All roads in the golfing world point to North Carolina this week as the third major of 2024 takes centre stage.
The 124th edition of the US Open takes place at Pinehurst No.2 where the challenge is expected to be immense, as per usual.
While there are exceptions to prove the rule, this event will generally see players aiming for level par and then hoping for the best.
Four-time winner Jack Nicklaus this week described the layout at Pinehurst as “a tree-lined golf course without a tree in play. “It's the epitome of repelling golf."
The last man to win the US Open at this course was Martin Kaymer in 2014 when he broke the mould to win by eight shots on nine under. Others have also thrown off the shackles of expectation, such as Wyndham Clark in last year's edition where he carded a ten under final score, along with seventeen other golfers who broke par.
Those below-par cards are however a rarity and should not be the expectation this week.
Waterford's Seamus Power lines out in North Carolina this weekend, coming off the back of two hectic weeks on the fairways.
He was not allowed to feel sorry for himself after missing the cut at the Canadian Open two weeks ago, leaving Hamilton Golf and Country after an early shower on Friday. More pressing matters hovered as the Touraneena man headed to Columbus to grab one of the final qualifying places for Pinehurst.
Five places were up for grabs at what was a 36-hole qualifier and Power shot 64 and 68 for -10 to finish in a share of first with Justin Lower.
He had to hold his nerve to book his place with a birdie on the final hole to avoid going to a playoff.
Thursday will mark Power's third consecutive US Open having taken a share of 12th in 2022 before a missed cut in last year's edition.
His finish at the Memorial has seen him improve his world rankings standing to 118th and will want to make an impression having not featured at the Masters or the PGA Championship.
Seamus will be joined by three other Irish golfers this week with Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowery and Tom McKibbin also teeing it up.
