This year’s tournament will be the 118th U.S. Open Championship, and is to be held at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. Brooks Koepka is the defending Champion from last year’s tournament but has been blighted by a wrist injury since January which caused him to miss The Masters at Augusta. He’s since returned, and played in the Zurich Classic but is yet to find the form of 2017 which saw him win his first Major. The last 3 winners have all come from the United States but there will be strong European Contenders hoping to take the title back with them

 Meet the Defending Champion –

Brooks Koepka

Brooks won his first major at Erin Hills in the 2017 U.S. Open. His win tied him for the record of the lowest U.S. Open score at 16 under. Renowned for his long distance from the tee, Brooks will be looking to add a second major in what’s been a difficult 2018 for him. He’s battled a wrist injury but looks to be coming back to form ahead of his title defence.

Who are the big contenders?

Webb Simpson – U.S. Open Champion back in 2012, and fresh from victory at TPC Sawgrass at The Players Championship. Webb Simpson looks to have discovered his form ahead of the 2018 U.S. Open. He’s had his indifferences with the putter since the “belly putter” was outlawed but she showed no glitches in his putting at Sawgrass recently. His round of 63 on the Friday equalled the course record and gave him a 5 shot lead heading into the weekend. If Simpson, can produce that kind of form, then he is certainly not to be ruled out.

Tiger Woods – A three times Champion and since coming back from injury at the start of 2018, has shown fans glimpses of his best. His driving still looks inconsistent but his short game has looked back to the Tiger of old. It is perhaps the putter which has most let him down but a third round 65 at TPC recently showed fans just what can happen if he’s in the mood. He certainly isn’t one to be discounted.

Justin Thomas – The new World #1, after a top 15 finish at TPC Sawgrass. Thomas is also the reigning FEDEX Champion. In 2017, he really rose to fame, winning four PGA Tour events. Having recently got to World #1, he will be motivated to add a second Major to his collection and retain his place at the top of golf’s elite. He has eight PGA Tour wins in total, and many believe he will become a multiple Major Champion in his career.

Patrick Reed – Winner of Golf’s First Major of the year,  Patrick Reed will be on the hunt at Shinnecock Hills to add to his victory at Augusta. Reed is a described as an arrogant individual and stories of a family feud broke soon after his Master’s win. He is however, a gritty and determined individual who believes in his own ability to win tournaments. He is very good with the putter, as we saw in the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, and in his Master’s win, he showed the skill to master Augusta’s greens. Reed will be one to watch and if he gets in front, it could be hard to stop the American claiming his second Major.

Other players who will be looking to contend include Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Alex Norren. This is one of the strongest fields we have seen in recent U.S. Open History and it’s possible we could see some record scores.

Pro Shop Predictions

Duncan Lambert – “Dustin Johnson”

Michael Townsend – “Alex Norren”

Christopher Wood – “Justin Rose”

George Woollaston – ‘”Rickie Fowler”

COMPETITION TIME

As usual we will be running our Major Competition within the Pro Shop. To enter, simply email your player and their winning score by Thursday . Entries close after the first tee off time. The winner will receive a ‘FREE 30 Minute Golf Lesson’ from one of our resident PGA Professionals. Good Luck. Please email entries to info@duncanlambertgolf.com