The US Open, a ‘Major’ as a ‘truce’ of golf conflict in LIV

The Country Club is hosting the US Open this Thursday for the fourth time in its history34 years later, a Major returns to this very special course, one of the five founding clubs of the U.S. Golf Association, and it won’t be difficult for the nostalgic to recognize such a characteristic area, as it continues to offer narrow fairway, small vegetables. and a very technical route.

This return to the traditional with this historic and charismatic course is in contrast to the new airs that are reaching the world of golf, and that is the starting signal, last weekend in London, of the LIV Golf Series, only heightened controversy and exchange of statements between those who support it and those who remain in the classical system.

The last time the US Open was played on this course in Massachusetts was in 1988. It was still six years before Jon Rahm was born. The one from Barrika is starting with the favorites and wants to repeat last year’s good feeling in San Diego and retain his title.

As he found them, he took advantage of these days of training at Brookline to clarify his position as one of the defenders of the PGA Tour in his statements about the LIV Golf Series: “Three days for me is not a golf tournament, and no court. It’s that easy. I want to play against the best in the world in a format that has existed for hundreds of years. ” Rahm is straightforward about the new Saudi model, as he did before.

He also spoke clearly when referring to why some of his teammates chose to leave the PGA Tour. “Big money but I won’t change my lifestyle if I earn $ 400 million. I will change nothing. I can retire now from what I have done and live a happy life and never play golf again. Actually, I have never played for financial reasons. I do it for the love of this sport. “

Aside from the aforementioned Jon Rahm, the bet puts Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy as the top favorite, who came to Brookline after winning the RBC Canadian Open last weekend, completing a spectacular final day on Sunday with up to ten ‘birdies’. If his inspiration lasts in Toronto starting this Thursday, there is no doubt that he will be the number one favorite to lift the trophy and, perhaps, the most fit golfer to date.

Three more names complete the list of candidates who will be champions in this edition. One of them is Justin Thomas, who aims to expand his Majors collection this season after his PGA Championship victory in Tulsa, as well as a Scottie Scheffler who slightly lowered his performance but will always be considered for the final victory due to his status as number one in the world. Not to forget how well American Brooks Koepka always competed in the US Open, a tournament he had already championed in 2017 and will repeat on several occasions.

Besides favorites and in the absence of Tiger Woods, the spotlight is on legendary names like Phil Mickelson or the American Dustin Johnson, always expected despite not passing his best level of play or confidence. A total of 156 players complete the starting card in these first two rounds on Thursday and Friday.

The representation of Spanish -speaking golfers is quite large, for a total of seven players, who will try to emulate the work of the two so far, They signed ‘in Spanish’ the first place of the tournament, Ángel Cabrera (2007, in Oakmont, Pennsylvania) and Jon Rahm (2021, in Torrey Pines, California).

Aside from the fact that one from Barrika could repeat, the one that stands out in the predictions is Chilean Mito Pereira, who points to a possible revelation after up to eight tournaments this year in the top 25. At 27 years old, he has completed three tournaments in the top ten.

The Spanish representation was completed, with the first goal of passing the cut, Sergio García (55 in the world) and Adri Arnaus (53).