Here is a look at the top five contenders for the second major tournament of the golf season, which gets underway at Erin Hills Golf Course in Wisconsin on Thursday.
Dustin Johnson (USA)
After his breakthrough US Open win last year, Johnson seemed poised to take a stranglehold on the men’s game this season. But a freak back injury on the eve of the opening round at the Masters derailed his progress. But his big hitting should ensure he is in contention on the par-72 layout, set to be the longest major championship course in history.
Rory McIlroy (NIR)
His preparations have been interrupted by a niggling rib and back injury which have curtailed his appearances on tour. But McIlroy is looking forward to returning to the US Open – the scene of his first major triumph in 2011. McIlroy also hopes to benefit from stability in his private life. He married fiancee Erica Stoll in a private ceremony in Ireland in April.
Jordan Spieth (USA)
Became the youngest US Open winner in 92 years in 2015, two months after claiming the Masters. It was followed by a patchy 2016, best remembered for his back nine meltdown on the final day of the Masters when a five-shot lead evaporated. But a solid start to 2017 began with three top-10 finishes before he won at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Jon Rahm (ESP)
Has made a smooth transition to the professional game after an amateur career that included a 60-week spell at world No 1. His 2017 season began with a victory at the Farmers Insurance Open. Finished two behind winner Johnson at the WGC-Mexico Championship and also pushed him all the way in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play final.
Hideki Matsuyama (JPN)
Increasingly looks likely to join South Korea’s Yang Yong-eun as the only Asian-born man to win a major championship. Matsuyama finished seventh at the Masters, missed the cuts at the US and British Opens, and ended fourth at the PGA Championship. This season he retained the Phoenix Open and perfinsihed 11th at Augusta.
* Agence France-Presse
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The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
The specs: 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali
Price, base / as tested Dh207,846 / Dh220,000
Engine 6.2L V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 420hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque 624Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined 13.5L / 100km
Company%C2%A0profile
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Baby Driver
Director: Edgar Wright
Starring: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Lily James
Three and a half stars
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
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more from Janine di Giovanni
RESULTS
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1.600m
Winner: Miller’s House, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Kanood, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Gervais, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Important Mission, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Kingfisher Secret
Anonymous, Penguin Books
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
