3 minute read
How the Australian hopefuls stack up with the leading contenders at this week's US Open Championship at New York's brutal Winged Foot course.
PLAYERS TO WATCH AT THE 2020 Open Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club starting Thursday night (AEST):
AUSTRALIANS
ADAM SCOTT
Age: 40
World ranking: 12
US PGA Tour wins: 14
Best finish in a major: win (2013 Masters)
US Opens played: 18 (10 cuts made)
Best US Open: T4 (2015)
Why he can win: Supreme ball-striker who won a PGA Tour event in February. Three top-10s in the past six major championships.
Why he might not: Has only played three US PGA Tour events since March.
JASON DAY
Age: 32
World ranking: 37
US PGA Tour wins: 12
Best finish in a major: win (2015 PGA Championship)
US Opens played: 9 (7 cuts made)
Best US Open: Second (2011, 2013)
Why he can win: Boasts a sublime short game and has two runner-ups and three other top-10s at the US Open.
Why he might not: Finished near bottom of the leaderboard at the BMW Championship last month at Olympia Fields, a similar venue to Winged Foot.
MARC LEISHMAN
Age: 36
World ranking: 22
US PGA Tour wins: 5
Best finish in a major: tied second (2015 Open Championship)
US Opens played: 8 (5 cuts made)
Best US Open: T18 (2016)
Why he can win: Great short game and won on the US PGA Tour in January at Torrey Pines and finished second at Bay Hill, two tough courses.
Why he might not: Has been in poor form since the US PGA Tour's June restart, missing four cuts from nine starts.
CAMERON SMITH
Age: 27
World ranking: 50
US PGA Tour wins: 2
Best finish in a major: tied fourth (2015 US Open)
US Opens played: 4 (3 cuts made)
Best US Open: T4 (2015)
Why he can win: Won on the US PGA Tour in January, has a lethal short game and enjoys difficult courses.
Why he might not: May not be accurate enough with the driver for Winged Foot's narrow fairways and thick rough.
LUCAS HERBERT
Age: 24
World ranking: 72
US PGA Tour wins: 0 (1 European Tour win)
Best finish in a major: tied 51st (2018 Open Championship)
US Opens played: 1 (0 cuts made)
Best US Open: MC (2018)
Why he can win: He's long off the tee and has a good short game. Won the European Tour's prestigious Dubai Desert Classic in January.
Why he might not: Has only played in a major four times and hasn't cracked the top 50.
CURTIS LUCK
Age: 24
World ranking: 375
US PGA Tour wins: 0
Best finish in a major: T46: 2017 Masters
US Opens played: 0
Why he can win: Won on the US PGA Tour's secondary circuit recently on a tough course in Ohio.
Why he might not: Is making his US Open debut and is only playing his second major championship.
MATT JONES
Age: 40
World ranking: 93
US PGA Tour wins: 1
Best finish in a major: tied 21st (2015 PGA Championship)
US Opens played: 4 (0 cuts made)
Best US Open: MC
Why he can win: Won his second Australian Open in December, straight hitter and has an incredible short game.
Why he might not: Has never cracked the top 20 at a major.
SCOTT HEND
Age: 47
World ranking: 340
US PGA Tour wins: 1
Best finish in a major: T32 (2006 US Open)
US Opens played: 3 (1 cut made)
Best US Open: T32 (2006)
Why he can win: Has won in different countries around the world and was in contention in the 2006 US Open at Winged Foot.
Why he might not: Has been out of form recently and missed several cuts on the European Tour's UK swing.
Lukas Michel (amateur)
Age: 27
World ranking: 1388
US PGA Tour wins: 0
Best finish in a major: debut
US Opens played: 0
Why he can win: Won the US Mid-Amateur Championship last year and seems comfortable in pro tournaments.
Why he might not: Making his major debut, so a lack of experience on golf's biggest stage.
BIG NAMES
TIGER WOODS (USA)
Age: 44
World ranking: 21
US PGA Tour wins: 82
Best finish in a major: win (5 Masters, 4 PGA Championships, 3 US Opens, 3 British Opens)
US Opens played: 21 (17 cuts made)
Best US Open: Win (2000, 2002, 2008)
Why he can win: Returned to the major winners' circle last year with a fifth Masters victory and 15th major title.
Why he might not: Has struggled in the limited number of tournaments he has played since February.
DUSTIN JOHNSON (USA)
Age: 36
World ranking: 1
US PGA Tour wins: 23
Best finish in a major: win (2016 US Open)
US Opens played: 12 (10 cuts made)
Best US Open: Win (2016)
Why he can win: The pre-tournament favourite is in winning form and captured the 2016 US Open at Oakmont.
Why he might not: Has struggled to produce his best on a Sunday at a major since he won in 2016.
RORY MCILROY (IRE)
Age: 31
World ranking: 4
US PGA Tour wins: 18
Best in a Major: win (2 PGA Championships, 1 US Open, 1 British Open)
US Opens played: 11 (6 cuts made)
Best US Open: Win (2011)
Why he can win: Is a past US Open winner and is formidable when hot with the driver.
Why he might not: Short game is likely not good enough to win the US Open at Winged Foot.
JON RAHM (ESP)
Age: 25
World ranking: 2
US PGA Tour wins: 4
Best finish in a major: tied third (2019 US Open)
US Opens played: 4 (2 cuts made)
Best US Open: T3 (2019)
Why he can win: In form and won the recent BMW Championship on Olympia Fields, a former US Open venue similar to Winged Foot.
Why he might not: Many believe the hot head has not yet developed the maturity to win a major.
