WILL WE WITNESS THE WONDER OF WOODS?

Like the Keystone Cops on a skitey path, the golfing media tend to fall over themselves with excitement whenever a major comes round and the attentions turn to the Tiger. It's now five years since the world No.1 claimed the last of his 14 majors, in the US Open of 2008, but he's won just about everything else after his emergence from the pits of personal, physical and professional despair. Once again, he heads into a major as the man to beat and, with four victories this season, that billing is justified.

His other US Open wins, by 15 shots at Pebble Beach in 2000 and at Bethpage Park in 2002, came on courses that bore little resemblance to Merion. But Woods made a significant breakthrough with his victory in last month's Players' Championship at Sawgrass, a course which he had struggled on for years despite first winning there in 2001. If he can pick and plot his way round Sawgrass, then he can win anywhere. Major victory No.15 this weekend would finally confirm that Woods is truly back.

BIG PHIL'S FILLIP

With the kind of close shaves that Sweeney Todd would have gasped at, Phil Mickelson's US Open record is littered by flirtations with glory.

Having been runner-up five times in the championship since 1999, will Lefty finally get it right at Merion? The grinning Californian, who will celebrate his 43rd birthday on Sunday, certainly appears to be in fine fettle heading into the second major of the season and the triple Masters champion warmed himself up with a joint second place finish in last weekend's St Jude Classic.

Mickelson's last competitive taste of Merion was in the 1989 US Amateur Championship and on a course which demands far more than just blasting away with the driver, the artistry and daring recovery shots that are Mickelson's trademarks may just give him an edge. He's certainly relishing the challenge and he seems to be content with his build up, so much so that he nipped back to San Diego on Monday night to attend his daughter's eighth-grade graduation.

With Mother Nature dumping a fearsome amount of rain on to the course, the general consensus is that the soft, receptive conditions will whip up a birdie blitz. Given that he leads the PGA Tour's birdie average table, Mickelson will be licking his chops at the prospect of a major offensive on Merion.

40-SOMETHINGS TO THE FORE

You just need to watch the evergreen Bruce Forsyth still having a hit about at the age of 126 to appreciate that golf remains one of the great generation games. In this Royal & Ancient pursuit, age is certainly no barrier to success and the US Open could be the stage upon which the more experienced campaigners shine.

Like a comfy pair of baffies, Merion, at an inviting 6996 yards long, is a nice fit for the old guard. From 43-year-old Ted Ray in 1920 to 42-year-old Payne Stewart in 1999, the US Open has often shown occasional deference to those of a certain vintage. "There are probably more players than can potentially win this US Open than in any other US Open venue we go to," said Mike Davis, the USGA chief executive. "It allows more players to be competitive."

Included in this week's showpiece are 30 competitors who are aged 40 or over and 12 of them are past major champions. A quick look back to last year's competition is also instructive as the final leaderboard was illuminated by experience. Jim Furyk, 42, David Toms, 46, and Padraig Harrington, 41, all tied for fourth while Ernie Els, 42, finished ninth. Don't bet against the 40-somethings being to the fore again this week.

THE FOWLER FACTOR

Industrial quantities of fake-tan may be the hue of choice for a Scottish hen night but only a young, athletic, sun-soaked Californian can really get away with the all-orange look.

With his sizzling, sartorial statements, Rickie Fowler has every reason to believe that his US Open future will be bright this week. "It's one of my favourites," said the colourful 24-year-old, who is one of the few players in the field with a genuine pedigree around Merion.

He won four matches out of four as the USA romped to victory in the Walker Cup there in 2009 and he may just be ready to rumble again in that corner of Pennsylvania. Fowler's record in the majors may be more dogged than dazzling – he's made 10 cuts in 13 big four appearances – and his recent record on the PGA Tour this season is solid rather than spectacular. Since sharing third in the Arnold Palmer Invitational back in March, Fowler has not finished higher than 32nd but, for a player who rises to the shot-making challenge, Merion will be right up his street. The American was fifth on the putting stats when he finished 37th at The Memorial earlier this month and if he gets everything in his game working in unison, Fowler could be a significant factor.

TARTAN ARMY MARCH ON MERION

If you thought Chris Doak's white bunnet was a tribute to the late, great Ben Hogan then think again. Hogan wore a similar item of head wear when he claimed an iconic US Open victory at Merion back in 1950, but Doak's cap is cut from a different cloth. "It came about after I attended an AC/DC concert," recalled Doak, who teed-up a major debut by coming through the European qualifier a fortnight ago. "I saw Brian Johnson, the lead singer, wearing a flat cap and said to my girlfriend that I'd like to do the same on the golf course."

Alongside fellow major newcomer Russell Knox, Doak forms part of a four-strong tartan army which is led by former Open champion Paul Lawrie and Martin Laird, the three-time PGA Tour winner.

Laird has missed the cut in his four previous US Open appearances while Lawrie has not played in the championship since 2004. The Aberdonian had his reasons for not going last year, of course. He was in the midst of an ultimately successful Ryder Cup qualifying campaign and the 44-year-old decided to ditch the American dream in favour of chasing his own.

"Some people were a bit upset by me not going but, in the end, I think it was the right thing," he said. His heroic role in the Miracle of Medinah confirmed that it was.

THE EUROPEAN CRUSADE

From James Foulis in 1896 to Alex Smith in 1910, Scottish gowfers won 12 of the first 16 US Opens. These days, it's our friends from across the water in Northern Ireland who have led the European crusade on the other side of the Atlantic. Graeme McDowell won the US Open in 2010 and was runner-up last year while magical Rory McIlroy romped to glory in 2011.

The English have not toasted a champion since Tony Jacklin triumphed in 1970 and we are still waiting on a victor emerging from mainland Europe.

McDowell has thrived in this event and, with two wins to his name in his last four tournaments in the US and Europe, he will be expected to be at the sharp end of affairs again.

Out of sorts McIlroy, meanwhile, won his US crown over a sodden Congressional course two years ago and the rain and soggy terrain at Merion have helped bolster his morale ahead of today's opening salvo. England continues to expect and if Justin Rose can weld some decent putting to his solid tee-to-green play, then he could make another robust assault.

And what about young Matteo Manassero, who has an old style game suited to this old style course? His countryman, Edoardo Molinari won the US Amateur title at Merion in 2005. Hope may spring Italian again.