Golf-Five storylines to follow at this week's U.S. Open

While LIV members have remained eligible to compete in the majors after joining the lucrative Saudi-backed circuit, they will arrive Los Angeles Country Club in the spotlight where they will undoubtedly be asked to weigh in on the merger. Brooks Koepka became the first active member of LIV Golf to win a major when, three weeks ago, he triumphed by two shots at the PGA Championship, a victory that came six weeks after his runner-up finish at the Masters.

Five storylines to follow as the best players in the world descend upon Los Angeles Country Club this week for the June 15-18 U.S. Open. LIV GOLF

This marks the first major to be played since the bombshell announcement of a partnership between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which controls LIV Golf, shook the golf world. While LIV members have remained eligible to compete in the majors after joining the lucrative Saudi-backed circuit, they will arrive Los Angeles Country Club in the spotlight where they will undoubtedly be asked to weigh in on the merger.

Brooks Koepka became the first active member of LIV Golf to win a major when, three weeks ago, he triumphed by two shots at the PGA Championship, a victory that came six weeks after his runner-up finish at the Masters. MCILROY MAJOR DROUGHT

Rory McIlroy, who posted top-10 finishes in his last four U.S. Open appearances, has gone nearly nine years since winning the most recent of his four majors and hopes to end that dry spell in an event known as the toughest test in golf. McIlroy missed the cut at the 2023 Masters and then, in his second event back following a short break to focus on his mental wellbeing, finished seventh at the PGA Championship.

The Northern Irishman has seven top-10 finishes in 14 U.S. Open appearances, including in 2011 when he won at Congressional Country Club while setting the mark for lowest 72-hole score in the tournament's history at 16-under-par 268. MASTER RAHM

The fiery Spaniard won a final-round tussle with Koepka to secure a four-stroke victory at the Masters and there is little reason to think he will not be in the mix as he chases what would be his fifth PGA Tour win of the year. Rahm rallied to make the cut at the PGA Championship where he finished in a disappointing share of 50th place but looked significantly better at the Memorial. With a track record of getting hot in the blink of an eye, few would count him out.

Rahm's first major triumph came at the 2021 U.S. Open when he birdied the 71st and 72nd holes for a one-stroke victory over Louis Oosthuizen at Torrey Pines Golf Course's South Course to become the first Spanish golfer to win the U.S. Open. FITZPATRICK SEEKS REPEAT

Matt Fitzpatrick hit a remarkable shot from the fairway bunker on the last hole that helped secure a one-shot victory at Brookline in 2022 and will now try to become only the eighth player to win back-to-back U.S. Open titles. Prior to his major breakthrough at Brookline, where he also won the 2013 U.S. Amateur, Fitzpatrick had never finished better than a share of 12th at a U.S. Open.

The unassuming Englishman had a top-10 finish at this year's Masters and missed the cut at the PGA Championship but inbetween emerged from a stacked field to beat Jordan Spieth in playoff at Hilton Head for his second PGA Tour title. ABSENT WOODS

Three-times champion Woods will be a notable absentee this week for a second consecutive major as he continues his recovery from the ankle surgery he had in April to address post-traumatic arthritis related to injuries he suffered in a 2021 car crash. There is no timetable for the 15-time major champion's return to competition.

Woods, who has been playing a limited schedule on a rebuilt leg following his car accident, made the cut at the Masters in April but withdrew before the weather-delayed third round resumed and cited a flare-up of his plantar fasciitis.