In a week where controversy ruled the narrative around golf, the PGA Tour reminded us there is nothing quite like Sunday on the Tour. The final trio to tee off Sunday, Rory McIlroy (62), Tony Finau (64) and Justin Thomas (64), played about as well as any trio could, combining for 24 total birdies.
McIlroy, who had the full backing of the crowd Sunday, held off the field to defend his title and win back-to-back RBC Canadian Opens. It is McIlroy’s second win this year and 21st of his career, leapfrogging the Shark, Greg Norman, in all-time Tour wins.
This week we are headed to the East Coast, the Tour’s first and only stop this season in Massachusetts for the third major of the year, the U.S. Open.
2022 U.S. Open Event Information
Date: June 16-19, 2022
Course: The Country Club, Brookline, Massachusetts
Purse: $12,500,000
Defending Champ: Jon Rahm
The third and penultimate major of the season, the U.S. Open, has been played in its current format since 1898 and is arguably the hardest and most challenging of all four majors. It is not surprising to see the field and leaders of the tournament at or above par.
In recent years the courses have been on the longer side and the rough is comically thick — picture dropping a ball to your feet and losing it, thick. The tournament is often mentally and physically challenging, requiring every type of shot the players have in their arsenal to get through the round and this year will be no different.
What Course Is The U.S. Open Held At?
The Country Club at Brookline is located about 7 miles southeast of Boston. The Country Club is a par 70, measuring it at 7,264 yards and has hosted the US Open before, the last being in 1988 when Curtis Strange won in a playoff over Nick Faldo — the three previous times the U.S. Open has been played at The Country Club have all ended in playoffs.
Similar to previous U.S. Opens, this year will feature thick rough, fast greens and narrow fairways. Players will need to utilize all facets of their game this week. Approach to the hole will be especially important as many of the greens are multi-leveled, have quite a bit of tilt and are guarded by green side bunkers where it isn’t rough.
How To Watch the U.S. Open
Thursday: 9:30-2 p.m. ET USA; 2-5 p.m. ET NBC; 5-7 p.m. ET USA
Friday: 9:30-4 p.m. ET USA; 4-7 p.m. ET NBC
Saturday: 12-8 p.m. ET NBC
Sunday: 10-12 p.m. ET USA; 12-7 p.m. ET NBC
How To Listen To the U.S. Open
Thursday: 8-7 p.m. ET Sirius XM
Friday: 8-7 p.m. ET Sirius XM
Saturday: 10-7 p.m. ET Sirius XM
Sunday: 10-7 p.m. ET Sirius XM
Payouts for the 2022 U.S. Open
The total purse of the 2022 U.S. Open is $12,500,000. The winner receives 600 FedEx Cup points and 100 Official World Golf Ranking points. The champion also receives a five season exemption on the PGA Tour, as well as inclusion to the next 10 U.S. Opens, the next five Masters and PGA Championships, and the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions.
Below are the payouts for places 1 through 5:
Place
Payout
1
$2,250,000
2
$1,350,000
3
$861,457
4
$603,903
5
$502,993
How many Golfers are in the 2022 U.S. Open?
There are 156 players in the field for the 2022 US Open, composed of both professional and amateur golfers.
Players can join the field in one of two ways, they can be placed in the field through exemptions, which include past winners as well as the top 60 official world golf ranked players, or they can play their way on through local qualifications, which happen all over the U.S.A. as well as one in Europe and Japan.
This year’s tournament has 88 exempt players and 68 joined through qualifying.
Who has the Best Odds of Winning the 2022 U.S. Open?
The top eight betting favorites heading into this week are all previous winners on the tour this year. The favorite is Rory McIlroy, who has moved to No. 3 in the official world golf rankings after last week’s win at the RBC Canadian Open.
The past two major champions round out the top three in PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas and Masters winner Scottie Scheffler. The field is stacked from top to bottom and should provide ample excitement all weekend.