US Open 2022: Major stats ahead of this week's championship

Amid all the talk surrounding the highly contentious and lucrative 'Saudi Golf League', which was recently launched in Hertfordshire, some may have forgotten that the third major championship of the year takes place this week in Massachusetts.

While the likes of Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen and Lee Westwood were chasing big bucks at the Centurion Club in Hemel Hempstead, those teeing-up in Brookline on Thursday will be seeking something far greater - namely sporting prestige and potentially golfing immortality.

Over the past five decades, US Open venues have generally been considered the toughest of the tough.

Since Johnny Miller posted a record-breaking 63 to win the tournament at Oakmont in 1974, the USGA has made it their mission to create courses that provide 'the ultimate test of accuracy and touch'.

Although this appears to have relented marginally in recent years, it usually takes something special for a golfer to post a double-digit under-par score at a US Open.

The best example of this was probably the performance of Tiger Woods in 2000 at Pebble Beach.

Back then, the 24-year-old American completed 72 holes in 12-under-par, while joint runners-up Ernie Els and Miguel Angel Jimenez crossed the finishing line a distant 15 strokes adrift at three-over.

Many years earlier, when asked what it takes to win the US Open, two-time champion Curtis Strange replied "guts and pars."

The first of his back-to-back successes came at The Country Club, Brookline, which also hosts this week's 122nd instalment of the championship.

Latest betting for this week's US Open

As for those preparing to lift the US Open trophy on Sunday, here are eight likely lads hoping to secure their place in golfing history:

Sam Burns: A two-time winner on the PGA Tour this year, which makes it four titles during the past 14 months. When golf's self-imposed lockdown came to an end two years ago, the American was ranked 190 in the world. He's currently No 9.

Tony Finau: The US Open is as much about consistency as anything else, and few pros are as consistent as the 32-year-old from Salt Lake City. He finished second in Canada on Sunday, which brings his tally of runner-up slots on the PGA Tour to 10 - to add to his brace of victories. Must be a strong e/w shout this week.

Matt Fitzpatrick: Winner of the US Amateur Championship at The Country Club when just 18 years old in 2013. If this doesn't give him a lift when he tees-up on Thursday, nothing will. Seven top 10s on the PGA Tour this year.

Rory McIlroy: His general week-to-week form remains extremely good, and he arrives at The Country Club having just won his second Canadian Open title on Sunday. He's posted a brace of top-10s in the opening two majors of 2022. But can he overcome what appears to be a mental barrier preventing him from claiming a fifth major title? You get the feeling that when McIlroy wins one of the 'Big Four Titles' again, it'll be by quite a large margin.

Scottie Scheffler: A quarter-finalist at the US Amateur Championship which was staged here nine years ago. This makes him one of a select number of US Open entrants to have played competitive golf at this week's venue.

Xander Schauffele: Seems to be slowly finding his feet again in recent weeks. The 28-year-old from San Diego appears to have regained much of the confidence he lost after narrowly missing out at the 2021 Masters Tournament which was won by Hideki Matsuyama. In five US Open appearances his worst finish is tied-7th.

Justin Thomas: Sneaked in through the back door to win last month's PGA Championship. One of this season's most consistent performers and an ever-present member of the world's top 10 since August 2017. Six podium finishes in 2022.

Will Zalatoris: Five top-six finishes from his most recent seven starts, and a two-time runner-up in majors. Has a game strong enough for all types of layouts.

Latest betting for First Round Leader at US Open

Major Ratings

Best 15 Scoring Performances (Last 15 Majors)
Ratings Avg .... (Events)
2.34: Will Zalatoris (6)
2.12: Brooks Koepka (14)
2.00: Jon Rahm (15)
1.99: Collin Morikawa (10)
1.85: Scottie Scheffler (9)
1.84: Louis Oosthuizen (13)
1.80: Xander Schauffele (15)
1.68: Rory McIlroy (15)
1.53: Dustin Johnson (15)
1.51: Viktor Hovland (9)
1.50: Harris English (7)
1.48: Justin Thomas (14)
1.46: Webb Simpson (15)
1.38: Tony Finau (15)
1.37: Hideki Matsuyama (14)
Min. No. of Events = 6
Only those entered this week are included in table.
Ratings are calculated by comparing a player's average round score in an event, against the tournament average for that week.

Major Championship Consistency Chart

Most Times Within 8 Shots Of Winner (Last 15 Majors (since July 1st, 2018))
8: Jon Rahm
8: Jordan Spieth
7: Tony Finau
7: Brooks Koepka
7: Xander Schauffele
6: Dustin Johnson
6: Rory McIlroy
6: Louis Oosthuizen
6: Justin Rose
Only those entered this week are included in table.

Twitter: Golf Stats Alive

Key: P (PGA); M (Masters); U (US Open); B (The (British) Open