The 123rd US Open, the third men’s major of the season, begins on Thursday on the north course of the prestigious Los Angeles Country Club in California.

The event returns to Hollywood for the first time in 75 years, with world number one Scottie Scheffler, US PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka, and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy among the main performances.

The 156-man competition includes reigning champion Matthew Fitzpatrick of England and Jon Rahm of Spain, who won the Masters in April.

Omar Morales, a Mexican University student, and Berry Henson, a 43-year-old American who also works as a cab driver, are among six debutants who will begin play on the first and tenth tees at 14:45 BST after qualifying.

Tiger Woods will be absent as he recovers from an ankle ailment, as will PGA professional Michael Block, who stole the show at Oak Hill last month but was one of nearly 10,000 players who failed to qualify.

This will also be the first major tournament following the shocking news of a commercial combination between the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF).

And this is likely to keep worries about golf’s future alive long after the championship’s 18-inch-tall sterling silver trophy is lifted on Sunday.

The following are some of the biggest storylines leading up to golf’s second oldest major championship.