America’s national golf championship tees off on Thursday at historic Pinehurst No. 2 as the world’s greatest golfers battle for glory and the gold medal at the 124th U.S. Open.
The field in North Carolina for the season’s third major will be headlined by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who looks unstoppable at the moment. The two-time Masters winner will be joined by several other generational talents including former U.S. Open champions Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson.
Who is best equipped to make history and hoist the trophy on Sunday?
Our top 20 follows:
20. Tyrrell Hatton
As a member of Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII GC, the fiery Englishman has played solid in his maiden season on the LIV tour, recording six top-15s, including two top-5s… Hatton finished T9 at the 2024 Masters and T63 at the PGA… His best result at the U.S. Open is a T6 in 2018… The 32-year-old Ryder Cup star finished T27 last year in Los Angeles.
Odds: 70-1
Book Rank: T19
Last 6: 18, 63, 5, 14, 9, 4
Last 6 Majors: 63, 9, 20, 27, 15, 34
Best at U.S. Open: T6 (2018)
19. Tom Kim
The 21-year-old Korean has cooled off after a meteoric rise in 2022 and 2023… Playing as a Special Temp Member in 2022, the then barely 20-year-old stunned the golf world with a win at the season-ending Greensboro event, followed by a second victory two months later in Las Vegas, becoming the second youngest two-time PGA Tour winner. (He added a third win in 2023)… The 2024 campaign has been a struggle, though, as Kim recorded his first top-10 of the year two weeks ago at the Canadian Open… He finished 23rd in his U.S. Open debut at The Country Club and chased it with a T8 in L.A. last year… He finished T30 and T26 at the season’s opening two majors.
Odds: 60-1
Book Rank: T16
Last 6: 43, 4, 24, 26, 47, 52
Last 6 Majors: 26, 30, 2, 8, MC, 16
Best at U.S. Open: T8 (2023)
18. Jordan Spieth
The Texan is once again entering a major in terrible form, but he’s still Jordan Spieth and should recover at some point, right?… After starting the season with a top-3 (Kapalua) and T6 (Phoenix), Spieth has claimed just a single top-25 result (T10) in his last 11 starts, including five missed-cuts… Now 30, the one-time “Golden Child” has won just twice since that magical summer of 2017 which ended an historic three-year run of excellence… In 12 career starts at the U.S. Open, Spieth’s only top-10 finish was the win in 2015 – which seems absolutely wild.
Odds: 70-1
Book Rank: T19
Last 6: MC, 37, 43, 29, MC, 39
Last 6 Majors: 43, MC, 23, MC, 29, 4
Best at U.S. Open: Win (2015)
17. Dustin Johnson
The two-time major winner started his 2024 LIV Golf season with a T5 (Mayakoba) and win (Las Vegas) but then posted four straight poor results, ranging from T21 to T31 (in a 54-player field). DJ rebounded with a T7 in Singapore but finished T43 at the PGA… He comes in off a respectable T13 finish at LIV Houston which included an opening round 67… Finished U.S. Open runner-up to Jordan Spieth at Chambers Bay in 2015 and then won in 2016… With a win at Pinehurst, the South Carolina native would become one of just 47 players in history to win at least three majors, tying for 30th on the all-time wins list, joining the likes of Jordan Spieth, Hale Irwin, Larry Nelson, Billy Casper and Payne Stewart, among others.
Odds: 80-1
Book Rank: T28
Last 6: 13, 43, 7, 31, MC, 24
Last 6 Majors: 43, MC, MC, 10, 55, 48
Best at U.S. Open: Win (2016)
16. Wyndham Clark
The reigning U.S. Open champion is in the midst of an up and down season, and at the moment he’s trending down. In 13 starts on the season, Clark owns a win and three other top-3s, including two second-place finishes. In his nine other starts, though, the Colorado native has not posted a single top-25 and enters off two straight missed-cuts… In 10 career major starts, Clark’s results are wild: MC, T75, MC, MC, T76, MC, 1st, T33, MC, and MC… The late bloomer missed the cut at the 2024 season’s first two majors – the Masters and PGA.
Odds: 70-1
Book Rank: T19
Last 6: MC, MC, 47, 3, MC, 31
Last 6 Majors: MC, MC, 33, 1, MC, 76
Best at U.S. Open: Win (2023)
15. Justin Thomas
Like his buddy Spieth, JT has stalled out on what was looking like a generational career. The 15-time PGA Tour champion has not landed in the winner’s circle since claiming his second PGA in May 2022 (25 months ago) and does not look close to being his old self… The former top-10 machine enters the 2024 U.S. Open amid a season with just four top-10s in 12 starts… The Kentucky native finally broke through, though, with a T8 finish at the PGA, breaking a string of six straight majors without even a top-50 finish… In nine career starts at the U.S. Open, JT has more missed-cuts (3) than top-10s (2).
Odds: 50-1
Book Rank: T14
Last 6: 33, 8, 21, 5, MC, 64
Last 6 Majors: 8, MC, MC, MC, 65, MC
Best at U.S. Open: T8 (2020)
14. Patrick Cantlay
On the season, the 32-year-old UCLA product has not been his usual steady self, posting just two top-10s in 2024… “Patty Ice” has not been particularly stellar in majors either, with just four top-10s in 26 starts… The current world No. 9 (and falling) finished T14, T14, and T15 in his last three starts at the U.S. Open. Those are also his three best finishes.
Odds: 60-1
Book Rank: T16
Last 6: MC, 53, 29, 3, 22, 68
Last 6 Majors: 53, 22, 33, 14, 9, 14
Best at U.S. Open: T14 (2023, 2022)
13. Sahith Theegala
The 26-year-old Pepperdine product enters Pinehurst in solid form, including a pair of T12 finishes at the Memorial and PGA… On the season, he owns five top-10s including two solo second-place finishes (Kapalua and Hilton Head)… In three career starts at the U.S. Open, Theegala has two missed-cuts and a T27… Ranks 5th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: total.
Odds: 50-1
Book Rank: T14
Last 6: 12, MC, 12, 52, 2, 45
Last 6 Majors: 12, 45, MC, 27, 40, 9
Best at U.S. Open: T27 (2023)
12. Max Homa
The 32-year-old L.A. native, and current world No. 10, is enjoying decent PGA Tour season with three top-10 finishes, highlighted by a T3 at the Masters… That top-3 at Augusta National was Homa’s second straight stellar finish at a major championship, as it chased a T10 at The Open last summer… Incredibly, these are Homa’s only career top-10s in majors… He finished T35 at the PGA… In five career starts at the U.S. Open, Homa has made the cut just once, finishing T47 in Boston (2022).
Odds: 60-1
Book Rank: T16
Last 6: 22, MC, 35, 8, 55, 3
Last 6 Majors: 35, 3, 10, MC, 55, 43
Best at U.S. Open: T47 (2022)
11. Hideki Matsuyama
The world No. 14 has enjoyed a solid 2024 and enters off a T8 at the Memorial… On the season, Matsuyama owns seven top-25 finishes in 12 starts, highlighted by a win at Riviera and three additional top-10s… The 32-year-old Japanese star has posted three career top-10 finishes at the U.S. Open, including a runner-up to Brooks Koepka in 2017 and a solo fourth in 2022 at The Country Club… Matsuyama leads the Tour in strokes gained: around the green.
Odds: 45-1
Book Rank: T12
Last 6: 8, 35, 38, 7, 6, 12
Last 6 Majors: 35, 38, 13, 32, 29, 16
Best at U.S. Open: T2 (2017)
10. Tommy Fleetwood
The 33-year-old Englishman enters Pinehurst in sneaky good form with six finishes of T26 or better in his last seven starts on tour, including a T3 at the Masters and T26 at the PGA… Still in search of his first victory on American soil, Fleetwood has finished in the top 10 in four of his last seven major starts, including three top-5s… Since 2017, he owns an impressive seven top-5 finishes in the majors… His best result at the U.S. Open is a runner-up to Brooks Koepka in 2018.
Odds: 45-1
Book Rank: T12
Last 6: 20, 21, 26, 13, 49, 3
Last 6 Majors: 26, 3, 10, 5, 18, 33
Best at U.S. Open: 2nd (2018)
9. Ludvig Aberg
The 24-year-old Swede, and former world No.1 amateur, enters in top form with five top-15 finishes in his six most recent starts, highlighted by a runner-up at the Masters and a T5 at last week’s Memorial Tournament… Aberg ranks 3rd on Tour in total driving and 7th in strokes gained: total… He appears to be the next great superstar.
Odds: 25-1
Book Rank: T7
Last 6: 5, MC, 10, 2, 14, 8
Last 6 Majors: MC, 2…
Best at U.S. Open: Debut (2024)
8. Cameron Smith
The 30-year-old Aussie, and greatest putter on the planet, enters in decent form with a pair of runner-up finishes in his last four LIV starts (Hong Kong and Singapore) while also leading his Ripper GC to back-to-back team wins on the upstart circuit… Smith finished solo fourth at last year’s U.S. Open and T6 at this year’s Masters… He owns four top-10 finishes in his last seven major starts, highlighted by a win at St Andrews.
Odds: 40-1
Book Rank: T10
Last 6: 48, 63, 2, 14, 6, 2
Last 6 Majors: 63, 6, 33, 4, 9, 34
Best at U.S. Open: 4th (2023)
7. Viktor Hovland
After a horrendous start to the season, Hovland appears to have turned things around… The Norwegian star enters Pinehurst off a T15 at the Memorial and solo third at the PGA… The impressive result at the PGA was his sixth top-20 finish in his last seven major starts, which includes four top-10s… Hovland finished T19 at last year’s U.S. Open.
Odds: 16-1
Book Rank: T4
Last 6: 15, 4, 24, MC, 62, 36
Last 6 Majors: 3, MC, 13, 19, 2, 7
Best at U.S. Open: T12 (2019)
6. Collin Morikawa
The two-time major winner enters on an absolute heater, which includes six straight top-16s, highlighted by four top-4s… On the major stage, the 27-year-old Cal product already has a Hall-of-Fame worthy resume, with two wins, five other top-5s and two more top-10s in just 18 career starts… In the two 2024 majors, Morikawa finished T3 at the Masters and T4 at the PGA.
Odds: 16-1
Book Rank: T4
Last 6: 2, 4, 4, 16, 9, 3
Last 6 Majors: 4, 3, MC, 14, 26, 10
Best at U.S. Open: T4 (2021)
5. Bryson DeChambeau
The 2020 U.S. Open champ is back in prime form, ala 2018-2020… Once golf’s most polarizing golfer, DeChambeau has become a Youtube star and box-office gold at the majors in 2024… The 30-year-old star posted an impressive T6 at the Masters and then chased it with a spectacular runner-up finish at the PGA… The California native owns four top-10s in his last seven major starts… He won the 2020 edition of the U.S. Open.
Odds: 16-1
Book Rank: T4
Last 6: 18, 2, 27, 26, 6, 7
Last 6 Majors: 2, 6, 60, 20, 4, MC
Best at U.S. Open: Win (2020)
4. Rory McIlroy
The world No. 3 enters in typical Rory form – off four straight top-15s, including a win at Quail and T4 in Canada… During that span, he also added a team win at Zurich Classic alongside Shane Lowry… McIlroy has posted five consecutive top-10s at the U.S. Open (2019-2023) including a runner-up last year to Wyndham Clark… The now 35-year-old Northern Irishman is more than due for his long-awaited fifth career major.
Odds: 12-1
Book Rank: T2
Last 6: 15, 4, 12, 1, 33, 22
Last 6 Majors: 12, 22, 6, 2, 7, MC
Best at U.S. Open: Win (2011)
3. Brooks Koepka
The Florida State product does not need help getting himself hyped for majors, as he has consistently excelled on the biggest stages. The 5-time major winner, and two-time U.S. Open champion, enters in solid form, including three straight top-10s on the LIV tour, highlighted by a win in Singapore – his 4th career title on the breakaway tour… Surprisingly, Koepka has been mediocre in the opening two majors, finishing T45 at the Masters and T26 at the PGA.
Odds: 25-1
Book Rank: T7
Last 6: 9, 26, 1, 9, 45, 45
Last 6 Majors: 26, 45, 64, 17, 1, 2
Best at U.S. Open: Win (2017, 2018)
2. Xander Schauffele
Schauffele enters the U.S. Open as the world No. 2 and on a next-level heater… In 13 starts on the 2024 season, the reigning PGA champion owns nine top-10s, highlighted by six top-5s which includes his maiden major win… In his last three starts, the 2020 Olympic gold medalist has reeled off 8th (Memorial), 1st (PGA), and 2nd (Wells Fargo)… No longer the “best player to not win a major,” Schauffele is basically playing with house money for the final two majors.
Odds: 12-1
Book Rank: T2
Last 6: 8, 1, 2, 18, 8, 5
Last 6 Majors: 1, 8, 17, 10, 18, 10
Best at U.S. Open: T3 (2019)
1. Scottie Scheffler
The 27-year-old superstar enters Pinehurst as a record-setting favorite… With five wins in his last eight starts, Scheffler is playing on a level not seen since the days of prime Tiger Woods… To review: In Scheffler’s eight most recent starts, he’s recorded five wins – all at elite events (Masters, Players, Bay Hill, Harbour Town, and Memorial), two runner-up finishes, and one T8… The Texan has compiled an incredible ten top-10s in his last 13 major starts, including two wins and three additional top-3s… Scheffler has finished T7, T2 and solo third in his three career starts at the U.S. Open as a tour pro.
Odds: 3-1
Book Rank: 1st
Last 6: 1, 2, 8, 1, 1, 2
Last 6 Majors: 8, 1, 23, 3, 2, 10
Best at U.S. Open: T2 (2022)
