US Open talking points: LIV Golf's shadow, Mickelson's quest, and in-form McIlroy's bid

The season’s third major championship takes place this week, with the US Open teeing off on Thursday. We look at some of the main talking points heading into the event at The Country Club in Brookline, Boston.

Charl Schwartzel poses with the trophy after winning the LIV Invitational Series at the Centurion Golf Club in St Albans, England, on June 11. EPA

It represents the foremost issue in golf right now. Understandably, it has dominated this week’s pre-event press briefings. Justin Thomas labelled it “sad”. Phil Mickelson did his best to deflect and dismiss. Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm spoke eloquently, as is their wont, each defending staunchly the PGA Tour. Brooks Koepka was, some would say rather forebodingly, conspicuously chippy.

Predictably, LIV Golf was the hot topic at The Country Club in Brookline, in what marks the first tournament since the Saudi Arabia-backed Invitational Series kicked off last week. Charl Schwartzel walked away as LIV’s inaugural winner on Saturday, pocketing $4.75 million in the process - $2.5m more than the major championship offers this week.

It’s almost impossible at the moment to avoid the game’s controversial new arrival. So, will there be any more player announcements this week? And how will the PGA Tour loyalists mix with LIV’s acolytes on the ground in Boston? Regrettably, those talking points could overshadow all else for the majority.

Crowds watch Rory McIlroy during a practice round at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. EPA

Always vociferous, the Boston crowd will most probably play a factor this week. In 1999, the fans who descended on Brookline for the Ryder Cup famously heckled Team Europe, at times emotion spilling over to the unsavoury. Just ask Colin