Golf Talk With Greg Holman – #82

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The US Open will competed at the Country Club in Brookline, Mass. this weekend. There will be no Tiger Woods. Tiger needs more time to recuperate from injury. Brooks Koepka will be the only multi-time champion in the field. Some of the players that are sure to be a threat include one time US Open champions Jon Rahm, Bryson Dchambeau, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy. World number one Scottie Scheffler will be in the field. Justin Thomas is another who is fresh off a win and will be looking to add a Major to his resume.

The US Open is always competed during Father’s Day Weekend and this year’s venue will be a tough test with its tight fairways and tiny greens. Rory is my pick to hoist the open trophy on Sunday, and he is the Vegas Oddsmakers pick to win at 10-1 odds. Thomas, Scheffler and Rahm are all at 12-1. Cameron Smith is 14-1 and Spieth is 20-1. My second pick Collin Morikawa is 22-1 to win along with Xander Schauffele and Will Zalatoris.

The #1 handicap hole at the country club is #4, a 497 yard par 4 brute featuring a blind tee shot. The perfect drive would travel over the hill on the right while staying inside the tree line. Par would be a great score there.

The first hole is no pushover because of its length… 495 par 4. It’s pretty flat though. The fairway used to be a race track for horses.

#2 is a challenging 220 yard par 3 that the members actually play as a par 4 from 290.

One of the signature holes is #3, a 504 yard par 4 with a crooked hourglass fairway which is just a few paces wide at its narrowest point.

Hole four is a par 5 for the members, but 497 par 4 in this tournament with a green that slopes severely from back to front. Three putts or worse will be common if the pin is placed in the front of the green.

The first par 5 on the course is #8. At 567 yards it should be an eagle chance.

Hole ten is nicknamed Himalayas because the green is built up onto a steep sloping hill. It’s a par 5 for the members but will be one of the longest par 4s in Major Championship golf in this US Open at 513 yards.

The 14th is the second and last of the par 5s on the course… a long 625 yards. The last 100 yards is uphill making it difficult to reach in two.

After a 211 yard par 3 16th hole, the two closing holes could be manageable and provide some fireworks. #17 is only 370 yards and 18 is 455 yards and par 4. You may remember this course from the 1999 Ryder Cup or the movie The Greatest Game Ever Played. It has a little bit of everything but no doubt will be a challenging course for the greatest golfers in the world.

If you’re like me and elect to play yourself instead of watch. Hit ’em straight!