124th U.S. Open: Best players to watch for
Pinehurst No. 2 will host the U.S. Open for the fourth time in 2024 after 1999, 2005 and 2014.
At the age 54, Phil Mickelson is still in quest for completing his career grand slam (winning all four different majors: Masters, PGA, U.S. Open and British Open) after narrowly missing out the U.S. Open title six times; one of the most famous at Pinehurst 25 years ago in 1999, where Mickelson battled the late Payne Stewart for the title. When Mickelson and Stewart headed to the par 3 17th hole tied for the lead, Stewart landed his magnificent approach to the hole, resulting birdie for Stewart and par for Mickelson. Then at the par 4 18th hole, the 72nd hole of the tournament, Mickelson needed a birdie to win if Stewart bogeys the hole, or to force an 18-hole playoff* if Stewart pars the hole. However, Mickelson missed the putt as Stewart holed a par putt to win his 2nd U.S. Open title after 1991. After the putt, Mickelson and Stewart show their respect by congratulating each other. Stewart told Mickelson that if Stewart's gone (died 3 months later after his triumph) Mickelson must to win the U.S. Open 25 years after at Pinehurst. So this year (2024) could be the biggest chance for Mickelson to win the U.S. Open in a place where Stewart defeated Mickelson.
*18-hole playoff format was previously used in U.S. Open from 1895 until 2017 (with addition of further 18-hole playoff [pre-World War II] and a sudden death hole playoff [post-World War II onwards] if players still tied after the first playoff). Since 2018 onwards, all of the USGA championships began adopted a two-hole aggregate playoff, hence sudden-death hole playoff will be played if players still tied after the first aggregate playoff.
The 2020 Olympic gold medalist already won his first major in the PGA Championship at Vallahala last month. His best finish in U.S. Open came in 2019 when it was played at Pebble Beach, tied for third with 2021 champion Jon Rahm.
Scheffler began the season with the back-to-back wins at Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship in March. He followed his success with his victories at the Masters and RBC Heritage in April. Then on May 8, Scheffler and his wife Meredith welcomed the birth of their son together. His first win as a father came at the Memorial Tournament last Sunday. Winning the U.S. Open during Father's Day will be very special as because Scheffler already became a father; thus winning the U.S. Open would join him as the player to win Masters and U.S. Open in the same year, as Jack Nicklaus did in 1972 (Pebble Beach), Tiger Woods in 2002 (Bethpage Black) and Jordan Spieth in 2015 (Chambers Bay).
Rickie Fowler came to Pinehurst ten years ago among strong favorites to win the U.S. Open. However, difficult conditions failed him to win the title, losing eight strokes from German player Martin Kaymer. Last year in 2023 at Los Angeles Country Club, Fowler is among one of the strong contenders to win the title, however he came close yet again as he collapsed in the toughest holes on course and losing to Wyndham Clark. Can Fowler do a payback at U.S. Open this year at Pinehurst?
5. Rory McIlroy
McIlroy is the U.S. Open champion when he won the title in 2011 at Congressional. But his last U.S. Open appearances from 2018 prove that the Northern Irishman is still the tough contender despite losing. Can Rory won his 2nd U.S. Open at Pinehurst?
So who do you think will win the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst? Find out on Golf Channel and NBC, June 13-16th!
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