It will be a US Open unlike any other in almost all respects at Chambers Bay this week except the most important one: at the end of it, somebody will be the 115^th United States Open Champion.

Eight Australians take their place in the field representing a mixture of qualifiers and automatic starters and claiming history with the event as diverse as former champion to a complete rookie.

As is often the case Australia punches above its weight in terms of numbers boasting the fourth largest contingent in the field behind the US (84), England (11) and South Africa (9), testament to the culture of the game in this part of the world.

But could an Australian be holding aloft the Havemeyer Trophy come the end of the week? It’s not beyond the realms of possibility, particularly at a course which has proved divisive among the world’s top players.

The nature of the Chambers Bay layout, more in keeping with the style of courses found in the UK than the PGA TOUR, has clearly made some uncomfortable but the Australians, in general, will find it less confronting than many of their counterparts.

In no particular order we analyse each of their chances below and hope at least one, if not more, give Australian fans something to cheer about come Monday morning our time.

Adam Scott

Since claiming the title as top Australian when he donned the Masters jacket in 2013 it’s been a mixed bag for Adam Scott.

2014 was somewhat indifferent by his standards and, by the same measure, 2015 has got off to a horrible start.

But when his tee time rolls around this Thursday Scott will be in a very different frame of mind to his first nine events this year

For the first time in 2015 Steve Williams, the looper who guided Scott to that epic green jacket win and later to the top of the world rankings, will be on the bag again.

Scott coaxed the game’s most successful bagman out of retirement a few weeks ago specifically for the remaining three majors of the year and the mere fact Williams agreed to take the job is a boost to the 34-year-old’s confidence.

Scott openly admitted when the two first teamed up that Williams just showing an interest in working with him was a compliment that carried more weight than all the accolades of writers and fans combined.

His demeanour with Williams on the bag was always slightly different, exuding a little more confidence, and with that intangible working for him again this week it would be no surprise if he was a factor come Sunday.

While his putting remains a concern all other aspects of Scott’s game are so strong that a modicum of extra confidence on the greens is all it will take to turn things around and Williams will help in that department as well.

The Kiwi famously read the putt that won the Masters and Scott will no doubt benefit from Williams’ input again on the huge, sloping greens at Chambers Bay.

In 13 US Open appearances Scott, surprisingly, has just one top-10 finish and that came last year at Pinehurst.

Expect him to add to that tally this week as part of what will be a formidable team for the remainder of the year’s major events.

Jason Day

It might only be his fifth appearance but it’s no secret Jason Day’s record at the US Open is the envy of many.

From outright second at his first attempt at Congressional in 2011 Day was T2 in 2013 and T4 last year behind a runaway Martin Kaymer.

In fact his only finish outside the top-five came in 2012 at Olympic Club when a third round 76 dropped him well down the leaderboard and he went on to finish T59.

After a brilliant start to 2015 Day has struggled in recent tournaments battling bouts of dizziness and shooting some uncharacteristically high numbers,

However, the young Queenslander has proved in his still relatively short career that he is a big event player and events don’t come much bigger than the US Open.

While Chambers Bay will ask a completely different set of questions to any previous US Open layout Day has faced the 26-year-old has all the tools required, both physical and mental, to deal with the examination.

At his pre-tournament press conference Day spoke about attitude being the most important club in the bag at an event like the US Open and he is a proven performer in that department.

Physically his short game will come to the fore with plenty of creativity and touch required around Chambers Bay’s large, intricate green complexes with the only potential concern being his high ball flight should the wind get up.

While his recent form hasn’t been anywhere near his best it would be a surprise if Day wasn’t around at the business end of this championship and it’s certainly within his grasp to win it.

Marc Leishman

Of the eight Australians in this week’s field Marc Leishman might be the one to watch over the four days at Chambers Bay.

Since missing the Masters because of the serious illness of wife Audrey the Victorian has played some impressive golf, including at the recent Memorial tournament where he finished T5.

Leishman has openly admitted the health scare in April has given him a new perspective about the game and that freedom of thought could well pay dividends this week.

At 31 he’s not short on experience and is familiar with the pressure of being on a leaderboard at a Major.

While Rory McIlroy was wowing the golf world over the northern summer in 2014 Leishman quietly finished T5 at The Open at Hoylake and backed it up with an outright third at the WGC Bridgestone.

This year he has impressed with his play at the WGC Match play and told AAP’s Ben Everill this week he feels his game has been building.

"I definitely think I’m building to something big," he said.  "The US Open is not usually my favourite tournament, but this is different."

Having previously played Pebble Beach in 2010, Congressional in 2011 and Merion in 2013 Leishman will rightly feel more comfortable at Chambers Bay.

The wider fairways and large green complexes favour the player with imagination and the potential for strong winds is one the Warrnambool native always welcomes.

While he won’t start favourite with the bookmakers Leishman brings all the necessary tools to Chambers Bay to be a contender and he is due a big result. Don’t be surprised if it comes this week.

John Senden

It seems to be feast or famine for John Senden at the US Open. His often talked about superior ball striking should be tailor made for the tournament and the three times he’s made the cut in his six appearances that has been the case.

Senden’s best results have come at Congressional in 2011 (T30), Olympic in 2012 (T10) and Merion in 2013 (T15) while he missed the cut at Shinnecock Hills (2004), Pebble Beach (2010) and Pinehurst last year.

The key for Senden, historically, seems to be the first round. Fast starts have set the tone all three years he has made the weekend, particularly at Merion where he was in the top-10 through two rounds.

The unknown this year for the 44-year-old, as it is for the entire field, will be the Chambers Bay course itself.

Because it is such a radical departure from the norm for the USGA the players who deal best with being outside their comfort zone will be the ones likely to perform best and for Senden that is an unknown.

His solid hitting will be a huge advantage if he can pick the right targets to aim at and on greens that will make putting difficult for even the best exponents the net result could be a good week for Senden.

Geoff Ogilvy

The last Australian to win the US Open almost a decade ago Ogilvy will be one of the most interested observers in the field at Chambers Bay this week.

A keen student of golf course architecture the move to such a radically different design will pique his interest and an engaged Ogilvy generally plays better.

While others will find some elements of the week confronting Ogilvy will lap it up and while his game hasn’t been anywhere near its best this year it’s interesting to note his best finish came at the highly regarded Quail Hollow course last month when he was T7.

Having grown up in Melbourne and fallen in love with Royal Melbourne, Ogilvy cites that and St Andrews as his two favourite golf courses.

While Chambers Bay isn’t quite like either it bears similarities to both demanding shots sometimes be played away from the flag in order to get close and plenty of imagination around the greens.

It’s a style of golf many equate with fun and Ogilvy has said he needs to remind himself this week how much he enjoys this sort of play.

"If you came out here with your buddies with no score in mind you’d have the time of your life because there are so many shots out here to try," he told Ben Everill earlier this week.

That attitude is exactly what will be required to play well at Chambers Bay, particularly as USGA Executive Director Mike Davis has some unusual tricks up his sleeve.

The 1^st and 18^thholes will both switch between par-4 and par-5 over the course of the week and the par-3 9^th has two tee options playing from completely different directions and requiring totally different shots.

That will upset more than a few players but Ogilvy is one who will embrace the flexible nature of the course and tournament and as a result could well flourish.

Many judges won’t give Ogilvy much of a chance this week based on recent form but it would be a mistake to write him off completely.

Cameron Smith

At every step of his short Professional career Cameron Smith has impressed and while it would be a stretch to suggest he will contend at Chambers Bay it would be a great achievement – and no surprise – if he were to make the cut.

Four desperately needed birdies in his last six holes to earn his place in the field through qualifying was a telling result, proving the 21-year-old has all the tools to make it to the top levels of the game.

Smith has been in the US much of this year trying to earn a ticket to the PGA TOUR the hard way, through sponsor exemptions, and while that now appears unlikely he has gained invaluable experience teeing up on the world’s biggest stage each week.

That experience will come to the fore as the week unfolds and the lessons learned at Chambers Bay will equally stand him in good stead as his career progresses.

Undoubtedly a star of the future, this week’s US Open may well come to be viewed as a critical point in Smith’s career as he continues to perform on the world stage.

Marcus Fraser

Since returning from a wrist injury at the back end of last year Marcus Fraser has been one of Australia’s most consistent performers on the European Tour.

In 10 events this year he has missed just one cut and was impressive in surviving a five man play-off at the European qualifier to claim his place in the field.

Fraser has played the US Open twice before finishing T45 at Oakmont in 2007 and missing the cut in 2013 at Merion.

However, like all the Australians and those internationals who spend the bulk of their time in Europe the Chambers Bay course might be less intimidating than for some of his American counterparts.

The wild undulations and all fescue grass surfaces found at Chambers Bay are a rarity in the US but more familiar to those who have played a lot of golf in the UK, which Fraser has.

The Victorian’s unflappable nature is well suited to the test at this level and while the field is a step up in class from what he encounters week to week in Europe he is capable of a better US Open finish than his best to date.

Kurt Barnes

Since joining the Japan Tour in 2010 Kurt Barnes has found a level of comfort in his game which has seen him mature from a youngster with potential to a Professional golfer capable of performing week in and week out.

This week’s US Open will be Barnes’ third major appearance after qualifying for starts at The Open Championship in both 2010 and 2011 but he is yet to make a cut at this level.

Like Marcus Fraser in Europe, Barnes survived a play-off at qualifying in Japan and will be relishing the opportunity to test himself against the best in the world.

Though his game has all the elements required for success in the US, Barnes has limited experience in this part of the world and comes to Chambers Bay an unknown quantity.

It is unlikely he will contend for the title but the experience gained will be invaluable as he continues to build his Professional career in Japan and Australia.

Barnes has one victory on his resume in Japan but has the potential to add significantly to that number. His week in Chambers Bay will no doubt be an important part of the learning process that sees him realise more of that potential in coming years.

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