Fantasy Golf Preview: US Open

In the decades since the East Course at Merion Golf Club hosted its last major championship – the 1981 U.S. Open – the general thought was that golf at its highest level had outgrown the now-100-year-old venue.

Indeed, at 6,996 yards the par-70 layout is the first US Open venue to measure under 7,000-yards since Shinnecock Hills in 2004.

However, contours on fairways and greens will require a heightened sense of course management, and a risk-reward layout, including early par-5s at holes 2 and 4, and a seven-hole stretch from 7-13 where the longest is just 403-yards, means it isn’t a straightforward challenge.

While damp conditions, due to recent heavy rainfall, will slighlty decrease the need for driving accuracy, there is still alot of long grass that will lead to some second-guessing off the tees. To the most part though, ball-striking will be where the tournament is won and lost, with a tilt toward driving, as the greens average 6,000 square feet, which is about average for most American events.

Bearing that in mind, here’s our six man team for the triple points event:

Adam Scott (£3.8m)

Just his eighth start of the season. Scott’s victory at The Masters is one of five top-20s, the most recent of which is a T13 at Muirfield Village. If he logged enough rounds to qualify for official rankings, he’d sit second in adjusted scoring.

Matt Kuchar (£3.6m)

One of only two multiple winners on Tour this year. He chased a solo second at Colonial with a victory at the Memorial. Sits 13th in strokes gained-putting, fourth in adjusted scoring, T7 in par-4 scoring and fourth in par-5 scoring.

Graeme McDowell (£3.0m)

Two wins in last four starts, including the Volvo World Match Play Championship. He’s never missed a cut in the US Open with a win in 2010 and a T2 last year. He would also lead the PGA Tour fairways hit if he was eligible.

Charl Schwartzel (£3.0m)

The South African continues to go about his business quietly but successfully. His T8 at Muirfield Village was his 11th top-10 in his last 16 stroke-play starts worldwide. He ranks 15th in ball-striking, T9 in proximity and third in adjusted scoring.

Kevin Streelman (£0.8m)

16th in driving accuracy percentage, 22nd in greens in regulation percentage and 24th in total putts gained give Streelman a great foundation to succeed at Merion. He also ranks 8th for scoring average, 10th for total driving and has claimed a win and two other top-3 finishes this year.

Billy Horschel (£0.7m)

Horschel comes off a T10 in Memphis, his sixth top-10 of the year. Ranks 31st in fairways hit, 34th in GIR, 17th in strokes gained-putting, 10th in adjusted scoring and T7 in par-4 scoring.

You have until 11:45 BST on Thursday the 13th of June to change your team. See the full field here.