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Irish Mirror

Sport

Gary Murphy

Gary Murphy: US Open a week to remind us why we love professional golf

Golf Rory McIlroy US Open Open Scottie Scheffler Alex Maguire Brooks Koepka Conor McGregor Tyrrell Hatton Victor Hovland

This could be a week to remind us why we watch golf at a professional level.

I recently watched Alex Maguire win the East Of Ireland in County Louth and it reminded me that golf in its purest form is still worthy.

But all these top amateurs feel the buzz of achievement that can allow them the platform to go to the next level. That next level is to attain starts as a pro and then hopes and dreams of competing in and winning majors.

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One hundred and 156 golfers will start this week with those dreams a reality. Without doubt, the pinnacle of the sport is to attain major status.

Last week's shock announcement from the PGA Tour sadly proved that sworn adversaries are happy to align themselves for the sake of profit.

OK, so pros play for money - that's how they justify the journey. Amateur golf doesn’t pay the bills, but for some it is the platform to attain that elite status.

Last week, for example, we saw Ludvig Alberg make a very impressive start to his professional career. The ex-amateur world number one took to his new arena like a duck to water in Canada. He looks ready, already.

They say that money is the root of all evil and that has never been more apparent than in recent times. What the outcome of the PGA Tour's decision to gain access to the Saudi Public Investment Fund will be remains to be seen and until we see the road map one cannot offer an opinion.

But where will the pathway be and what is the end game? It should be about titles and achievement - the financial remuneration should be almost the bonus at the end.

Nowadays the guarantee of cash has clouded the very fibre of golf's meritocracy.

Listen, sometimes it is out of a player's control what you play for and you accept the purse. But today it is almost out of control.

If the Saudis continue to ramp up the loot I fear for the longevity and sustainability of the sport. Growing the game is not about pros playing for ridiculous purses.

It also will change the cycle and development of the amateur game. Parents will be more pressurizing and demanding of their kids to get on the Ferris wheel with the promise of such riches.

For kids like Alex Maguire - who continued to show his rich promise with a back up win at the home of golf to claim the St Andrews Links Trophy - the professional lure will be almost unbearable.

The fact is that they all can’t make it and the failure rate is something that should be evident to protect hopefuls from making the leap before they are ready. However the cycle will continue, with the promise of even greater riches to be won.

Kids need to be protected from themselves. I hope we continue to see the stars of tomorrow at The East - but the road is not paved with gold for everyone.

US Open preview

The 72nd hole at the US Open this weekend will definitely be the crowning moment for someone. History will show that LACC provided the stage.

And what a stage is will be. Despite being played against a backdrop of anarchy in the game, the excitement levels for the third major of the year are sky high.

Matt Fitzpatrick will try to defend the title he won in such spectacular fashion at Brookline and he is in good form with a win already this year in Harbour Town. I fully expect him to mount a stern defence.

His closest rival last June was Will Zalatoris and the American's injury problems since then underlines that golf is a fickle sport. Zalatoris could easily have won two majors last year but is now on the sidelines with his career in the balance. Let's hope he can make a full recovery.

Brooks Koepka is the man to watch this week. He can find his A game when it matters most and seems back to his prolific best.

The fact that he is now ahead of Rory McIlroy in majors won gives him the bragging rights as the alpha golfer right now. Having the ability and mental fortitude to win these tournaments is a precious commodity that few can boast.

The course will give him even more confidence that he can continue his resurgence.

Scottie Scheffler is my main pick of the favourites to run down Koepka. His ability tee to green now gives him the ultimate advantage in a US Open test.

His putting is some cause for concern but even an average week on the greens will see him contend. Scheffler played the 2017 Walker Cup at LACC and that course knowledge must add to his chances.

It might make all the difference in his bid to claim his first national Open.

Blind Faith in Rory

I still have blind faith in Rory - he, too, has the skill set to love the challenge. His driving ability will give him great hope that that fifth major is a strong possibility this week.

He will return to Royal Liverpool in a months' time when, hopefully, we will be talking about a double major season.

I also think the announcement last week will give clarity that his golf is the most important ingredient.

The off the course soap opera of the last 18 months is over. He can go back to thinking solely about adding majors.

Will it bring the freedom of mind that he craves to achieve what he wants the most? I believe it can.

Present thinking was something Novak Djokovic alluded to in winning an historic 23rd grand slam in Paris. Something to consider for Rory.

Tyrrell Hatton and Viktor Hovland get honourable mentions. Both will feel this is their time. Hovland has shown more in recent majors, but both are in the form of their lives.

It would be a huge lift in a Ryder Cup year to have a back-to-back US Open champion from Europe. But the American challenge will be ferocious, and it is all set for a wonderful staging of the toughest major to win.

It will be a late finish for us in Ireland and hopefully the wait will prove worthwhile.