Updated at 10.30
SPANIARD JON RAHM is braced for a tricky US Open campaign after describing Erin Hills as a “course on steroids”.
Golf’s best will descend on Milwaukee for this week’s US Open — which promises to offer a demanding test at the gargantuan Wisconsin course.
Erin Hills will play more than 7,700 yards as Dustin Johnson bids to defend his crown, starting Thursday.
Rahm was the best-placed amateur last year — eventually finishing tied for 23rd — and while some players have criticised the lay-out, the 22-year-old is looking forward to the challenge.
“I feel like it’s a course that, for what I’ve seen online it’s a little bit — it’s like a links golf course on steroids, everything is a little bigger,” Rahm – who claimed his maiden PGA Tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open in January – said.
“What I do believe, but I think at the US Open, they expect our best. It’s big greens, big slopes, you have to be able to lag putt.
“With all the slopes going off the green, you might miss the green by three feet, roll off to 30 feet and being able to putt those, or even if you want to bump, run, chip it close, it’s going to be important.
“We saw that at Pinehurst. It worked out pretty well that week. And they’re probably doing the same thing. This is a different golf course. I do believe having that feel for low putts is very important.”
Rahm added: “It’s real easy to see it’s not the usual US Open golf course, the US Open classic set-up.
“It’s more similar to Chambers Bay. And actually I absolutely love the golf course. It’s a very long golf course; big greens, a little different to what it usually plays or last year played. I thought it was a lot of fun.
“I enjoyed the golf course a lot. It gives you a lot of opportunities to hit the pin. You can be really creative. And I believe it will be a really fun week.”
An earlier version of this article mistakenly identified Henrik Stenson as the defending champion, when it is in fact Dustin Johnson.
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You sure it’s Stenson who’s the defending champ this week??
@David O’ Sullivan: is it not Dustin Johnson defending.
@David O’ Sullivan: well spotted baker
Accuracy is key this weekend so Jim Furyk is great bet in my opinion ranked 5th in accuracy this year in the PGA also came 2nd last year in this competition and won this major in the past. He’s 200/1
@Irishoversea: Course is a bit long for Furtk at 7700 yards id say
@800yearsofoppresion: yeah in terms of distance he’s last but now I said him I have to back him. Along with Kaymer, Folwer, Lowry and Koepka
@800yearsofoppresion: They made a decision last night to mostly use front tees.Even at that length it shouldn’t be a problem for him,his iron(long irons) play is deadly accurate when he’s playing well
@Irishoversea: sure back half the field while you’re at it
Rickie Fowler has to be a good pick this week
@Paul Mckenna: missed the cut last week mate.
@adrian brogan: granted,but that aside he’s tee to green game I think is ideal for this week long/straight and one of the best putters on tour which by all accounts your going to have to be this week
@Paul Mckenna: my initial thoughts were Fowler. I had money on him for The Masters, could have cashed out but thought he had what it takes to win. I was more impressed by his short game / putting stats leading in to Augusta than anything else. Looking at the modern game, form is everything. Players tend to get on a hot streak for a couple of months contend in numerous tournaments and then go cold. Take for example Matsuyama and Justin Thomas. For me you need a player showing form. Who else do you see contending?
@adrian brogan: to be honest our own man Shane Lowry has the game too,it’s just can he put 4 rounds together,if he can he might not be far away, I hope
Schwartzel for my main bet and Jordan Niebrugge as an outsider, local lad who had played around this track more than most in the field.