McIlroy and Spieth are favourites for a US Open with a difference
June 17, 2015
This week’s US Open promises to be a tournament with a difference, taking place for the first time at Chambers Bay, in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, a links-style course, built from a sand and gravel mine just eight years ago.
New courses on the championship rota always present a challenge and 2010 Open Championship winner Louis Oosthuizen, in search of his second Major Championship victory, is one of many in the field playing a tournament here for the first time.
“Yes, it’s my first trip to Chambers Bay, I only know what I have read about it. I have now played two practice rounds and will play again on Wednesday.
“It’s not exactly a true links course, but will play somewhat similar. It is certainly very different to what we are all used to and we will need to be both physically and mentally strong to have a good week, but I am looking forward to the challenge.”
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, a Laureus Award winner, who won two Majors last year, and American Jordan Spieth, who won The Masters in April, will likely start as favourites, but as Oosthuizen says: “You can go through the field and see threats coming from everywhere. The world's best players are at the US Open and you can't discount anybody. If you started worrying about threats, you'd never make it to the first tee.”
Germany’s Martin Kaymer. also a former Laureus Award winner, will be defending the title he won at Pinehurst. He says: “When it comes down to tournaments like this, it’s easy to motivate yourself and be 100 percent focused. So without taking anything away from regular events, I’d say the Majors are ones that really have an impact on your career.”
Oosthuizen will empathise with that after he famously won the 2010 Open Championship at St Andrews, after leading from start to finish.
He says: “Majors are different because they eventually go a long way to defining your career, but the trick is to try to treat them as you would any other tournament. If you start getting caught up in all the hype it can affect your concentration and Majors demand total concentration.
“Once you reach a certain level in golf, then Majors are what the season revolves around so it would be fantastic to have another under my belt.”
