Four of those diverse dozen, Morikawa, Rahm, McIlroy and Scheffler, have major titles. Six more, Dahmen, Buckley, Beau Hossler, NeSmith, Rodgers and Hardy, have achieved this week winning places through 36 qualifying holes in a process that begins with nearly 9,000 participants, drops to 870 and ends with 65 joining to others. 91 who had obtained exemptions directly in the field.
The golf course they will face over the weekend will be different from most others they have seen, not only because of the rugged, mountainous course of The Country Club, but also because the weekend forecast predicts a wind of 10 to 15 mph north.
“I would expect the weekend to be a little faster and a little hotter,” McIlroy said. “You have to be pretty accurate, but maybe a little more accurate with everything.”
Given how we are with the field and the forecasts, there is still a good chance of seeing a surprise winner, even with some established names also in the running.