Of the seven Australians teeing up at the 123rd US Open at Los Angeles Country Club, there are several good chances.
They are of course led by the nation’s highest-ranked player and most recent major winner, Cameron Smith. Smith claimed last year’s Open Championship at St Andrews in stunning fashion and arrives at LA Country Club beaming from a tie for ninth at last month’s PGA Championship. Along with the PGA Championship top 10, Smith has recorded four straight top-10s on his LIV Golf tour coming into the US Open, including a playoff loss to Dustin Johnson in Tulsa. On Wednesday in LA, Smith played a practice round with Adam Scott and New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, before Min Woo Lee joined the group on the back nine.
Here are our rankings 1-7 for the Aussies at the US Open
1. Cameron Smith ($26 with Pointsbet)
World ranking: 9
Age: 29
Major wins: 1 (2022 Open Championship)
PGA Tour wins: 6
Best finish at the US Open: T4 in 2015
Best finish in 2023: 2nd at LIV Golf Tulsa
How he qualified: Winner of 2022 Open Championship
Why he can win: Smith finish tied for ninth at the PGA Championship last month, his best ever result in that major. He shot nine under in the final round at LIV Golf Tulsa to force that playoff with Johnson which he ultimately lost. Has the creativity necessary around the greens at the tricky LA Country Club.
Why he might not: Smith is yet to put four really rounds together in a major championship this year, coming home late at the PGA but struggling to a tie for 34th at the Masters.
2. Jason Day ($41)
World ranking: 23
Age: 35
Major wins: 1 (2015 US PGA)
PGA Tour wins: 13
Best finish at the US Open: T2 in 2011, 2013
Best finish in 2023: Won AT&T Byron Nelson
How he qualified: Top 60 points leaders in the Official World Golf Ranking as of May 22, 2023
Why he can win: Won his 13th PGA Tour title the week before the PGA Championship and has been in sensational form in 2023 with five other top-10s. Also has two second place finishes at the US Open.
Why he might not: a winning hangover; Day missed the cut at the PGA Championship and at the recent Memorial Tournament.
3. Adam Scott ($81)
World ranking: 37
Age: 42
Major wins: 1 (2013 Masters)
PGA Tour wins: 14
Best finish at the US Open: T4 in 2015
Best finish in 2023: T5 at Wells Fargo Championship (PGA TOUR)|
How he qualified: Those players who qualified and were eligible for the 2022 season-ending Tour Championship
Why he can win: Scott has recorded top-10 finishes in three of his past four starts ahead of his 22nd US Open appearance. A switch to a TaylorMade Stealth driver in recent years has him ranked tied for 14th in Driving Distance and tied for 15th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee.
Why he might not: Scott’s irons have not been giving him enough birdie chances; he’s 131st in strokes gained: putting.
4. Cam Davis ($151)
World ranking: 53
Age: 28
Major wins: 0
PGA Tour wins: 1
Best finish at US Open: First appearance
Best finish in 2023: T4 US PGA Championship
How he qualified: Top 60 points leaders in the Official World Golf Ranking as of May 22, 2023
Why he can win: Earned a career-best performance at the majors with a tie for fourth at the PGA Championship last month. Also tied for sixth at the Players Championship.
Why he might not: Putting might not be good enough. Davis is 155th in strokes gained on the greens on the PGA Tour.
5. Lucas Herbert ($301)
World ranking: 55
Age: 27
Major wins: 0
PGA Tour wins: 1
Best finish at the US Open: T31 in 2020
Best finish in 2023: Won ISPS HANDA Championship (DP World Tour)
How he qualified: Top 60 points leaders in the Official World Golf Ranking as of May 22, 2023
Why he can win: Has a DP World Tour win (in Japan) this year and is a sensational putter, a common trait among US Open champions.
Why he might not: Herbert’s US Open record is not good with two missed cuts from three starts.
6. Min Woo Lee ($91)
World ranking: 65
Age: 24
Major wins: 0
PGA Tour wins: 0
Best finish at the US Open: T27 in 2022
Best finish in 2023: T2 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship (DP World Tour)
How he qualified: The top player on the 2023 Race to Dubai Rankings as of May 22, 2023, who is not otherwise exempt
Why he could win: Followed up his breakout tie for sixth at the Players Championship with a tie for 18th at last month’s PGA Championship. It was Lee’s second top-20 finish in a major championship.
Why he might not: getting that first PGA Tour victory on the majors stage might be a too big an ask.
7. Karl Vilips (a) ($1001)
World amateur ranking: 63
Age: 21
Major wins: 0
PGA Tour wins: 0
Best finish at the US Open: First appearance
Best finish in 2023: 5th at The Prestige (College)
How he qualified: Shot 68-70 in Final Qualifying at Woodmont Country Club
Why he can win: It isn’t likely; an amateur hasn’t won the US Open in 90 years since Johnny Goodman won the 1933 edition. This is Vilips’ major championship debut.
WHERE CAN I WATCH IT?
Live TV coverage AEST
All programming on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo Sports
Wednesday
9am Live From The US Open
Thursday
9am Live From The US Open
11.40pm-5am Round 1 Featured Groups
Friday
5am-1pm Round 1
1pm-3pm Live From The US Open
11.40pm-5am Round 2 Featured Groups
Saturday
5am-1pm Round 2
1pm-3pm Live From The US Open
Sunday
12am-5am Round 3 Featured Groups
5am-1pm Round 3
1pm-3pm Live From The US Open
Monday
12am-4am Round 3 Featured Groups
4am-12pm Round 4
12pm-2pm Live From The US Open
WHAT ARE THE AUSSIE TEE TIMES?
Round 1 tee times AEST
12.07am* Lucas Herbert, Scott Stallings, Preston Summerhays (a)
1.02am Adam Scott, Gary Woodland, Corey Conners
1.02am* Jason Day, Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler
1.35am Ryan Fox (NZ), Matthew McClean (a), Seamus Power
6.21am Cam Davis, Kurt Kitayama, Russell Henley
6.32am Cameron Smith, Sam Bennett, Matt Fitzpatrick
6.54am* Min Woo Lee, Davis Thompson, Justin Suh
7.16am Karl Vilips (a), Olin Browne Jr, David Puig
