The third Major Championship of the 2021 Race to Dubai campaign is already upon us as the great and good of world golf travel to Torrey Pines in California for the U.S. Open, where Bryson DeChambeau defends his title.
A European conquest
The European Tour’s mini Order of Merit which ran from the Betfred British Masters Hosted by Danny Willett through Made in Himmerland presented by FREJA and finished at the Porsche European Open, has thrown up some incredible storylines for the third Major of the season at Torrey Pines.
Among them, Marcus Armitage makes his debut in a US-based Major Championship this week, having claimed an emotional victory at the Porsche European Open to make a late charge up the Order of Merit rankings and seal a U.S. Open berth.
The Englishman, who welled up after his victory in Germany and dedicated it to his late mother, is a popular figure on Tour for his sharp sense of humour and bubbly personality but he will be hoping he can let his game do the talking in California this week.
Another fascinating storyline during the three qualifying events was Richard Bland’s Betfred British Masters triumph, on his 498th appearance on the European Tour. His win made waves across sport as an example to anyone who may be considering giving up on their dreams.
Bland is making his second U.S. Open appearance, his first came in 2008, and will enter the week with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Edoardo Molinari, meanwhile, will return to the U.S. Open for the first time in ten years and we will no doubt receive a special welcome as a former U.S. Amateur Champion. Molinari will join his brother – former Open Champion Francesco – as one of two pairs of brothers in the field, alongside Carlos and Alvaro Ortiz.
Pole position to make history
Also among the qualifiers to this year’s U.S. Open through the European Tour’s mini Order of Merit is Adrian Meronk, who will make history this week.
The towering Pole will become the first player in history from his home nation to appear at one of men’s golf Major Championships.
The 28-year-old has been blazing a trail for Polish golf in recent years, becoming the first from his home country to win on the Challenge Tour and then to become a European Tour member.
Meronk has been enjoying his time on the European Tour of late, claiming third place finishes at the Betfred British Masters and the Tenerife Open last month. An East Tennesse State University alumnus, the Hamburg-born player will leave his mark on the global game this week, regardless of his result.
Bryson and Brooks
A lot has been spoken of regarding these two American superstars in recent weeks, but it would be remiss not to bring the focus back to their respective games and chances heading into an event which has brought them both their maiden Major titles.
Brooks Koepka’s recent record in the U.S. Open Championship is something to behold. The four-time Major winner missed out in 2020 due to injury but in the three editions prior to that his form book at the U.S. Open read win-win-runner-up.
The 31-year-old will be eager to impress this week and, following a win earlier in the year at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and runner-up finishes at the WGC-Workday Championship and US PGA Championship, the Major specialist surely cannot be overlooked among the favourites this week.
DeChambeau, however, has the honour of returning as the defending champion. The golf world was abuzz after his stunning six-stroke triumph at Winged Foot last September and the big-hitting World Number Five also has a win under his belt already this year, at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
There is no doubting the fanfare that will surround this due at Torrey Pines and, off-course hype aside, they look well-placed to be centre of attention for all the right reasons.
Staying classy, San Diego
Torrey Pines plays host to just its second U.S. Open Championship this week and the winner come Sunday will put himself alongside one of the greatest players of all time, Tiger Woods – the winner of the 2008 edition at the San Diego venue.
The spectacular cliffside venue is a municipal golf course, owned by the City of San Diego and accessible to the public. It is located just beside the University of California – where 2014 Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley played his collegiate golf – and close to where the most recent men’s Major winner Phil Mickelson went to high school.
The venue is named after the Torrey Pine tree which is synonymous with the San Diego coastline and it was built on the site of a U.S. Army base during World War II – opening in 1957.
Torrey Pines has since the 1960s been a regular fixture on the PGA Tour schedule, hosting the Farmers Insurance Open. European Tour Member Patrick Reed emerged victorious in the 2021 edition in January with a five-stroke winning margin, while Justin Rose (2019), Jon Rahm (2017) and José María Olazábal (2002) are the only European winners of the historic event.
Phil’s homecoming
Phil Mickelson provided one of the greatest stories in recent golfing history when the American roared to a sixth Major Championship title at the US PGA Championship.
The 51-year-old became the oldest Major winner in history at Kiawah Island with a peerless and fearless display, and this week he returns to his home city where he will no doubt receive a rapturous welcome.
To add to the excitement, the man they call ‘Lefty’ would complete a career Grand Slam if he were to win this week, joining a prestigious list of golf legends - Gene Sarazen, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
This may be Mickelson’s last chance after many near-misses in this event. With the crowd behind him, could we witness another piece of golf history this week?
