The US Open gets under way at Erin Hills on Thursday June 15, with the world's best golfers bidding for glory at the daunting Erin Hills course.
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David John's round one preview
US Open tee times
Sky Bet paying 8 places: Outsiders to follow
Erin Hills course guide
Here, we profile a selection of the leading contenders for glory and their odds with Sky Bet, who are paying eight places for the second major of the season.
With that offer in mind, we've also picked out five big-priced players below who could be good value to sneak into that top eight - and possibly even win!
Dustin Johnson
Sky Bet odds: 7/1
World ranking: 1
DOB: 22nd June 1984
Nationality: American
Major wins: 1 (US Open 2016)
The world number one has already notched three titles in 2017 en route to the summit of the sport's rankings but his form has cooled a little in the past month.
He suffered a missed cut last time out at The Memorial Tournament following an opening 78 but a week off to iron out any issues should be more than enough to get back on track as he prepares to defend his crown.
His dominance in the spring was such that he posted all three victories on the spin and it was only a birdie-birdie finish at the Wells Fargo from Brian Harman that denied him a fourth triumph of the year early in May.
This will be Johnson's first major this season having missed the Masters at Augusta with a freak back injury so one of the most relaxed players in the game will be out to make up for lost time.
Rory McIlroy
Sky Bet odds: 12/1
World ranking: 2
DOB: 4th May 1989
Nationality: Northern Ireland
Major wins: 4 (US Open 2011, US PGA 2012, Open Championship 2014, US PGA 2014)
The lesser-spotted Rory McIlroy is scheduled to make his return to action at Erin Hills after another enforced injury lay-off.
McIlroy was last seen finishing down the field at the PLAYERS Championship early in May but continued problems with a rib issue meant he had to sidestep both the BMW PGA Championship and The Memorial Tournament in a bid to get himself healthy for the season's second major.
It remains to be seen whether the world number two is firing on all cylinders after a patchy first half of 2017 which has seen him battle those niggling physical problems and also a change of club manufacturer.
He heads into the event winless this year having lost a play-off in South Africa to Graeme Storm while he never really threatened to land a blow despite a top 10 in the Masters at Augusta.
So there are certainly a number of question marks swirling around McIlroy currently but a former eight-shot winner of this tournament knows exactly how to get the job done if his game is ready to go.
Jason Day
Sky Bet odds: 12/1
World ranking: 3
DOB: 12th November 1987
Nationality: Australia
Major wins: 1 (US PGA 2015)
US Open best: Tied 2nd (2011, 2013)
The opening months of 2017 have proved a traumatic time for Jason Day on a personal level as his mother battles serious illness.
The news in recent weeks on that front has been far more positive and the signs on the golf course suggest the Australian is running into some form just at the right time.
He was beaten in a play-off at the Byron Nelson by Billy Horschel then put up an improved effort in The Memorial to finish inside the top 20, traditionally an event where he never really shines.
Day feels his short game and putting have been getting sharper by the week while a sparkling overall record at the US Open of five top-10s in his last six appearances - including when battling vertigo two years ago at Chambers Bay - bodes extremely well for his chances once again.
Hideki Matsuyama
Sky Bet odds: 30/1
World ranking: 4
DOB: 25th February 1992
Nationality: Japan
Major wins: N/A
US Open best: Tied 10th (2013)
A rising star from Japan, Hideki Matsuyama enjoyed a golden run of form from towards the end of 2016 into early 2017 when he won five times from nine events worldwide.
His hot streak catapulted him inside the top 10 of the world rankings and expectations are high he can take that next step and win a major championship.
The consensus theory is he might be best suited to making the breakthrough at Augusta National but he clearly has the game to compete anywhere on the globe and limited starts so far in the US Open have been promising.
His current form is nothing to write home about having not really challenged since taking the title at Phoenix in February but it is safe to assume Matsuyama's best days on the golf course are in front of him and he is definitely a player to watch.
Jordan Spieth
Sky Bet odds: 12/1
World ranking: 5
DOB: 27th July 1993
Nationality: United States
Major wins: 2 (Masters 2015, US Open 2015)
Jordan Spieth might not be in quite the same dominant form compared to two years ago when lifting this trophy at Chambers Bay but he remains one of the leading chances for glory among the home contingent.
He was a winner at Pebble Beach earlier in the year but a run of modest efforts by his own high standards followed and has even included three missed cuts - two coming in successive events at the PLAYERS Championship and Byron Nelson.
Spieth has been slightly less deadly on the greens which forced a brief change in putter but his general form seems to be trending in the right direction after finishing behind a red-hot Kevin Kisner at Colonial.
The standards that Spieth has set so far in his career sometimes makes it hard to remember he is still only in his mid-20s and the expectation every time he tees it up is that he will be a sure-fire contender.
Few in the game can match his mental resolve when the going gets tough and a decent week with the putter will make him a tough nut to crack.
Henrik Stenson
Sky Bet odds: 28/1
World ranking: 6
DOB: 5th April 1976
Nationality: Sweden
Major wins: 1 (Open Championship 2016)
US Open best: Tied 4th (2014)
It is around a month until the Swede defends his Open Championship crown at Royal Birkdale but he could turn up on the Lancashire coast with a second major title to his name as Erin Hills will more than likely play to the strengths of his game.
He has not been at his very best during the spring with a string of missed cuts in the USA but a solid showing at Wentworth in the BMW PGA will have done his confidence no harm although he was not able to follow up on home soil when disappointingly adrift at the Nordea Masters.
Stenson's US Open record is not great with just one recent top five in 2014 while he was forced to withdraw 12 months ago at Oakmont with injury but his power game from the tee box should be an asset around this layout if he can consistently find the fairways.
Cool and unflappable, world number seven Stenson is part of a strong European contingent seeking glory in Wisconsin and a bold showing would not come as any surprise.
Sergio Garcia
Sky Bet odds: 22/1
World ranking: 7
DOB: 9th January 1980
Nationality: Spain
Major wins: 1 (Masters 2017)
US Open best: Tied 3rd (2005)
The wait finally ended for Sergio Garcia as he at last broke his maiden in a major championship with a thrilling play-off win over Justin Rose at The Masters.
Few in the sport would begrudge the Spaniard his moment in the spotlight after a career of near-misses and the $64m question is whether he can immediately add to his tally.
His form since Augusta National has been steady enough to suggest he is still in some sort of form while five top-10s from 17 attempts at the US Open is a pretty decent return overall.
His game from tee to green remains one of the very best in the sport and a new-found confidence from knowing he will be introduced as a major champion should mean he can deliver a strong challenge around Erin Hills.
Alex Noran
Sky Bet odds: 50/1
World ranking: 8
DOB: 12th July 1980
Nationality: Sweden
Major wins: N/A
US Open best: Tied 51st (2011)
Sweden’s Alex Noren has surged up the world rankings in spectacular fashion over the past 12 months and last month’s triumph at the BMW PGA Championship was his fifth during that spell.
He now resides inside the top 10 and a strong challenge in major company now looks next on the agenda for a player who is clearly comfortable in contention and knows how to get the job done.
The inland links-style course at Erin Hills should be up his street and it would be no surprise to see him improve drastically on a very modest US Open record now in the form of his life.
Rickie Fowler
Sky Bet odds: 22/1
World ranking: 9
DOB: 13th December 1988
Nationality: United States
Major wins: N/A
US Open best: Tied 2nd (2014)
One of America's favourite golfing sons, Rickie Fowler was once accused of being a big underachiever but he has become a regular winner these days and a major title going his way would not be out of turn.
He had an excellent chance once again at the Masters in April but it just didn't happen for him on Sunday as struggled to a closing 76 and fell out of contention.
It was another learning experience though and Fowler on form has every right to feel he can compete strongly at Erin Hills - it is three years since he did not finish outside of the top five in all four majors.
He won the Honda Classic this year in Florida, was not far away at the Memorial Tournament and although a late rally did not see him avoid a missed cut in Memphis, he does still seem to have some important momentum.
Jon Rahm
Sky Bet odds: 20/1
World ranking: 10
DOB: 10th November 1994
Nationality: Spain
Major wins: N/A
US Open best: Tied 23rd as an amateur (2016)
The dashing Spaniard has made a huge impact over the first half of 2017 having registered a first PGA Tour success at Torrey Pines to go with a number of other prominent finishes.
His results have seen him climb up to number 10 in the world at a rapid rate of knots and he seems to tackle each new challenge with relish - it must be remembered he is still just 23 years old and is very much learning his craft by the week.
To that end, he has experienced a couple of blowouts recently at the PLAYERS Championship and The Memorial Tournament and Rahm will have his patience tested when it comes to the inevitable hiccup or two experienced by every player in this event.
But I doubt the Erin Hills layout will hold too many fears with his powerful hitting and wonderful ball-striking so it is going to be fascinating to see how he copes at the very highest level if he does get into contention.
Justin Rose
Sky Bet odds: 22/1
World ranking: 11
DOB:
Nationality: England
Major wins: 1 (US Open 2013)
The Englishman is a former winner of the event after an emotional triumph on Father's Day at Merion in 2013 as he looks to double his tally of major titles.
He came exceptionally close on that front at Augusta National in April when he found only Sergio Garcia too good following a sudden death play-off and remains right up there in terms of a potential British winner at Erin Hills.
Rose has not played competitively a great deal since having followed an uncharacteristic closing 80 at the PLAYERS Championship with a top 20 at the BMW PGA that suggests he is probably not quite firing on all cylinders currently.
That said, Olympic gold medallist Rose prepares meticulously for the big events and will have done some thorough homework at the venue while his composed, methodical approach is ideal for the pressure if he does manage to get into contention on Sunday.
Adam Scott
Sky Bet odds: 30/1
World ranking: 12
DOB: 16th July 1980
Nationality: Australia
Major wins: 1 (2013 Masters)
US Open best: Tied 4th (2015)
The elegant Aussie has a major pedigree having landed the Masters at Augusta in 2013 but the search for a second title from the 'Big Four' continues.
He remains very much in the premier league when it comes to ball striking but has taken time to adapt again following the switch back to a regulation-length putter following last year's anchoring ban.
He still remains below average in the stats on the greens but he generally looks to be running into some form judged on recent outings and played some splendid stuff lat times last week in Memphis at the FedEx St Jude Classic.
He can take some confidence too from an improved recent US Open record with four top 20s from his last five attempts so should be thereabouts in terms of mounting at challenge at Erin Hills.
Justin Thomas
Sky Bet odds: 28/1
World ranking: 13
DOB: 29th April 1993
Nationality: American
Major wins: N/A
US Open best: Tied 32nd (2016)
A close friend of Jordan Spieth, Thomas has really emerged from his shadow since the autumn of 2016 having posted three victories on the PGA Tour.
Two came on consecutive weekends in January in Hawaii and included a magical 59 at the Sony Open - when playing alongside Spieth - and that sort of form marks him down as a player well up to contending in major championships.
He does have limited experience on that front but is improving at a rate of knots had has made the cut on his last five outings in major company as he gradually gets to grips with competing at the highest level.
Thomas did not produce the final round he would have liked at The Memorial tournament on his last start but it was a promising warm-up for Erin Hills and is well worth his place among the leading fancies this week.
US Open: Outsiders who can give you each-way value
With Sky Bet paying EIGHT places for the US Open, we take a look at five big-priced players who could give you value...
Shane Lowry - 66/1
Shane Lowry had a four-shot lead at one stage in the final round of this event last year but wilted under the pressure and Dustin Johnson’s relentless excellence over the closing holes. There have been more positive signs lately from the Irishman that his game is moving in the right direction and a bold showing here could put last year’s disappointments to bed once and for all.
Steve Stricker - 125/1
Steve Stricker’s appeal for an exemption into the US Open field was rejected by organisers so the popular veteran did it the hard way and impressively came through sectional qualifying. He is preparing for a switch to the Champions Tour having turned 50 but proved he can still cut it at the top level with a recent top 10 finish at Colonial which included a closing 63. Stricker hails from nearby Edgerton, Wisconsin and could well be inspired by the local galleries to produce a strong performance.
Daniel Summerhays - 200/1
Daniel Summerhays remains without a win on the PGA Tour after a good chance slipped through his grasp a couple of weeks ago at The Memorial Tournament following a closing round of 78. He played better on that occasion than his score might suggest and felt a victory this season is still on the agenda with the way he is swinging the club. This might not seem at first glance the type of course suited to Summerhays but he knows how to plot his way around and could follow up a strong performance in this event 12 months ago.
Jamie Lovemark - 250/1
The physically gifted Jamie Lovemark has looked a winner waiting to happen on the PGA Tour for some time now and surely his time will come sooner rather than later. It would come as a surprise in all honesty if were to lose his maiden tag in a US Open but there seems no obvious reason why he won’t go well on the back of a top 20 at the Byron Nelson followed by a top 10 at The Memorial Tournament. The Erin Hills layout could be right up his street judged on an excellent performance two years ago in this event at Chambers Bay.
Matt Wallace - 500/1
England’s Matt Wallace booked his ticket into the event via qualifying at Walton Heath recently and the recent winner of the Open de Portugal could cause a ripple or two around Erin Hills. He won six times in 2016 on the Alps Tour before that big breakthrough in Europe and possesses an excellent mental approach that will serve him well on his first attempt in this sort of company.