wolff.
WHO IS IN THE AUSSIE CONTINGENT?
Marc Leishman, Matt Jones, Cameron Smith, Adam Scott, Brad Kennedy, Wade Ormsby and Stephen Allan.
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ARE WE IN WITH A CHANCE?
Leishman, Smith and Scott have all finished tied for fourth in past US Opens. World No.60 Jones is the most recent Australian winner on tour after his Honda Classic victory in March while Leishman won on the course at the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open. If you fancy a first Aussie winner since 2006, you can get at least $56 for the pleasure. Former Augusta runner-up Smith, however, could be a good bet as the top rest-of-world (excluding the US and Europe) player at $11.
WHO ARE THE FAVOURITES?
Rahm tops the charts at $9 ahead of DeChambeau and Johnson at $15. Dual winner Brooks Koepka, 2020 PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa, McIlroy and Xander Schauffele are next at $17. Mickelson is at $61 to complete his fairytale.
THE RECORD BOOKS
Most victories: 4 - Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus.
Most runner-up finishes: 6 - Phil Mickelson.
Largest margin of victory: 15 - Tiger Woods, 2000.
Past Australian champions: Geoff Ogilvy (2006), David Graham (1981).
Reuters, SMH
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