The stage is set for the third Major of the season, the 124th US Open, with the action at Pinehurst Number Two course in Moore County, North Carolina beginning on Thursday.
Pinehurst last staged this tournament in 2014, when German Martin Kaymer produced a Tiger Woods-esque performance to win by eight shots on -9, but he was just one of three players to shoot under-par that week and scoring here is historically tough.
American Payne Stewart landed the spoils in 1999 on -1, the only player to be under-par, while New Zealand's Michael Campbell shot level-par to lift the trophy in 2005.
The Number Two course is a test like no other and, while the fairways are slightly more generous than usually seen at a US Open, hardpan sand and native scrub border the fairways instead of thick rough, there are huge run-offs around the greens and the undulating putting surfaces increase the difficulty.
World number one Scottie Scheffler landed his fifth title of the year at last week's Memorial Tournament, adding to his Arnold Palmer Invitational, Players Championship, Masters and RBC Heritage victories, and he is the hot favourite in North Carolina.
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy will be eager to end a decade wait for a fifth Major and he arrives in solid form, winning the Wells Fargo Championship and following that up with finishes of T12, T4 and T15 on his next three starts.
Norwegian Viktor Hovland has rediscovered his mojo after a poor start to the season and, after finishing third at last month's US PGA, he will be hoping to get in the mix again.
Sweden's Ludvig Aberg will be making his US Open debut and he has had a mixed start to Major life, clinching second on his first Masters start in April before missing the PGA cut in May. It will be interesting to see how one of the hottest talents in golf takes to this Pinehurst test.
COLIN MORIKAWA TO WIN EACH-WAY
SUNGJAE IM TO WIN EACH-WAY
COREY CONNORS TO WIN EACH-WAY
TOURNAMENT WINNING MARGIN - 1 STROKE
Morikawa Primed For Third Major
While Scheffler, McIlroy and reigning US PGA champion Xander Schauffele will have their backers this week, there looks to be more value in backing Collin Morikawa to land his third Major.
The 27-year-old American enjoyed a sensational start to his professional career when turning pro in 2019, winning the Barracuda Championship in July of that year before landing the Workday Charity Open in July 2020.
His first Major triumph came at the 2020 PGA Championship and, after winning the 2021 WGC-Workday Championship, the US star added the Claret Jug to his trophy cabinet with his 2021 Open win.
After clinching his sixth PGA Tour title at the 2023 Zozo Championship, Morikawa's form was hit-and-miss in the 2024 campaign with missed cuts at the Farmers Insurance Open and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
However, a tied-third finish in April's Masters has reignited his season and his form has been solid since that Augusta outing.
In his five stars since Georgia, the two-time Major winner has posted results of ninth, T16, T4 (PGA Championship), fourth and second and it would be a huge surprise if he were not to contend this week.
Morikawa's laser-like approach play that helped him to so much early success has been in full swing over the past couple of months and that bodes well heading to a course that demands precision.
The world number seven's short game has also been in good supply of late, further enhancing his claims, while his last three US Open appearances have seen him finish T4, T5 and T14.
COLIN MORIKAWA TO WIN EACH-WAY
Sungjae Im Back In The Groove
Having turned professional in 2015, Sungjae Im has long looked like a Major champion in waiting and he has particularly impressed at the Masters, finishing tied-second in 2020 and T8 in 2022.
A two-time PGA Tour winner, the South Korean started the season strongly with a T5 at The Sentry but his form nosedived over the next couple of months, with a T18 his best result from his next 10 starts.
In need of a boost, the world number 30 successfully defended his Woori Financial Group Championship title on the Korean Tour and that performance has sparked him into life, with finishes of T4-MC-T9 and T8 posted on the US circuit since.
Sungjae's approach play has been stellar over the last few weeks and that stands him in good stead for this trip to North Carolina, a state he has banked five top-10 finishes in from nine tournaments.
Conners Can Get In The Mix
There are not many more accurate on the PGA Tour than Corey Conners, who is third in greens in regulation and second in strokes gained: approach-the-green, and his precision can help him contend for a maiden Major.
It is almost incomprehensible that the Canadian has failed to make the cut in all five of his previous US Open appearances, but he looks capable of changing that statistic and putting himself in the mix for glory.
The world number 46 has been bubbling along nicely in recent weeks, recording finishes of T13, T26, sixth and T20 in his last four starts, and another strong showing is expected.
Tight Pinehurst Battle Expected
With so much talent on show and the course expected to play extremely difficult, it's unlikely one player will run away with this and a narrow winning margin could be the cards.
The last three editions of the US Open have all been decided by one shot and there looks to be every chance this bet can land for the fourth year in a row.
TOURNAMENT WINNING MARGIN - 1 STROKE
