US Open 2022: Everything you need to know about a major like no other

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US Open 2022: Everything you need to know about a major like no other

Rory McIlroy says Bryson DeChambeau and his fellow LIV Golf Series defectors took the easy way out. The American called his move “a business decision,” and a difficult one at that.

Welcome to the build-up to a major like no other, when almost none of the pre-tournament talk has centred on the next four days at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

The 2020 champion DeChambeau, who as recently as 10 days ago had said he was sticking with the PGA Tour, offered his first comments about his change of heart this week after a practice round.

“At the end of the day, it’s a business decision for my family’s future,” he said. “And it gave me a lot more free time.”

The big-hitting 28-year-old, who has been hampered by a hand injury for most of this year, says the money he will get for playing the series will also help him build his charitable foundation. DeChambeau is unmarried and has no children.

Much as Phil Mickelson had in an earlier news conference, DeChambeau didn’t want to delve into the politics of where the money is coming from — the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia — or how the PGA Tour will react to his decision. Like Mickelson, DeChambeau has not surrendered his tour card.

Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Cameron Smith, Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau.

Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Cameron Smith, Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau.Credit:AP/Getty

“It’s not my decision to make,” he said about his future on the PGA Tour, where he has $26.3 million in career earnings and eight of his 10 worldwide victories.

DeChambeau is scheduled to make his LIV series debut next month in Portland, Oregon. He said the decision to play on the Saudi-backed tour was one that he did not take lightly.

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“Very difficult,” he said. “It’s been weighing on everyone out here for the last couple of years.”

The PGA Championship, held last month at Oklahoma’s Southern Hills and won by Justin Thomas, is the only one of golf’s four majors overseen by the PGA. That means DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia and Mickelson are free to play at Brookline despite last week’s announcement that defectors would be banned from the tour. Here’s everything else you need to know about the year’s third major.

Cameron Smith’s best US Open finish is tied fourth in 2015.

Cameron Smith’s best US Open finish is tied fourth in 2015.Credit:Getty

WHEN IS THE US OPEN?

The tournament will be held from late Thursday, June 16 until Monday, June 20 (AEST).

WHERE IS IT?

The Country Club plays host to the tournament for the fourth time.

Curtis Strange won the first of back-to-back titles by beating Nick Faldo in a play-off in 1988, while Julius Boros (1963) and Francis Ouimet (1913) had previously tasted victory on the historic course.

HOW CAN I WATCH?

Fox Sports 3 will have live coverage from 1am-11am Friday and Saturday and 2pm-12pm Sunday and Monday.

WHO IS THE DEFENDING CHAMPION?

Jon Rahm won his first major at Torrey Pines last year and became the first player to birdie the last two holes to win by the US Open by one shot.

Jon Rahm celebrates his breakthrough major victory at Torrey Pines last year.

Jon Rahm celebrates his breakthrough major victory at Torrey Pines last year.Credit:AP

He was one shot behind when he made birdie putts of 25 feet on the 17th and 18 feet on the final hole. The victory came two weeks after Rahm had a six-shot lead through 54 holes at the Memorial and had to withdraw because of a positive COVID-19 test.

Louis Oosthuizen, who drove into a canyon on the 17th hole and made bogey, was runner-up for the sixth time in a major.

IS TIGER PLAYING?

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Tiger Woods has decided not to play this year to rest his injured right leg. He has missed five of the last 10 US Opens.

WHO IS IN THE AUSTRALIAN CONTINGENT?

Seven Aussies will fly the flag with Cameron Smith leading the charge. The Queenslander opens his campaign at 3.25am Friday in an all-star group with dual champion Brooks Koepka and world No.1 and Masters champion Scottie Scheffler. Adam Scott is the first to get under way at 9.29pm Thursday, followed by Marc Leishman (10.02pm) with the remainder in the afternoon wave. Jed Morgan follows at 2.30am Friday before Min Woo Lee (3.25am), Lucas Herbert (4.09am) and Todd Sinnott (4.31am) begin their tournaments.

WHO IS THE FAVOURITE?

Rory McIlroy heads the Sportsbet market at $11, edging Justin Thomas at $13 with Rahm and Scheffler on the next line at $15. Smith is the best-fancied Australian, paying $21 to break his major duck.

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