The latter is an amateur who fights fire by day and shot 81-79 at the Masters earlier this year, which underlines the fact that he is simply not up to this class.

Scrivener is a fairly solid European Tour regular who secured his first professional victory late last year, but since a fine start to 2018 has struggled.

He finished nicely for 21st in Italy last time before qualifying at Walton Heath, but this major debut asks an altogether different question and there are few positives.

As such, Mullinax becomes interesting and this big-hitter should enjoy the challenge Shinnecock provides having played well under demanding conditions more than once this season.

He arrives here on the back of sixth place in Memphis, form which is well above the level his playing partners have achieved previously, and a mid-70s round may well be enough.

He's more than capable of doing a good deal better than that.

Ian Poulter to beat Tyrrell Hatton and Danny Willett

Here we have one very much in-form player in Ian Poulter grouped with compatriots Tyrrell Hatton and Danny Willett, both of whom have much to prove.

Willett finally showed signs of life in Italy last time but the 2016 Masters champion still has a way to go before being considered a factor in major championships again. I expect that Shinnecock will confirm as much and he will be delighted to add another building block by making the weekend.

Hatton is in the middle of an all or nothing campaign and lately it's been exclusively the latter, with missed cuts in the PLAYERS, the BMW PGA and even the Italian Open, where he made a lightning start before the wheels came off.

His last notable stroke play form came at the start of March and having switched caddies since he has much to answer in the major which may well test his patience.

Poulter on the other hand is at the top of his game, playing some of the best golf of his career, and will not fear a fiery test like that which Shinnecock provides.

Yes, he missed the cut here in 2004 but that was his debut in the event and rounds of 74 and 72 were respectable; something in that region would surely be competitive here and again, odds-against appears fair.

Ollie Schniederjans to beat Roberto Castro and Richy Werenski

Despite reports of incoming wind which will make the US Open far more intricate a test than Erin Hills last year, power will still be an advantage and that gives Ollie Schniederjans a notable edge in this low-key group.

The former amateur number one is every inch a modern golfer and he's got a promising major record, having made the cut in both the 2015 US Open (42nd) and the Open Championship (12th) before turning professional.

His current form is nothing to shout about but he's missed just one of his last nine cuts and that sort of consistency breeds confidence, enough to expect a solid showing under the sort of firm conditions he's shown a liking for in the past.

Roberto Castro has been playing well this season but on the second-tier Web.com Tour, and his record of four missed cuts in four US Open starts is telling. Increasingly, this is an event for the bigger hitters and he certainly is not amongst them.

The same goes for Richy Werenski, a major debutant whose fourth place last week offers hope, but whose overall record suggests this will prove beyond him.

Si-Woo Kim to beat Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Hao-tong Li

Finally, I like the look of Si-Woo Kim as second-favourite to get the better of Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Hao-tong Li.

Neither man is dismissed lightly, but both concede an experience edge to the young Korean when it comes to stateside golf and Kim has been in solid form this spring, finishing second at the Heritage and making plenty of cuts.

This former PLAYERS champion remains a youngster of immense potential and he was part of the conversation at Erin Hills last year, experience he can call upon.

Aphibarnrat is favourite for obvious reasons and can start quickly, but a missed cut in Memphis came at the wrong time and he started very slowly in the Masters earlier this year with a first-round 79.

Li came out best of this trio on Thursday at Augusta but his last appearance in the US resulted in rounds of 76 and 80 at Sawgrass and he needs to find something from tee to green to be competitive.

Posted at 1620 BST on 12/06/18.