Scheffler, McIlroy, DeChambeau to battle for U.S. Open golf title

 Scottie Scheffler, who has cemented himself as the preeminent force in golf, enters this week’s U.S. Open seeking the third leg of a career Grand Slam while Rory McIlroy hopes to reclaim his major magic and Bryson DeChambeau eyes a repeat title.

World number one Scheffler has three wins in his last four starts, in­cluding last month’s PGA Champion­ship, and is clear favorite at Oakmont Country Club where his driving pro­ficiency, elite short game and patient approach could be the difference.

Oakmont, arguably the toughest course in the United States, is a quint­essential U.S. Open venue given its penalising rough, narrow fairways and nerve-testing greens that many expect will ultimately result in a winning score above par.

The physical and mental grind expected this week could open the door for three-time major champion Scheffler, who tends to be in conten­tion wherever he tees it up given his unflappable temperament and exact­ing style that can wear down a field

Northern Ireland’s McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam of golf’s four majors at the Masters in April but at the PGA Championship he finished well out of contention while using a back-up driver after his preferred one failed a conformity test.

Now the world number two, fresh off a missed cut at the Canadian Open, will get another crack at an event where he has endured his fair share of heartbreak in recent years.

At the 2024 U.S. Open, where the Northern Irishman was seeking his first major triumph in a decade, McIlroy bogeyed three of his final four holes and finished runner-up for a second consecutive year.

DeChambeau, looking to become the event’s first repeat winner since Brooks Koepka in 2018, has become a regular force at golf’s biggest events and with five top-six finishes across the last six majors he should be in the mix this week.

The big-hitting DeChambeau, who this year briefly held the final-round lead at the Masters and finished runner-up at the PGA Championship, has become one of the games biggest draws due partly to his eponymous YouTube channel.

His willingness to embrace fans when he is in contention for the game’s biggest prizes could him to a third major title as he defends his crown, having also won the U.S. Open in 2020.

Among some of the other notables in the 156-player field at Oakmont are Spaniard Jon Rahm, British Open champion Xander Schauffele and Swede Ludvig Aberg.

A stern test awaits at Oakmont which is hosting a U.S. Open for a record 10th time and first since 2016.

Accuracy off the tee will be para­mount given the penal rough lining Oakmont’s narrow fairways that lead to greens that could be the fastest play­ers compete on all year. —Reuters