The legendary Shinnecock Hills is set to host another U.S. Open, and the world’s elite golfers are ready for one of the biggest challenges of the season. The New York course, measuring 7,440 yards with a par of 70, promises to once again separate true champions from those who crumble under pressure, just as it did in 2018 when Brooks Koepka won with a score over par – a feat that few have forgotten. This year, six names stand out clearly, and any one of them could not only lift the trophy on Sunday but also make history by surpassing past records.
Jon Rahm emerges as one of the strongest favorites for victory. The Spaniard is enjoying an excellent moment, having secured two wins on the LIV Golf circuit this season and coming close to defeating Tyrrell Hatton in Andalucia just two weeks ago. At the PGA Championship, Rahm finished tied for second place, significantly improving from his 38th position at the Masters in April. Although he missed the cut in his last visit to Shinnecock, he has since accumulated four top 10 finishes at this course, along with a title at the U.S. Open in 2021 and a fourth place finish last year. According to PGA Tour data, Rahm boasts impressive averages in key indicators: 0.568 in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee, 0.547 in Approach, and 1.631 in Total in the last five events. Everything suggests he will once again be among the frontrunners.
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Scottie Scheffler, despite having only one victory this season, cannot be overlooked. After his win, he managed to finish in the top 15 only twice after the first round in 11 tournaments played. Nevertheless, he achieved six top 10 finishes, demonstrating consistency at the highest level. Scheffler leads the tour in Strokes Gained: Total and Tee-to-Green, ranks third in Around-the-Green, and is 19th in Putting. His ability to recover in the final rounds is remarkable — he has the best final round average on tour, with 67.5 strokes. At the U.S. Open, he has finished in the top 10 three times in the last four editions, including a 7th place at Oakmont last year. If he wins this Sunday, he will be the first professional to claim a major on his birthday, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Tyrrell Hatton is showing that he is ready to win his first major. The Englishman has five top 10 finishes in 2026, including a third place at the Masters and a dominant victory at LIV Golf Andalucia in Valderrama. At last year’s U.S. Open, he finished fourth, which secured him an exemption for this edition. Among the last 18 majors, he has only missed the cut twice and has achieved three top 10 finishes. At Shinnecock in their last encounter, he finished sixth and improved upon that result at Oakmont in 2025. Statistically, Hatton has been strengthening his game with the driver and on approaches, posting averages of 0.558 (Approach) and 0.612 (Total) in his last five events.
Rory McIlroy arrives free of historical pressures, having already completed the Grand Slam and won the Masters twice. The Northern Irishman has been more selective with his calendar, which may play to his advantage in terms of physical and mental freshness. In eight tournaments in 2026, he recorded three top 10 finishes. In the last five U.S. Opens, he finished in the top 10 four times, with his worst result being a 19th place at Oakmont last year. McIlroy stands out as one of the best drivers on the Tour, although he needs greater consistency with his putting, especially on the challenging poa annua greens at Shinnecock. According to the PGA Tour, he has a 0.432 in Strokes Gained: Approach, -0.098 in Putting, and 1.003 in Total in his last five events.
Bryson DeChambeau is another undeniable name, with two U.S. Open titles in the last five years. Despite poor results in the first two majors of this season, his performance in LIV Golf cannot be overlooked (seven top 20 finishes, including victories in Singapore and South Africa). DeChambeau has been gaining strokes consistently since February 2024, particularly off the tee and on the greens—he gained strokes in eight of the 11 tournaments played this season on the greens, according to advanced statistics. In the last five events, he recorded 0.024 in Approach and 0.652 in Total. The American could very well turn around the negative trend in the majors as early as this week.
Cameron Young, like Hatton, is still searching for his first major, but his current form could not be better. In 12 events in 2026, he has two victories and six top 10 finishes, including a third place at the Masters. Although his recent results at the U.S. Open have been inconsistent, he stands out statistically: he has gained 1.24 strokes per round compared to 2025, is ranked 12th in Putting in the field, and 9th in bogey avoidance—a crucial statistic at Shinnecock. In the last five tournaments, he has recorded 0.383 in Approach and 1.149 in Total, positioning himself as a reliable bet for this week.
Jon Rahm, when asked about his expectations for Shinnecock, stated: “I know the course doesn’t forgive, but I feel like I’m playing my best golf. I want to correct what went wrong the last time I was here.” Tyrrell Hatton, after his victory in Andalucia, declared: “I proved to myself that I can handle tough courses. If I maintain this aggression, I know I can win a major.” Scottie Scheffler, for his part, recently admitted: “The U.S. Open demands perfection from start to finish. I’m ready to fight until the last hole.” The words of these protagonists suggest an epic battle ahead.
With the pressure mounting and the course set to punish the slightest mistake, an unpredictable U.S. Open is expected, where consistency and mental resilience will be crucial. These six players arrive at Shinnecock with strong credentials, but history shows that anything can happen among the treacherous bunkers and tall fescue of this legendary stage. On Sunday, one of them could come closer to golf immortality — and perhaps redefine what it means to be a U.S. Open champion.
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