The second major of the year is upon us as 155 players battle it out to become the winner of the 118th US Open. The latest edition of the famous tournament takes place at one of America’s most historic golf courses, Shinnecock Hills (7,440-yard par 70), with New York’s Long Island venue hosting the event for a fifth time.
Below we take a look at five of the main contenders for glory.
Dustin Johnson
If you want a man in form, with a win in his last tournament, and previous success at the US Open, then look no further than World No.1 Dustin Johnson, who heads over to Shinnecock Hills as the 8/1 favourite to win the major for the second time in three years.
Johnson, who had previously lost his No.1 ranking to Justin Thomas, cruised to a six-shot victory at the St Jude Classic a few days ago meaning he’s once again at the summit of the rankings. It was a superb display of golf from DJ, with his final shot at TPC Southwind a simply stunning eagle on the 18th.
But, while DJ represents a deserved frontrunner in the betting, the strength and depth of the US Open field means that the 33-year-old is probably a tad too short on this occasion. While it’s worth noting that no one has ever won the US Open after winning the week before.
Justin Rose
Another former US Open champion (2013) that features prominently in the betting is Justin Rose, who can be backed at 16/1 to finish top of the pile once again.
Mr Consistent was victorious at last month's Fort Worth Invitational, which he followed up with a 6th place standing at Memorial. The Englishman has also enjoyed strong showings at this year's Arnold Palmer Invitational (3rd), the Valspar Championship (5th), while he was 12th at the Masters.
Furthermore, he’s remarkably only finished outside the top-23 in one tournament since the 2017 PGA Championship, which took place back in August.
Justin Thomas
It’s impossible to draw up a list of major contenders and not include Justin Thomas, who is priced at 16/1. The American will be looking to once again become the world’s top player - a status he held for four weeks before Johnson came along and snatched it back last weekend.
Thomas, who won his maiden major last year, takes to the tee alongside Johnson and Tiger Woods on Thursday in what will be his fourth appearance at the US Open.
The 2017 FedEx Cup winner and Player of the Year finished 9th last time out - he smashed a joint-record 63 in the third round - and it would surprise absolutely no one if the eight-time tour winner was to be among the main contenders at Shinnecock Hills come Sunday.
Phil Mickelson
No player deserves a US Open triumph more than Phil Mickelson who has finished 2nd in no fewer than a staggering six US Open events - most recently five years ago at Merion, while back in 2004 he was runner-up at a certain Shinnecock Hills.
It’s the only major absent from Lefty’s bulging trophy cabinet, but the 30/1 shot heads to New York on the back of some decent results this season, with the 47-year-old - who turned 48 on Saturday - carving out a long overdue win in March's WGC Mexico, and he's since finished 5th at Wells Fargo, while has back-to-back top-15 finishes in his last two tournaments.
Few would begrudge Mickelson completing an historic Career Grand Slam as he bids to join the six other players - including Tiger Woods - to achieve this stunning feat.
The man himself had this to say about this year’s tournament:
"I think that this year’s US Open has the greatest setup going that I have seen in my 25 years of playing the US Open.
“I think that it will reward the best player as opposed to having luck be a big element on some of the bounces in the fairway, bounces around the green, how it comes out of the rough, [and] so forth. Skill is going to be the primary factor.”
Tommy Fleetwood
Tommy Fleetwood’s star has sparkled brightly throughout the last 18 months. The Englishman now has a number of tour wins under his belt, including this year’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, while he was crowned the 2017 Race to Dubai champion.
The 27-year-old is now understandably eager to add a maiden major trophy to his ever-growing collection of honours.
If we rewind to last year’s US Open, Fleetwood carded an impressive T4 at Erin Hills, which followed a 27th place standing on his tournament debut at Chambers Bay the year before.
Fleetwood, a tasty 45/1 shot for glory, is buzzing to get started, and in the build-up told Sky Sports:
"I enjoy a test where it's just grinding away at you all day, you never get to switch off. I do like those type of events.”
Meanwhile, he could be worth a look at 4/1 to finish as the Top English Player, and 12/1 to be the Top European.
