By: Kipp Branch

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

If you are a diehard sports fan then you know with Father’s Day approaching next week that it is US Open time as the tournament always concludes on that special day for dads.

The 118th edition returns to Shinnecock Hills for the 5th time. Shinnecock Hills claims to be the oldest formal organized golf club in the United States (1891), to have the oldest golf clubhouse in the U.S. (1892) and to have been the first to admit women, which it did from the start. It is a links course just east of New York City. If the winds blow, then look out.

If there is a tie after 72 holes then a two-hole aggregate playoff, introduced by the USGA this year, will be used to determine the champion.

Previously playoffs at the U.S. Open were 18 holes, with sudden-death if needed. The last 18-hole playoff occurred in 2008 with Tiger beating Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines. It was Tiger’s last win in a major.

Some memorable US Opens have unfolded at Shinnecock Hills.

1986: Raymond Floyd wins after shooting a final round 66 and beating the likes of Greg Norman, Lanny Wadkins, and Chip Beck. Norman held the lead after 54 holes.

1995: Corey Pavin won his only major with a two-shot win over Greg Norman who held another 54-hole lead at Shinnecock Hills.

2004: Retief Goosen beats Phil Mickelson by two shots.

The players to watch this year are: Phil Mickelson: The US Open is the only major lefty hasn’t won and he has finished runner-up six times in the US Open. Does he have a magical 4 days left in him at 47 years of age? Don’t count him out.

Tiger Woods: The three-time US Open champ has not won a major in a decade. Shinnecock is a monster to end a major championship drought. His game is coming around.

Justin Rose: Rose plays well at places like Shinnecock and he is a past US Open champion and his game is peaking right now.

Rickie Fowler: Fowler played well at Augusta and may get his first major at Shinnecock. Fowler has that dreaded best player to never win a major tag and let’s hope he gets rid of that soon. Fowler showed me something at Augusta down the stretch. His first major win is coming soon.

Jordan Spieth: Spieth won the US Open in 2015 and at 24 years of age will be a favorite in majors for probably the next decade.

Patrick Reed: The Masters Champ has the game to win a US Open but can he put together back to back great runs in a major?

Matt Kuchar: My gut is telling me the St. Simons Island resident Kuchar is going to contend at Shinnecock. Kuch has been close in majors before. Could this be the weekend?

Prediction: A Mickelson or Kuchar run would be heartwarming. A Tiger run would be ratings gold. At the end of the day I think it comes down to Fowler, Rose, and Spieth.

2018 US Open Champion will be Justin Rose. Fowler wins the PGA in August