U.S. Open: Fitzpatrick to defend his title against McIlroy, Koepka, Rahm, Scheffler and Hovland

The third major of the golf season is underway. Following the agreement reached between the world's three major golf tours, from Thursday until Sunday, California's exclusive Los Angeles Country Club will host the 123rd edition of the U.S. Open. It is a par 70 course and 7,200 yards in length.

British golfer Matt Fitzpatrick won last year's edition and will have to defend his title against his compatriot Rory McIlroy, Spain's Jon Rahm, Norway's Viktor Hovland and Americans Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka. Absent will be three-time U.S. Open champion Tiger Woods, who is recovering from an ankle surgery he underwent in April.

Koepka is aiming to win his third U.S. Open title, while McIlroy and Rahm are both aiming for their second. Scheffler and Hovland have yet to win this championship.

The top 60 ranked players were automatically admitted to the U.S. Open. A total of 156 golfers, six of them amateurs, will be part of the grand tournament.

The first round will be held Thursday, the second on Friday, the third on Saturday, and, on Sunday, the champion of the 2023 U.S. Open will be crowned.