Erin Hills’ first U.S. Open is primed to be a good one. With several former champions and every member of the world golf top 10 rankings in the fold, the 2017 tournament is slated to be a shootout.
U.S. Open 2017 TV schedule and coverage for Thursday’s Round 1
Jordan Spieth’s journey back to world No. 1 starts Thursday.
Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
The 2016 winner, Dustin Johnson, can solidify his grip as the planet’s best golfer by defending his title and earning his second major championship. He’ll face a challenge from a 156-man field that includes reigning Masters champ Sergio Garcia, 2015 Open winner Jordan Spieth, and the record holder for the tournament’s lowest winning score (-16), Rory McIlroy.
It will be tough for anyone to match McIlroy’s historic performance, but the event’s first-ever trip to Erin Hills could result in some of the most difficult rounds in Open history. The course clocks in at a daunting 7,693 yards, including a 663-yard 18th hole designed to create drama during the weekend rounds. Golfers will have to be precise with their big drives, however. Just feet from the fairway lies the unforgiving fescue — knee-high grass that swallows up balls and any chance of making par.
The stroke-sapping rough has already earned the ire of a couple of pros — Kevin Na and Wesley Bryan both took to social media to express their displeasure with the harsh conditions. Erin Hills’ groundskeepers can take pride in continuing a long U.S. Open tradition of drawing player complaints about playing conditions.
That could be a boon for players like Bubba Watson — golfers with big drives and the ability to find the fairway from 300-plus yards out. However, Johnson is the early favorite to raise the silver trophy and defend his title at golf’s most famous open event. Garcia, 2017’s only major winner after an up-and-down path to the green jacket, starts off with the eighth-best odds to keep his hot streak rolling.
Thursday’s featured rounds on USOpen.com feature 12 of the world’s best golfers. At 8:45, top 10 fixtures Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama, Sergio Garcia, and Adam Scott tee off. Forty-five minutes later, former champions Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Justin Rose, and Rory McIlroy will begin their march toward reclaiming greatness.
The winner takes home $2.16 million and the pride that comes with winning golf’s most prestigious events. That journey starts Thursday when the first round opens play bright and early at 7:45 ET. Here’s how you can watch opening round coverage, on television and online.
Thursday’s first-round coverage
Television:
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET -- FOX Sports 1
6 to 9 p.m. -- FOX
Online streams:
8:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. -- Featured group 1:
Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama
Bubba Watson, Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott
9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Featured group 2:
Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer
Jason Day, Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy
8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. -- Featured holes stream
Radio:
Noon to 6 p.m. -- PGA Tour Radio on Sirius-XM (Ch. 93/208)
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