Major Swing: The U.S. Open Primer

06/15/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

The 2023 U.S. Open Features a New Venue, Massive Payout, McIlroy-Koepka Pairing & Plenty of PGA-LIV Chatter

“I can’t do this anymore.” That was Collin Morikawa’s statement on Wednesday to more questions about the PGA-LIV golf situation that continues to cast a cloud over golf. Players are exhausted. So are we. So, let’s focus on the sport (without the politics), shall we? The 2023 U.S. Open tees off this morning from a new venue at Los Angeles Country Club. The prize pool is the largest in PGA major history at $20 million. Here are the storylines we’re tracking as golf’s third major gets underway.

The LA Country Club

The host of this year’s U.S. Open is a first-time course on the major circuit. The Los Angeles Country Club has been a private and exclusive place of secrecy for professional golfers. Few in the L.A. public have even got a glimpse of the North Course while the South Course is partially visible from Santa Monica Boulevard. The LACC has never hosted a major or even a PGA Tour event, so it’ll be a new experience for most players. (Watch Course Video)

McIlroy vs. Koepka Should Be Box Office

Among the top storylines entering the U.S. Open are the pairings for the first two rounds. The PGA’s most outspoken player, Rory McIlroy, and the LIV juggernaut, Brooks Kopeka, are in the same group. It’s no secret the two don’t like each other, and it should make for some must-see TV today and tomorrow.

Past Winners

The recent champs of the U.S. Open are some of the biggest names in the game. Rory McIlroy (2011) won it more than a decade ago. Matthew Fitzpatrick (2022) is the defending champ, and Jon Rahm (2021) is always in contention. A trio of LIV players won the event from 2016-2020 — Bryson DeChambeau (2020), Brooks Koepka (2017 & 2018), and Dustin Johnson (2016). Jordan Spieth (2015) and Justin Rose (2013) are also competing past champs.

Odds to Win U.S. Open

S. Scheffler (+700), J. Rahm (+1000), B. Koepka (+1100), R. McIlroy (+1100), P. Cantlay (+1600), V. Hovland (+1600), X. Schauffele (+1800), J. Spieth (+2500) | Full List of Odds

Tee Times (1st Round)

7:40 AM: J. Thomas, S. Lowry, T. Fleetwood

7:40 AM: B. DeChambeau, F. Molinari, T. Hatton

8:02 AM: G. Woodland, A. Scott, C. Conners

8:02 AM: J. Rose, R. Fowler, J. Day

8:13 AM: C. Morikawa, M. Homa, S. Scheffler

8:13 AM: P. Reed, M. Kuchar, S. Woo Kim

8:24 AM: J. Rahm, V. Hovland, X. Schauffele

1:32 PM: C. Smith, M. Fitzpatrick, S. Bennett

1:32 PM: S. Burns, D. Johnson, K. Mitchell

1:43 PM: T. Finau, J. Spieth, P. Cantlay

1:54 PM: B. Koepka, H. Matsuyama, R. McIlroy

*All Times ET

ESPN: LA Country Club’s Mystery & Secrecy Extends to U.S. Open Players

Reuters: McIlroy & Koepka Grouped Together as PGA-LIV Battle Set to Continue

Yahoo! Sports: ‘Betrayal From Management’: Confusion Continues to Reign Over PGA-LIV Partnership

Photo: Andrew Redington / Getty Images