US Open 2023: Matt Fitzpatrick, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm among players in Los Angeles

McIlroy, who partners Koepka and 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama for the first two rounds cancelled his news conference on Tuesday.

He faced questions about the merger at last week’s Canadian Open, saying the it was “most uncomfortable” he had felt for a year, and that he felt like a “sacrificial lamb” and still “hated” LIV Golf.

The world number three’s sole US Open title saw him break records in winning at the Congressional Country Club in 2011, with the last of his four major success coming nine years ago at the US PGA Championship.

However, he will be encouraged by top-10 finishes in his past four appearances at this championship, including a tie for fifth during Fitzpatrick’s victory at Brookline last June.

In a short interview with Sky Sports, the 34-year-old said he has made “big steps of progress” since missing the cut at the April’s Masters and ending up in a tie for seventh at last month’s US PGA.

Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick is aiming to become the eighth player to win the US Open in consecutive years, with Curtis Strange [1988, 1989] and Koepka [2017, 2018] the most recent to do so. He comes into the event in decent form having overcome an early season back injury.

European hopes will also rest with the likes of Rahm, who won his only US Open title in California at Torrey Pines two years ago.

The 28-year-old world number two has already won four times this season and is looking to become the first player to win the Masters and US Open in the same year since Jordan Spieth in 2015.

World number five Viktor Hovland’s game looks in the shape to go better than finishing as a runner-up at Oak Hill and he has slept on at least a share of the lead in his past three majors.

Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton will aim to build on there excellent performances at the Canadian Open as they seek an elusive first major.

Fellow Englishman Justin Rose, will also look to mark the 10-year anniversary of his triumph at Merion in style after strong performances in the first two majors of the season.