All eyes will be on the small town of Erin this week as the world's best players get set to take on Erin Hills in pursuit of the 117th U.S. Open.

The state has played host to 13 other USGA Championships over the years, with the most recent being the 2016 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, but this marks the first-ever U.S. Open in Wisconsin – an impressive first for a town 35 miles from Milwaukee with a modest population of 4,525.

To help get the most out of the viewing experience, here are seven key aspects – in no particular order – to keep your eye on as play begins this week.

1. Erin Hills

Whether people are just starting to realize it now, or have known it for a long time, Erin Hills truly is a special place.

Set in Kettle Moraine, the 440 acres of the course were carved by glaciers 15,000 years ago. Jump ahead through its long history to 1960, the land which is now Erin Hills had a hard time being sold to anyone interested in building a course on it – which was the intent of the original owners, Earl and Bernice Millikins. 

After a few potential deals fell through prior to the sale of the land, by 2001, it finally had an owner dedicated to making a golf course. And not just any golf course – one that would be public, affordable and yet pristine enough to hold major events, with the main goal being the U.S. Open.

After much work on the land, that goal was finally accomplished, as, in June of 2010, the course was awarded the 2017 U.S. Open.

The decision shocked the golf world, since a course so young, not to mention public, was awarded USGA’s largest event. Erin Hills was just four years old at the time of the decision, opening in 2006 with construction starting in 2004. Complaints that the course was not up to standards came from nearly anyone who played it.

It was clear that Erin Hills would need work if the USGA – which held two other events, the 2008 U.S. Amateur Public Links and the 2011 U.S. Amateur, at the course – was going to go through with the 2017 U.S. Open. Luckily, the course was being renovated at the time the U.S. Open was awarded. That work continued into this year, with the walking-only course closed for the past six months to ensure the land could heal and be as healthy as possible for some of golf's biggest names in one of golf's brightest spotlights.

Much has led to this point, with the 117th U.S. Open officially here in Wisconsin. So take in the hard-earned beauty that is Erin Hills, take in the media attention a small town like Erin is getting and take in that this is truly a historic event happening in our home state. 

2. Steve Stricker

You will not likely hear Steve Stricker mentioned as a favorite to win the U.S. Open. With his career-best performance in an Open a fifth-place finish in 1999, it may not seem like he should be a player to keep an eye on.

However, just the fact that Striker is participating in this event – his 20th U.S. Open appearance – is something to watch.

After being denied for a special exemption to participate in his home-state tournament, Stricker had to play his way in. And he did, just this past Monday taking first at the 36-hole Tennessee qualifier to earn a spot in the U.S. Open.

Known for his friendly personality, Madison’s Stricker has more PGA Tour victories than any other state player. And with his own welcome message in the U.S. Open program, Wisconsinites should be proud the 50-year-old Stricker is playing this week.

3. Dustin Johnson

The No. 1 player in the world, Dustin Johnson should be on everyone’s radar as a potential winner of the 2017 U.S. Open. The reigning champion is playing well, winning three times so far this year, and he is known for his ability to adapt to the any course and play well. His weakness is putting – and Erin Hills is known for its difficult greens – Johnson is still certainly one of the favorites.

4. Jordan Spieth

Ranked sixth in the world, Jordan Spieth – who, at just 23 years old, already has one U.S. Open title under his belt from 2015 – has become a poster player in golf. Having won only once this year at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and having a less-than-impressive finish at the Masters, Spieth may not be playing the best golf right now, but he's shown what he is capable of – and he does not go down easily. 

This is also not Spieth’s first time at Erin Hills. He competed in the 2011 U.S. Amateur held at Erin Hills, where he made it to the quarterfinals.

Although he admits that was a half-decade ago and he does not remember much from the tournament, Spieth has what it takes to win this U.S. Open. If he can keep his drives on the fairways and out of the unforgiving roughs and bunkers of Erin Hills – and if he can find consistency in his putting – he can win.

5. Rory McIlroy

The Irishman is ranked second in the world, and after the downfall of Tiger Woods, he is the face of Nike Golf apparel. McIlroy won one U.S. Open title in 2011, but since then, he's had a ninth-place finish, tied for 23rd and 41st and missed two cuts. He's not coming in with much momentum either. Battling a rib injury, McIlroy has had a slow year thus far, his best finish a tie for fourth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

But even as a beat-up player having a slow year, McIlroy should not be discounted.

He is a mature and skilled player that has power with his driver, allowing him to take advantage of the long holes at Erin Hills. If he can channel the power on his drives and not let the unpredictable wind from the plains take control of his ball, McIlroy has a real chance.

6. Hole #6

The 208-yard par 3 hole has the deepest green on the course, and the 48-yard green slopes away from front to back. It will be challenging for players to place the ball just right on the green. Calling a shot wrong can lead to shots fading away from the hole, which makes this par 3 particularly challenging.

 7. Hole #18

Frequent golf watchers have seen tournaments time after time come down to the final hole – and this year's U.S. Open could be no exception. 

What makes the last hole at Erin Hills so unique is that it is the longest hole on the course. The 637-yard par 5 is littered with bunkers, making the first shot from the tee very important. That's not even mentioning the brutal rough that lies beyond the fairway. Players must hit at least two accurate shots if they want any hope of getting a good score on the hole.

With a very small green that slopes from right to back left, hole 18 needs to played with strategy to insure the player is not stuck with a long shot, trying to land on a green so small that even a slightly wrong call could lead to disaster.

The 2017 U.S. Open tees off from Erin Hills on Thursday and concludes on Sunday.