SERGIO GARCIA
Season points ranking: 6th
Last 4 LIV Golf results: 2, T40, T14, 5
2024 major results: MC (Masters)
Garcia is in the field as an alternate qualifier, so he may feel like he’s playing with house money this week. But he’ll want to make the most of his opportunity to play in his 25th consecutive U.S. Open.
The Fireballs GC captain played at Pinehurst in 2005 (T5) and 2014 (T35), so the familiarity is there. But his last top-10 major finish was his 2017 Masters win, so he’d have to reverse that trend to make some noise this week.
Garcia has played very well this year, twice making playoffs in hopes of winning his first LIV Golf individual title. His ball-striking ability remains undeniable, so it will inevitably be up to his putter this week.
TYRRELL HATTON
Season points ranking: 14th
Last 4 LIV Golf results: T4, T14, T5, T18
2024 major results: T9 (Masters), T63 (PGA)
Outside of his Legion XIII teammate Jon Rahm (out this week with a foot infection), Hatton has arguably been the most consistent player in the league. He’s the only player to finish with points (top 24) in each of the first eight tournaments and has three top-10 results. Meanwhile, Hatton’s T9 at the Masters is his best finish at Augusta National.
Also, his strengths seem to fit with Pinehurst. He’s a good putter (ranks third in the league), scrambles well, and he performs better the closer he is to the green. He’s currently third in total Strokes Gained with a +1.40 average, and most of that is through his putter, around the green, and short-to-medium approaches.
The U.S. Open hasn’t been kind to him in recent years – no top-20s since his tie for sixth in 2018 – but at 32 years old and making his 37th career major start, Hatton is now in his prime to contend on a back-nine Sunday in a major. As a Brit, he may be a better fit for next month’s Open Championship, but don’t be surprised if he makes some noise this week.
DUSTIN JOHNSON
Season points ranking: 7th
Last 4 LIV Golf results: T24, T31, T7, 13
2024 major results: MC (Masters), T43 (PGA)
Although Johnson won his 31st professional title earlier this year at LIV Golf Las Vegas, the rest of his season has been a puzzler. He followed the victory with four consecutive finishes outside the top 20, and his major starts have been forgettable.
Johnson did tie for 4th at Pinehurst 10 years ago, albeit a distant 10 strokes behind Martin Kaymer. So not much he can draw on from there.
Despite his lack of results beyond Vegas, the 4Aces GC captain doesn’t think he’s that far off. He’s top 10 in greens in regulation and top 15 in putting in the LIV Golf League. And he shot a final-round 66 at Valhalla, an encouraging development coming into this week.
MARTIN KAYMER
Season points ranking: 36th
Last 4 LIV Golf results: T39, T14, T19, T9
2024 major results: T73 (PGA)
Ten years ago, Kaymer dominated Pinehurst. Opened with consecutive 65s. Shot 9 under. Won by eight strokes. An incredible performance that even he had a tough time believing that week.
It’s been a long, challenging journey since then, but now he’s back, and he’s actually encouraged by his recent form. (Click here for the full story.) His wrist issues seem to be a thing of the past, and he’s confident with his swing now.
Will it be enough to recreate the magic of 10 years ago? Difficult to say. But he’s still just 39 years old, still has plenty of golf left in him. Only one player in the field this week knows how to win the U.S. Open at Pinehurst. That should count for something.
BROOKS KOEPKA
Season points ranking: 4th
Last 4 LIV Golf results: T45, T9, Win, T9
2024 major results: T45 (Masters), T26 (PGA)
The five-time major winner has 14 top-5 finishes in his major career – and the first one came 10 years ago at Pinehurst when he tied for fourth in just his fourth career major start. It’s doubtful that experience will come into play much this week, though.
The Smash GC captain might be flying a bit under the radar if only because his major results this year haven’t been close to expectations. Still, he had three excellent rounds at Valhalla, and that should be encouraging (although he obviously wasn’t happy with the final result).
Koepka’s iron play has been deadly this season, and the difficult challenges won’t faze him. The putter has been holding him back, but provided that heats up, U.S. Open win No. 3 should be within his sights Sunday afternoon.
ADRIAN MERONK
Season points ranking: 12th
Last 4 LIV Golf results: 17, T26, T10, 2
2024 major results: MC (Masters), MC (PGA)
The Cleeks GC player showed last week at Houston that he’s getting comfortable with his new LIV Golf environment and is returning to the kind of golfer that was named last year’s DP World Tour Player of the Year.
Meronk finished second at the Golf Club of Houston and had a birdie putt on the final hole that would’ve forced a playoff with eventual winner Carlos Ortiz. It was his best performance since joining LIV Golf in the offseason, and his Cleeks team earned its first team victory.
Meronk has yet to take advantage of his major exemptions this season, missing the cut in his first two starts. But he has plenty of momentum and confidence coming into Pinehurst.