The 122nd U.S. Open returns Thursday to The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., 34 years after Curtis Strange beat Nick Faldo in a Monday playoff to capture the first of back-to-back national championships. The field of 156 players includes defending champ Jon Rahm and six-time runner-up Phil Mickelson but not Tiger Woods. Post-Gazette golf writer Gerry Dulac handicaps the contenders and predicts the winner:
— Rory McIlroy: In good form to win a second U.S. Open title
— Jon Rahm: Defending champ has played poorly in other majors
