The year’s third men’s major is upon us and the US Open returns to one of its spiritual homes.

The heavenly Shinnecock Hills, situated between Peconic Bay and the mighty Atlantic Ocean, hosts this fine championship for the fifth time in the last 40 years and for the sixth time since Horace Rawlins claimed the inaugural US Open title in 1895.

The following year, Rawlins was the runner-up to Scotsman James Foulis at Shinnecock, just five years after the club was founded. Shinnecock was one of five charter clubs which formed the United States Golf Association (USGA), so this year’s championship has a feel of returning to its roots.

The club was one of the first to have women members from its inception and embraced, supported and welcomed the Shinnecock natives to share its course created on the Native American grounds.

It was not without controversy when the club and USGA invited American Native professional golfer Oscar Bunn to compete in 1896. In these very different times, several of the competitors refused to play, but the governing bodies held firm and Oscar teed it up with prominent players of that era.

Today, Oscar’s memory remains very much part of Shinnecock. The Oscar Bunn Facility was opened in 2018 in recognition of the contributions from the Shinnecock Indians. Designed for juniors and beginners with driving bays, a putting green and short-game areas, it comes at no cost – the facility is wholly funded by the USGA.

Huge history at Shinnecock Hills

The club has also hosted the US Women’s Amateur, the Senior Amateur and the 1977 Walker Cup. The Masters chairman and 1975 US Amateur champion Fred Ridley was on the winning American team and defeated Scotland’s future Masters champion Sandy Lyle twice in the singles.

The US Open returned in 1986, Raymond Floyd the champion over Lanny Watkins and Chip Beck. Sky Sports were there in 1995 to see Corey Pavin hit one of the championship’s most memorable shots, a four-wood to the 18th green finishing five feet away to edge Greg Norman by two shots.

Nine years on, South African Retief Goosen prevailed in a battle with Phil Mickelson on a tough final day when no player broke par. The left-hander suffered a ‘Mickelson meltdown’ at the par-three 17th, resulting in a double-bogey. Mickelson finished second in this championship no less than six times, meaning, despite a golden career, the career Grand Slam slipped from his grasp.

The last US Open here back in 2018 was another classic where, in the final round, England’s Tommy Fleetwood had a 10-foot putt for what would have been a record US Open score of 62.

It was not to be and Brooks Koepka, by the narrowest of margins, successfully defended the title he had won the previous year at Erin Hills in Wisconsin.

Those seeing this excellent course for the first time will quickly be impressed with it, as well as the stunning surrounding area of Southampton on Long Island. It is not 100 per cent links but has similarities and, should it be firm and fast it, provides a stern test for the top players.

Its traditions are strong and many of the holes are named from their own – and some others’ – history. The opener ‘Westward Ho’ perhaps taken from Royal North Devon’s par-three seventh and ‘Redan’ is the name of North Berwick’s 15th.

The ninth – Ben Nevis – is a nod to Fort William Golf Club, which lies in the shadow of the highest peak in the UK. Its penultimate offering is named Eden, after the 11th at St Andrews’ Old Course.

Could Shinnecock produce a European winner?

So who will win on these sacred grounds? You will have your favourites and no doubt have made your choices.

I think European players will fare well and feel this is a course that will suit the in-form Matt Fitzpatrick, fresh off his runner-up finish in Canada. And let’s not dismiss his brother Alex Fitzpatrick, who has taken to America like a duck to water.

Fleetwood will be buoyed by the memories of his performance in 2018 and will relish the breezes and firm fairways. Rory McIlroy will always be in the conversation and will feel pretty comfortable with the conditions and undulating terrain, as will close friend Shane Lowry.

The newly-crowned PGA champion Aaron Rai has won the Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club, as has Robert McIntyre, and there are comparisons between the two venues.

A player I’ve admired over the last two seasons is Kristoffer Reitan. While still an amateur, he qualified for the last US Open at Shinnecock, the first Norwegian to do so.

He reached the quarter-finals of the US Junior Championship in 2015 where he lost to the eventual winner Philip Barbaree. His caddie that week was Viktor Hovland. Now a winner on the PGA Tour, his career is progressing nicely and many good days lie ahead.

Tough to predict US Open champion

Of the American contenders, Koepka was finding his best form again – before his injury in Canada last week – and a sixth major victory would not be a surprise.

Cameron Young has taken his game to another level this season with a superb win at Sawgrass in the spring and now looks comfortable on the grand stages, so I would expect him to have four good days.

There is, as always, a strong international representation, many who have made their way through various qualifying stages. Forty-three players progressed through final qualifying earlier this month on what is known as ‘golf’s longest day’, with two of them aged just 17.

The youngest, Miles Russell is America’s No 1 junior player and world No 10 amateur. With Tiger Woods’ young lad Charlie on the bag, he qualified after a play-off in Palm Beach Gardens having shot rounds of 71 and 67.

In a game for the ages, 45-year-old Australian Adam Scott will play in his 100th consecutive major. A phenomenal record for one of golf’s most popular players and something only Jack Nicklaus was ever able to manage.

Golf’s top player, Scottie Scheffler, has the career Grand Slam within touching distance and The Masters, PGA Championship and The Open safely tucked away. Should Scheffler claim the unnamed trophy and re-write the record books on June 21, he will do so on his 30th birthday.

With 156 players starting on Thursday, picking a winner is far from easy, so good luck with your choices and enjoy the week with the full Sky Sports team.

Who will win the third men’s major of the year? Watch the US Open live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins on Thursday from 12.30pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.