Aussies and top contenders at the US Open
ALL AUSSIES AND THE TOP CONTENDERS IN THE 2016 US OPEN
JASON DAY (Aus)
Age: 28
World ranking: 1
Worldwide wins: 10
Best in a major: Win (2015 PGA Championship)
US Opens played: 5 (5 cuts made)
Best US Open: 2nd (2011, 2013)
Odds: $7
Why he can win: He's won three times this year, including a World Golf Championship event and the Players Championship. Has become a clutch closer and has four top 10s in five US Opens, including two runner-up finishes. The favourite.
Why he might not: Driving accuracy. The rough at Oakmont is brutal and Day has a tendency to miss fairways and rely on short-game magic. He might not get away with as much this week.
ADAM SCOTT (Aus)
Age: 35
World ranking: 8
Worldwide wins: 26
Best in a major: Win (2013 Masters)
US Opens played: 14 (8 cuts made)
Best US Open: T4 (2015)
Odds: $29
Why he can win: Had back-to-back wins early this year to break a long drought and ranks well ahead of the pack in strokes gained on approach shots per round. Hitting it close will serve him very well.
Why he might not: Putting. Scott is 111th on the US tour in putting. He'll need to minimise the three-putts.
MARC LEISHMAN (Aus)
Age: 32
World ranking: 40
Worldwide wins: 2
Best in a major: T2 (2015 British Open)
US Opens played: 4 (1 cut made)
Best US Open: T51 (2011)
Odds: $81
Why he can win: Despite generally being under the radar, he was one putt away from winning the British Open last year before losing in a playoff, and has also contended heavily at the Masters. Ranks high (17th) this season around the greens.
Why he might not: Leishman has made the cut in the US Open just once in four previous tries - in 2011, when he finished 51st.
GEOFF OGILVY (Aus)
Age: 39
World ranking: 240
Worldwide wins: 10
Best in a major: Win (2006 US Open)
US Opens played: 12 (7 cuts made)
Best US Open: Win (2006)
Odds: $501
Why he can win: Has done it before. Ogilvy survived the brutal Winged Foot in 2006 and with conditions set to be similar, perhaps he can find some vintage magic 10 years on.
Why he might not: It's been a long time since Ogilvy was in contention on a Sunday in any tournament, let alone a major. The once-great putter has become hit-and-miss, mostly miss.
CAMERON SMITH (Aus)
Age: 22
World ranking: 138
Worldwide wins: 0
Best in a major: T4 (2015 US Open)
US Opens played: One (1 cut made)
Best US Open: T4 (2015)
Odds: $401
Why he can win: Was T4 on debut in majors at last year's US Open, earning himself a trip back this year. Was fearless despite the stage.
Why he might not: Has been far from stellar this year and has just two results inside the top 35 in 16 starts.
STEVEN BOWDITCH (Aus)
Age: 33
World ranking: 121
Worldwide wins: 2
Best in a major: T26 (2014 Masters)
US Opens played: On debut
Best US Open: On debut
Odds: $1001
Why he can win: He has absolutely nothing to lose and has had more practice out of bad lies than most this season.
Why he might not: Form since his second tour win last year has all but deserted him. Since a top 10 in January has struggled big-time, with just eight of 38 rounds under par and eight of them 80 or higher.
Aron Price (Aus)
Age: 34
World ranking: 418
Worldwide wins: 0
Best in a major: Cut (2014 US Open)
US Opens played: 1 (0 cuts made)
Best US Open: Cut (2014)
Odds: $1001
Why he can win: Low expectations mean low pressure. Learned from his maiden appearance two years ago and won't be lost in the hype.
Why he might not: Has very little form on any tour this season. Can't get a start on the secondary tour but gets a chance via Open qualifying to change his life.
JORDAN SPIETH (US)
Age: 22
World ranking: 2
Worldwide wins: 9
Best in a major: Win (2015 Masters, 2015 US Open)
US Opens played: 4 (3 cuts made)
Best US Open: Win (2015)
Odds: $10
Why he can win: Defending champion coming off a recent win in Texas. Spieth wants the world No.1 spot back and can get close with a win here.
Why he might not: Frustration can get the better of Spieth when things aren't going his way, and Oakmont will test patience and mental toughness mightily.
RORY McILROY (NIR)
Age: 26
World ranking: 3
Worldwide wins: 20
Best in a major: 4
Wins: (2011 US Open, 2012, 2014 PGA Championship; 2014 British Open)
US Opens played: 7 (5 cuts made)
Best US Open: Win (2011)
Odds: $8
Why he can win: Proven major winner who recently won his home open in Ireland. Drives the ball better than any other player - a huge advantage.
Why he might not: While he putted well in his last start in Ohio, McIlroy is streaky with the flat stick, and he could be in trouble on Oakmont's tricky greens.
PHIL MICKELSON (US)
Age: 45
World ranking: 17
Worldwide wins: 46
Best in a major: 5 wins (Masters 2004, 2006, 2010; PGA Championship 2005; British Open 2013)
US Opens played: 25 (23 cuts made)
Best US Open: 2nd (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013)
Odds: $29
Why he can win: The fairytale. After six runner-up finishes, most with heartache attached, the US Open is all that stands between Phil and a career grand slam. Enters with some form in Memphis.
Why he might not: He's in the longest win drought of his career, since the 2013 British Open, and the pressure to win his national championship is immense.
DUSTIN JOHNSON (US)
Age: 30
World ranking: 6
Worldwide wins: 9
Best in a major: T2 (2011 British Open; 2015 US Open)
US Opens played: 8 (7 cuts made)
Best US Open: T2 (2015)
Odds: $17
Why he can win: The big-hitting Johnson can overpower a course and is one of the best in the world without a major to his name. Had a short putt to win it last year, only to three-putt.
Why he might not: Has big issues closing big tournaments. Threw away last year's US Open with a 72nd hole three-putt.
