Rich Beem on what players can expect from Erin Hills at US Open

Rich Beem admits he is surprised by the course set up at this week’s US Open, but believes the rough at Erin Hills shouldn’t cause as many problems as initially feared.

The Wisconsin-based layout hosts a major for the first time this week, six years on from holding the US Amateur Championship, with the course offering a number of tests for the players in action.

Much was discussed pre-tournament about the course's wide fairways and thick rough, with many critical of the knee-length grass, but Beem feels the fescue won't be as much of a factor as initially thought.

"It's unlike anything I've ever seen before," Beem told Sky Sports News HQ during their live preview show. "I thought Chambers Bay was a bit out of the genre the USGA usually plays on, but this course is big and wide open.

"If you hit it there [the fescue], then you've hit a really dumb bad shot. It's nowhere near where you should go. It's kind of a headscratcher looking at the width of this golf course.

Live US Open Golf

"This is not a true USGA set up. The greens are running very smooth and fast and you're still going to have to think your way around the golf course, but the rough is not tragically bad."

Click on the video above to listen to the full interview!

Live US Open Golf: On The Range

Watch the US Open throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf