2015 United States Open

2014 Champion: Martin Kaymer (-9) (photo credit)

Course:

Chambers Bay is the first course in the state of Washington to host our National Championship. The par-70 course is poised to play between 7,200 and 7,600 yards and features the three longest par-4s in US Open History. Those three holes being #14 (546 yards), the #11 (537 yards), and #13 (534 yards) which make’s for Sunday’s Back Nine to be full of drama. You’ll hear (and probably have heard plenty of times already) that this course will be playing like a British Open course because of the droughts on the West Coast as well as the open, links-style of the course’s desgin. The course in fact has only one tree on the grounds behind the 15th green–which is why #15 is named “Lone Fir.”

TV Coverage:

Thursday and Friday: 12-8pm on Fox Sports 1
8-11pm on Fox
Saturday: 2-10pm on Fox
Sunday: 2-10:30pm on Fox

You read that right, primetime golf on FOX!

The Field:

The Field includes 156 golfers with 84 Americans–I’m only including the number of American players because this is, of course, our National Championship–and 13 past champions with the last 10 champs automatically qualifying.

Storylines:

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room now: Tiger. Man I really hope Tiger plays well but he has regressed a ton since the Masters. It could get tough at times so if you’re hoping Tiger pulls this out, be warned now. Rory McIlory is the odds-on favorite (as per usual for my boy) but it’ll be interesting to see how his back-and-forth across the Atlantic adventures will treat his play–during said adventures it hasn’t gone well. Rickey Fowler has jumped into the mix after a string of close finishes at the past few majors and the big win at the Players last month. Masters Champion Jordan Speith is in all kinds of talks considering his play since his first major victory. And of course there’s Phil–Phil Mickelson looks to become the sixth man in the Master-Era to complete the career Grand Slam and everyone thinks this style of course can finally push him over that hump of second place.

Predictions:

The Cut: +5

Winning Score: -3

The Champion:

I love the British Open comparisons of this course, I really do. I think it makes for an awesome experience–in primetime–for everyone, hardcore and casual fans alike. As much as I think it would be cool to see Jordan get halfway through the Slam, and as much as I want and will be cheering on Rory, it’s hard to believe Phil isn’t going to come alive. If the 2013 British Open didn’t make you believe, just remember he is the master of wedge play. The soft touch he can put on the ball may make the difference on these ultra-lightning-fast greens at Chambers Bay. But like any US Open, it’s not going to be easy.

Disagree? Let me know in the comments below.

(cover photo courtesy of)