2023 U.S. Open Golf Championship: What to Know, How to Watch

While we love the summer for gifting us heat-beating pool parties, savory cookouts and blockbuster films — if you’re a fan of professional golf, June means one thing and one thing only: the return of the PGA tour’s coveted U.S. Open.

Whether you’re a bona fide linksman, trying to crack a sub-10 handicap or just a fan of watching grown men wallop a small, beveled ball hundreds of yards down manicured fairways, the U.S. Open is the sporting event of the summer that’s got a little bit of everything for everyone.

RELATED: NASCAR Drops the Hammer on Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing with Stiff Penalty for Counterfeit Part

So, dust off that Tommy Bahama shirt you’ve been seeking a reason to don and polish up that vintage Big Bertha taking up space in the garage because the stars are aligning to make the 123^rd U.S. Open one of the best the sport has ever seen.

Where is the U.S. Open being played, and what are the dates?

The 2023 U.S. Open will be held this year on the West Coast in California at the acclaimed Los Angeles Country Club (LACC). Created more than a century ago in 1897, the LACC boasts a rich history of hosting prestigious events, from the U.S. Women’s Amateur Golf Championship in 1930 to the first of four Los Angeles Opens that began in 1926. But this year’s U.S Open marks the first major championship to ever be held at the club. The first round of action tees off Thursday, June 15, and the final round will swing into play Sunday, June 18.

Who are the key players to watch at the 123^rd U.S. Open?

Considering this year’s field is one of the more talented bunches we’ve seen in recent history, what better place to bring out golf’s brightest stars than Hollywood?

Defending U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick seeks to repeat his victory last year sans all the drama of going down to the wire with Will Zalatoris, whose missed putt on the hole 17 opened the door just enough for Fitzpatrick to capitalize on with a tournament best of six-under-par. Currently ranked ninth in the world, “Fitz” hopes to add another win on his season that includes his victory at the RBC Heritage.

RELATED: Danica Patrick Weighs In on "Tall Challenge" Facing Kyle Larson in Coca-Cola 600, Indy 500 Same-Day Feat

Scottie Scheffler has been on a hot streak this season, notching big victories at The Players Championship in Florida and the WM Phoenix Open in Arizona. With his last major competition being The Masters in 2022, the American looks to keep the competition at bay and hold on to his top spot in the world rankings.

Scottie Scheffler of the United States lines up a putt on the 14th green during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge Photo: Getty Images

Previous U.S. Open winner (2021) Jon Rahm has had his own dominant run this year, scoring wins at The Masters, The American Express Golf Tournament, The Genesis Invitational and the Sentry Tournament of Champions. The 28-year-old and first Spaniard to ever win the U.S. Open is ranked second in world standings, and a victory at LACC would catapult him past Schefler to give him the top spot on the table.

While he’s currently in a bit of drought this year with no wins, you can never officially count out Rory McIlroy. The 34-year-old ace from Northern Ireland owns an impressive 34 career wins to go with his four major championships: The PGA Championship (2012, 2014), The U.S. Open (2011) and The Open Championship (2014). McIlroy’s masterful short game and power from the tee box nearly scored him a victory at The Masters in 2022, where he finished second behind Scheffler. Known to be one of the more approachable stars on the tour, smashing the long ball with an average distance of 326.6 yards, according to USA Today, McIlroy’s a fan favorite amongst the crowds, willing to sign autographs for whomever asks, and his interviews always exude his signature blend of charisma and golf acumen.

Is Tiger Woods playing in the 2023 U.S. Open?

Though he was expected to play in the event, unfortunately, Eldrick Tont “Tiger” Woods, a three-time U.S. Open winner, was forced to withdraw from this year’s tournament. The stunning announcement from the co-leader of total PGA wins (82) shocked the golf world only a few days ago, but, truth be told, it shouldn’t be all that surprising. The G.O.A.T. of golf is still recovering from surgery on his ankle that he underwent to target the complications he endured in his horrific car crash in February 2021. A perpetual box office draw, Woods was last seen in action at this year's Masters in Augusta, but had to withdraw because of plantar fasciitis after just making the cut.

Which LIV Golf athletes are playing in the 2023 U.S. Open?

Due to the fact it’s financed through the Public Investment Fund — the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia – LIV Golf has been a source of controversy whose ripple effects continue to cast deep shadows over professional golf, owing to Saudi Arabia's history of human rights abuses. Furthermore, the massive size of the Public Investment Fund has meant that several box office-producing stars have defected from the PGA tour as they seek to garner the Brobdingnagian-sized purses LIV Golf can afford, exacerbating the enduring tension between the tournament and the PGA.

That said, the talent employed by LIV Golf is nothing short of superb. In total, 11 players from the Saudi-backed tour will play in the 2023 U.S. Open, including past U.S. Open winners Bryson DeChambeau (2020), Dustin Johnson (2016) and Martin Kaymer (2014). Sergio Garcia and Cameron Smith are two other sensational golfers from the Saudi-funded circuit to keep an eye on. While he’s not an official LIV Golf athlete yet, Jason Day has left the door open to joining the tour and is someone who could make a strong run into the final round of this year’s tournament.

The 52-year-ol Phil Mickelson will also be out on the hunt early on as “Lefty” has enjoyed a bit of a career resurgence in recent years, taking over for the injured Woods as one of the sport’s most consistent draws. The SoCal native left the PGA tour where he spent 30 years, and he is familiar with LACC – an advantage that he hopes will help him get over the hump after finishing in second place at a whopping six different U.S. Opens (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013).

Phil Mickelson of the United States waves as he walks to the eighth tee during the final round of the 2023 PGA Championship Photo: Getty Images

Of all the LIV Golf athletes participating in this year’s 2023 U.S. Open, Brookes Koepka will have the most eyes on him. After his historic victory at this year’s PGA Championship, the 33-year-old from West Palm Beach, Florida is the first LIV Golf athlete to win a major after joining the Saudi-backed tour. The former number one-ranked golfer is also a two-time U.S. Open champion, so if there’s anyone from LIV Golf who could threaten Scheffler and Rahm for supremacy this year, it’s Koepka.

Where can fans watch the 2023 U.S. Open?

All the action will unfold on NBC, Peacock and USA Network. The times and platforms are designated below (all times Eastern):

Round 1: Thursday, June 15   

9:40 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Peacock exclusively

1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on USA Network

8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. on NBC and Peacock

Round 2: Friday, June 16        

9:40 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Peacock exclusively.

1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on USA Network

8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. on NBC and Peacock

Round 3: Saturday, June 17     

1:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. on NBC and Peacock

Round 4: Sunday, June 18       

12:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. on Peacock exclusively.

While the first U.S. Open, held in 1895, had a prize fund of a mere $335, the total purse of 123^rd iteration of the PGA tour’s fabled U.S. Open is projected to exponentially dwarf that with an astronomical eight figures in total player payout. And to all the dads out there, you’re in luck as the tournament gets underway over Father’s Day weekend, so sit back, relax and soak up all the action the LACC links have to offer. This year, you deserve it.