Illustration photo – England's Matt Fitzpatrick became the winner of the golf US Open on the course in Brookline on June 19, 2022, and won the first title from the tournament of the major category and the first triumph from the American PGA Tour.
Los Angeles – The 123rd edition of the US Open, the third of four golf majors of the year, will take place in Los Angeles from Thursday to Sunday. It will be the first major tournament since the surprise announcement of a deal between the traditional PGA Tour and the rival LIV Series. Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick will try to defend last year's triumph, according to the bookmakers, the old world number one American Scottie Scheffler is the biggest favorite.
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The Los Angeles Country Club hosts the US Open for the first time, and the golf major will return to the “City of Angels” after 75 years. The tournament has a $17.5 million endowment, of which the winner takes home $3.15 million.
Last week, the PGA Tour, Europe's DP World Tour and the controversial LIV Series shocked the golf world with the news of upcoming merger. The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), which now finances LIV, will enter the new joint project as capital. This raised criticism and great uncertainty among the players as well.
“It was easier last year because I was just thinking about the US Open and golf. I don't know what's going on and I don't think anyone does. Are we going to sign with PIF now or not? I really have no idea,” Fitzpatrick said at the press conference. “I'd like to believe it's the best thing for all of us, but I think a lot of people see it as a bit of a betrayal from the leadership,” said Jon Rahm.
The Spanish champion of the April Masters finished the second PGA Championship major of the year in a tie for 50th place. Scheffler, who has never won the US Open, returned to the top of the world rankings instead. Rahm, the second biggest favorite, did it the year before.
May's PGA Championship was dominated by Brooks Koepka. The American player LIV did not comment much on the agreement of the competing circuits. “I didn't pay much attention to it. I was preparing for this week. There are four weeks in the year that I really care about, and this is one of them. I want to play my best here,” said Koepka.
He has already won the US Open twice in 2017 and 2018. If he succeeds in Los Angeles as well, he will become the third three-time US Open and PGA Championship winner after the legends Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. The 47-year-old Woods will miss his second major in a row due to rehabilitation after ankle surgery in April on a problematic leg, which he almost lost after a serious car accident in February 2021.
World No. 3 Rory McIlroy, who is the last of he won his four majors nine years ago. He didn't make the cut at the Masters this year and finished tied for seventh at the PGA Championship. The Northern Irish golfer won the US Open in 2011.
