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In what has been an unconventional year in sports, Winged Foot Golf Club might provide a sliver of normalcy for the U.S. Open.
An unfamiliar spot on the calendar? Sure. But the venue promises a familiar, firm and unflinching test for the world’s best players.
The 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot’s West Course yielded a field scoring average of nearly 5 over par per round – the toughest venue on the PGA Tour schedule that season by almost three full strokes. There were only 12 rounds in the 60s for the week, and just eight when the Open was held there in 1974. The minuscule birdie average per round of 1.76 at Winged Foot in ’06 has been eclipsed only by two majors since then – the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst (1.63 birdies per round) and the 2008 British Open at Royal Birkdale (1.74).
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It’s been more than a century since the last U.S. Open contested in September. In 1913, young amateur Francis Ouimet pulled off one of the greatest upsets in golf history, defeating British stars Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in a playoff. The performance was immortalized in the 2005 film, “The Greatest Game Ever Played.”
Fans will not be on the grounds at Winged Foot, but as we saw at last month’s PGA Championship, tension is still palpable in the cauldron of major-championship golf, even without crowds. Maybe this U.S. Open, too, will create drama worthy of the silver screen.
Jon Rahm (Thu., 1:27 p.m. ET, 1st tee)
No Spaniard has ever won the U.S. Open, but after briefly reaching the world’s No. 1 ranking this summer, Rahm is poised to break through with his first major championship win. Why not at Winged Foot?
Driving force
Five of the past seven U.S. Open winners ranked either first or second that week in total driving, and 13 of the last 20 ranked in the top 10 in driving distance. Rahm has been among the Tour leaders in strokes gained off the tee since turning pro in 2016.
Trending upward
Through six career major championship starts, Rahm has a scoring average of 72.5 and zero top-10 finishes. His recent form in the majors is a different story: 20 of his last 22 rounds have been par or better. He finished T-13 at the PGA in August.
Improved short game
With maturity has come a more well-rounded Rahm. In 2020 he is on pace for his best year yet in both strokes gained around the green and putting. He’ll need it – Rahm ranked a paltry 47th in the field in strokes gained putting while finishing in a tie for third in the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.
Xander Schauffele (Thu., 1:38 p.m. ET, 10th tee)
Since 2014 there have been only two players with a dozen or more rounds played at the U.S. Open and a cumulative score under par. Two-time champion Brooks Koepka is one, and Schauffele is the other.
PRESSURE PUTTER
Schauffele led all players in strokes gained putting per round at the U.S. Open the previous three years. He’s averaged 7.4 one-putts per round in his Open career, as well – best of any player this decade.
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR
Does it seem as if Schauffele always contends in majors? Well, he does. In just 12 career major starts, Schauffele has finished in the top 10 six times. He finished tied for 10th at TPC Harding Park.
POWER AND PRECISION
Since 2017 no player has hit more drives longer than 300 yards at the U.S. Open than Schauffele (88). He has an average approach shot proximity of just over 31 feet in that span, too, ranked third best. It’s a nice combination.
Editor’s note: Golfweek partnered on this story with 15th Club, a firm that works with players, media entities, manufacturers and tours around the world in telling the true story of golf performance.