FIVE major contenders for the US Open 2022

It's been a hectic couple of weeks in the golf world, but away from the madness that is the LIV Golf Invitational, there is the small matter of the US Open.

The 122nd instalment of the famous golf major will begin this Thursday with the biggest and best golfers in the world flocking to The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts with the aim of lifting the Wanamaker Trophy.

The field will be littered with stars, but who will be in contention come Sunday evening?

Jon Rahm

It's been a mixed season for Jon Rahm, with the Spaniard losing his No.1 ranking to the red-hot Scottie Scheffler earlier this year.

Rahm has just one win to his name this season, having picked up victory at the Mexico Open back in January. Rahm also has a second and third-placed finish to his name on this season's PGA Tour.

Rahm has underperformed in the Majors so far this year, finishing T27th at the Masters before registering a T48th finish at the PGA Championship. His struggles with the putter were apparent in both of those tournaments.

However, it would be foolish to write off a player of Rahm's quality. He enters this competition as the defending champion and is more than capable of being in the final pairings come Sunday.

Rory McIlroy

It has been eight long years since Rory McIlroy was last named a major champion.

It seems almost impossible to think that a player of Rory's quality could go so long without winning a major honour. However, that is the case for the Northern Irishman, who will be keen to end that drought this week.

He enters the competition in fine fettle, producing an approach game clinic to hold off the challenge of Justin Thomas and Tony Finau and claim victory at the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday.

Rory has two top-ten finishes in this year's majors so far (2nd at the Masters and 8th at the PGA Championship). He'll be there or thereabouts this weekend.

Jordan Spieth

Jordan Spieth will be hoping that he can add a second U.S. Open title to his trophy cabinet this week, having picked up the Wanamaker Trophy back in 2015.

The former world No.1 has shown glimpses of a return to his best form this season, registering victory at the RBC Heritage alongside a runners-up finish at the AT&T Byron Nelson.

There are few better on the tour tee-to-green than Spieth, but despite gaining over 1.3 shots on the field in that department, the American is ranked 153rd on the PGA Tour in putting.

If Spieth can get his putter hot this week, then he is more than capable of getting his hands on the Wanamaker Trophy once again.

Will Zalatoris

Will Zalatoris has been one of the top-performing players at the majors so far this year, in fact, he couldn't have come closer to winning the PGA Championship last month.

The 25-year-old missed out to Justin Thomas in a dramatic play-off having carded an impressive five-under through his four rounds. He was one of only 12 players to finish under par in difficult conditions at Southern Hills.

Zalatoris has carded 36 birdies throughout the majors so far this year, and if he can keep his cool with the putter from inside 10 feet, then there is no reason why he couldn't be taking that final step over the line this week.

Matt Fitzpatrick

Matt Fitzpatrick has been flirting with a first PGA Tour win over the course of the last few weeks, but could he bypass that milestone to be named a major champion first?

The Englishman took a healthy lead into the back nine during round two of the Canadian Open, only to be struck down by a string of bogies before finishing T10 after a final round 67.

Fitzpatrick picked up the US Amateur title on this very course back in 2013, and with a proven track record of victory around The Country Club, this could be the perfect setting for a historic victory for the Englishman.