Power Rankings: Puerto Rico Open

The U.S. Open returns to historic Shinnecock Hills for just the fifth time and first since 2004’s calamity next week, as Brooks Koepka makes his first major title defense against a lineup headlined by FedExCup leader Justin Thomas and Masters champion Patrick Reed. Phil Mickelson returns to the Open stage after a one-year layoff to attend his firstborn daughter’s high school graduation, still seeking the elusive title that would complete the career Grand Slam. Tiger Woods also is back for just the second time since 2013, marking the 10-year anniversary of his epic 2008 triumph at Torrey Pines. FIELD NOTES Thomas, Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose, who have combined for 15 victories worldwide in the past 18 months, top a lineup slated to feature each of the top 60 in the world rankings. Adam Scott is ready for his 68th consecutive major, a streak that was in jeopardy until claiming the last spot in his sectional qualifier. The Aussie hasn’t missed a major since the 2002 U.S. Open. Six slots remain available for players moving into the world top 60 by Monday and not already qualified. Byeong Hun An, 56th after a playoff loss at the Memorial Tournament, has one locked up. A total of 19 amateurs currently grace the field, the most since the 1981 edition also featured 19. Retief Goosen, who out-dueled Mickelson for the 2004 crown at Shinnecock Hills, is absent after failing to advance out of final qualifying. FEDEXCUP Winner receives 600 points. STORYLINES Shinnecock Hills steps back into the Open spotlight, hopeful of a better account than 14 years ago when overnight winds caught USGA officials unprepared to mitigate a Sunday of baked-out greens. The most notable was the No. 7, where tee shots struggled to hold the sloped surface even as the green was watered between groups. Mickelson, whose collection of Open angst includes two top-5s at Shinnecock Hills, makes his 27th attempt at what’s now the only major missing from his portfolio. He turns 48 during Open week. Koepka seeks to become the first man to win back-to-back Opens since Curtis Strange in 1988-89. After a four-month layoff to let a nagging wrist injury heal, he tied for 11th at THE PLAYERS Championship and was runner-up to Rose at Fort Worth. Just six defending Open champions since 1991 have placed higher than 30th in their title defense. Woods did it three times, with a best of sixth at Bethpage in 2009, joined by Goosen (11th, 2005). Graeme McDowell (14th, 2011) and Rose (12th, 2014). COURSE Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, 7,440 yards, par 70. The oldest incorporated golf club in the United States, Shinnecock Hills was formed in 1891 and was one of five founding members of the U.S. Golf Association. The Long Island club welcomed the U.S. Open’s second edition in 1896, then endured a 90-year gap before the Open returned in 1986. The Open also held its centennial at Shinnecock Hills in 1995, hosting eight USGA events in all preceding this Open. The current layout dates back to 1931, when William Flynn designed 12 new holes and revamped six originally constructed by Charles Blair McDonald. Shinnecock Hills’ stately clubhouse was built in 1892 and remains essentially the same as then, with the help of a major restoration two years ago. 72-HOLE RECORD 268, Rory McIlroy (2011 at Congressional CC). 18-HOLE RECORD 63, Johnny Miller (4th round, 1973 at Oakmont), Tom Weiskopf (1st round, 1980 at Baltusrol), Jack Nicklaus (1st round, 1980 at Baltusrol), Vijay Singh (2nd round, 2003 at Olympia Fields), Justin Thomas (3rd round, 2017 at Erin Hills). LAST YEAR Koepka paced a pack that bludgeoned Erin Hills like no previous Open venue, claiming his first major crown with a performance that matched Rory McIlroy’s mark for lowest score against par. The Florida native went four days carding nothing worse than a bogey, finishing at 16-under-par 262 for a four-shot romp over Hideki Matsuyama and Brian Harman. It marked just the third time an Open champion had finished in double digits below par, joining McIlroy (2011) and Tiger Woods (2000). But it wasn’t just Koepka making noise as expected winds laid down. Thomas matched the Open’s 18-hole record with a Saturday 63, and seven players in all finished at 10-under or lower. By comparison, six of the previous 12 Opens finished with nobody under par. Erin Hills’ four-round average of 0.12 above par was the lowest in Open history. HOW TO FOLLOW TELEVISION: Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1), 4-7:30 p.m. (FOX). Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1), 4-7:30 p.m. (FOX). Saturday, 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. (FOX). Sunday, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. (FOX). PGA TOUR LIVE: None. RADIO: Thursday-Sunday, noon-8 p.m. ET (SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio and FOX Sports on SiriusXM).

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LAS VEGAS - Brooks Koepka believes his hip and knee injury concerns are past him as he gets set to return at THE CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK after a two-month break. Koepka revealed he once again had stem cell therapy injections in his left knee during his time off to help repair a partially torn patella tendon and also had a cortisone injection in his hip after he partially tore his labrum during the PGA Championship. The two-time PGA TOUR Player of the Year missed the FedExCup Playoffs and U.S. Open while rehabilitating. This week is his first start of the new 2020-21 season. His knee had been bothering him on and off for over a year. A year ago at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, Koepka revealed the painful stem cell treatment he'd undergone on his left knee in 2019 to get back to full strength. Unfortunately he then slipped on wet concrete at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES in South Korea soon after, re-injuring the tendon. While he tried to manage the issue his left hip took on extra load as he was unable to shift his weight correctly to his left side. That's how he tore the labrum. That happened at the PGA Championship in August where he received treatment mid-round on Friday. Despite being in contention with a round to play, a Sunday 74 sent the four-time major winner scuttling down the leaderboard. While he went to great lengths not to use the injuries as excuses throughout 2020, it took a runner-up finish at the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in August to even secure a place in the Playoffs. Now he admits "it’s the whole reason I played like crap," but is confident the troubles are behind him. "I’ve got my body squared away, feels a lot better. I didn’t know how bad I felt until I actually feel good. It’s nice to be back," Koepka said ahead of playing at Shadow Creek this week. "Memorial (July) was kind of its peak of when it was its worst, and then at the PGA it didn’t feel great. Obviously just progressively kept getting worse. I did another round of PRP (platelet rich plasma) therapy about three weeks ago on my knee and then I had a shot in my hip at Boston. It’s just all about trying to make sure everything’s good. I spent basically the last month out in San Diego doing rehab every day and just trying to get better." While he is talking a positive game the 30-year-old knows he's not totally out of the woods if the hip issue becomes more serious. "It’s not a full tear, but there’s definitely a tear there. If cortisone doesn’t work and it actually gets worse, it will be surgery and you’re out for nine months," he explained. "But everything feels good. We’re doing all of the strengthening in all of the right places. It’s the best I’ve truly felt in so long, I didn’t realize last year how limited I was from swinging. I really do feel great right now." He feels so great that he's not interested in talk he should be happy just easing himself back into competition. This despite the fact he first started full swings again just 10 days ago. "Winning (is the goal). I know physically I’ll be able to walk four rounds and have no issue with it," he said bluntly. "From there, it’s just go out and win."

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