Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick defends his title
Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick realised his golfing dream last summer by clinching his first Major title in the US Open. The 28-year old sporting talent from Sheffield, South Yorkshire is already in America at the Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course in California preparing his faithful clubs to tackle George C. Thomas’ delightful golfing gem from 15 to 18 June 2023. The world is curious to see whether Fitzpatrick can successfully defend his US Open title.
The third Major of the season, the 123rd US Open takes place on the North course at the Los Angeles Country Club which has a par of 70 stretched out over more than 6,788 metres.
Among the 156 players competing in the US Open in Los Angeles are ten former U.S. Open Champions. They are Bryson DeChambeau (2020), Matt Fitzpatrick (2022), Dustin Johnson (2016), Martin Kaymer (2014), Brooks Koepka (2017, 2018), Rory McIlroy (2011), Jon Rahm (2021), Justin Rose (2013), Jordan Spieth (2015) and Gary Woodland (2019).
Indeed, the World Number One ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler from America has his eyes set on winning the US Open title too. The soon-to-be 27-year old Masters Champion missed the trophy by one shot last year.
American Phil Mickelson tees-off on Thursday, 15th June for an amazing record tally of 31 times. ‘Lefty’, as he is nicknamed because he plays left-handed, has already scooped an impressive six Major titles, so far. On Friday, he reaches the ripe ‘young’ age of 53. And, who knows what the talented player will produce in Los Angeles.
Spanish talent
Also stunning is that Spain’s Sergio Garcia is playing in his 23rd consecutive US Open. This year’s winner of the KLM Open in Holland, Pablo Larrazábal, also from Spain, is competing at the Los Angeles Country Club too.
Nineteen amateurs have made the 156-player field this year. Among them is Ben Carr who was narrowly beaten in the US Amateur.
The U.S. Open returns to Los Angeles for the first time since 1948, when Ben Hogan won the first of his four U.S. Opens. He shot a 72-hole score of 276 (8 under par), two strokes better than Jimmy Demaret, at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades.
Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick is excited to be back in America to defend his US Open title. He turned professional in 2014 and amongst his victories he has 8 wins on the European Tour and two on the PGA Tour. Other Europeans in America this week are players like the European Number One Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland who has won four Major titles; Masters winner from Spain Jon Rahm; and Norway’s Viktor Hovland who took a share of second spot with Scottie Scheffler in the US PGA recently.
The US Open will provide an exciting podium for golf over the next few days, so do please sit back and enjoy the thrill of it all!
Wendy Hoad
Editor
MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick defends his 2022 US Open title this week.