US Open: What are Ireland's chances of success at the second golf Major of the year?

THE season’s second golf Major tees off today and Irish hopefuls Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy are looking to make their mark at one of the sport’s premier events.

Both enter this week’s US Open in contrasting form, with the Lowry suffering a lack of confidence while McIlroy has his tail firmly up on the back of winning the Irish Open last month.

Meanwhile, fellow Irishman Graeme McDowell begins the event hoping to regain his form of six years ago when he won the US Open at Pebble Beach or at least build on a good finish at the Player’s Championship last month.

Nonetheless, a course dubbed ‘the hardest in golf’ – Oakmont Country Club – presents the task in front of the three Irishmen if they are to lift this illustrious title. With such a daunting reputation, the course must surely leave a feeling of apprehension from those involved in Thursday’s US open, as the fast greens and narrow, bunker-ridden fairways can no doubt dismantle any top golfer.

The last time the US open was played at the Oakmont Country Club in 2007, Argentine Angel Cabrera was victorious at five-over, which suggests that this year’s tournament will not be won by talent alone, but will require a special mental resilience to be able to bounce back from disasters.

To be blunter, the winner will be the player who makes the least mistakes, not the one who makes the most birdies.

Here, we evaluate the Irish chances ahead of this year’s US Open.

Shane Lowry - 125/1

The Offaly man enters the US Open amid a dwindling season so far. Disappointing showings at the Irish Open and the BMW PGA last month, in which he missed the cut, has left the 29-year-old in a mini crisis as self-doubt continues to plague Lowry’s game.

With the recent form guide of ugly viewing, it leaves justifiable uncertainties about whether Lowry can make a real charge for the title in what is such a talented field including Jason Day and Jordan Spieth.

What’s more, with a course as difficult and relentless as Oakmont, it’s hard to see a golfer as mentally fragile as Lowry is at present being able to overcome such an enduring task. Frustration and a lack of resilience was clearly shown up three weeks ago at Wentworth, when he boiled over, five putting at the 15th. Such an implode cannot be repeated at Oakmont on Thursday, as there will be simply no way back. The greens are the fastest in golf and will require a cute nous and discipline to dominate, qualities which have been absent from Lowry’s game as of late.

Nevertheless, Lowry’s win at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational last August should provide him and us a healthy reminder of his calibre and ability to compete at the highest level. The 2009 Irish open winner has a top level long game and an excellent short game off the greens, which will be a very useful asset with the thick rough and deep bunkers at this week’s course, but whether that will be enough for him to win the US open is another story. Indeed, it’s not his talent which is questionable but rather his head.

Graeme McDowell - 125/1

Having won the US Open in 2010, Graeme McDowell will certainly believe he can make it two at this week’s major. The Portrush native has been in indifferent form as of late, failing to make the cut at the Irish Open last month whilst in contrast also finishing a respectable ninth in golf’s ‘fifth major’ the Players Championship in May.

Despite, missing the cut in two of the last three US Open tournaments, McDowell’s win in 2011 at level par suggests the Ulsterman’s game is quite suited to traditional courses like Oakmont, leading one to believe he’s very much in with a shout this week especially if he can master the extremely fast greens.

With his long game sometimes a hindrance, the world number 77 will be hoping his impressive short game provides him with the guide to success. The key for ousting his golfing counterparts will be whether the 36-year old can keep his tee shots along the narrow fairways and away from the bunkers, a task which can at times be McDowell’s undoing.

After playing at Oakmont in 2007 and finishing tied 30th, McDowell will believe that experience may give him the edge on the younger stars like last year’s winner Spieth who will be arriving at the course for the first time.

Rory McIlroy - 8/1

After winning the Irish Open last month, McIlroy enters the field this week as the best hope of an Irish win as he looks to add to his last US Open victory in 2011 at the Congressional in Maryland.

The 27-year-old is one of golf’s stellar players and hardly lacks the know-how to win big tournaments, reflected by a CV which already boasts four Major wins. The ability and skill is clearly there to see. But, with his world-class quality, McIlroy will still need to be as mentally drilled and prepared as the others for what lies ahead.

The world number three’s renowned aggressive game will surely have to be put on the back burner this week and be replaced by an approach of discipline and game management if he wishes to make his mark. And though the win in Kildare and the top four finish at the Memorial will give the Co. Down man huge encouragement, McIlroy will be looking to eradicate those mental failings often seen when things don’t go his way, as witnessed in the US Masters five years ago, when he collapsed on the Sunday after leading for three rounds.

However, his experience of winning Major events will be invaluable and if he can keep his head in check, the Irish Open winner will certainly challenge, one would think. The par-fives at 609 and 667 yards can only be reached by the big hitters like McIlroy, which could give the Northern Irishman an advantage on the rest of the field.

However, having won his previous four Majors with such low scores (16-under twice, 17-under and 13-under), McIlroy will be desperate to shake off the reputation of only being able to win tournaments when conditions are soft and straight-forward.