The third major of the 2026 golf season is upon us, as the 126th U.S. Open gets underway this week at famed Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Long Island, New York.
The iconic golf course has hosted the United States’ national golf championship five previous times, including the 2018 edition, won by Brooks Koepka. It was Koepka’s second consecutive U.S. Open title.
Scottie Scheffler will headline a stout field in New York as he seeks to become the seventh player in history to complete the career grand slam by winning each of the four majors.
The 29-year-old enters in solid form and is the odds-on favorite to win his fifth career major.
Joining Scheffler as serious top-10 contenders this week are: Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Joaquin Niemann, Ludvig Aberg, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark, and Collin Morikawa.
Other marquee names, who are considered second tier contenders, predicted to finish in the top-25, include: Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Cantlay, Sam Burns, Justin Rose, J.J. Spaun, Robert MacIntyre, Cam Smith, Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland, Justin Thomas, Russell Henley, Hideki Matsuyama, and Jordan Spieth, among others.
U.S. Open Skinny
Name: United States Open Championship
Debut: 1895
Edition: 126th
Dates: June 18-21, 2026
Where: Southampton, NY USA
Course: Shinnecock Hills GC
Distance: Par 35-35—70, 7440 yards
Architect: William Flynn (1931)
Renovation: Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2013)
Format: Stroke, 72-holes, 36-hole cut
Field Size: 156
Purse: $20,000,000
Winning Share: $3,600,000
Winner’s Pts FEC/OWGR: 750/100
Defending Champion: J.J. Spaun
How to Follow the U.S. Open
TELEVISION: Thu: 6 a.m.-5 p.m. (USA), 5-8 p.m. (Peacock); Fri: 6 a.m.-1 p.m. (Peacock), 1-7 p.m. (NBC), 7-8 p.m. (Peacock); Sat: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (USA), 12-8 p.m. (NBC); Sun: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (USA), 12-7 p.m. (NBC)
STREAM: Thu: 6 a.m.-5 p.m. (NBC Sports App), 5-8 p.m. (Peacock); Fri: 6 a.m.-1 p.m. (Peacock), 1-7 p.m. (NBC Sports App), 7-8 p.m. (Peacock); Sat: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (NBC Sports App); Sun: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (NBC Sports App)
USGA LINKS: Website | Instagram | Facebook | X
PGA TOUR LINKS: Website | Instagram | Facebook | X
U.S. Open History
It is now one of, if not the, grandest show in golf, but at its beginning, the U.S. Open was just an ancillary tournament to the highly regarded U.S. Amateur.
That inaugural event occurred in 1895, making the U.S. Open the second oldest of the four majors, and was held at the opulent Newport Golf Club in Newport, R.I., the “in” summer hideaway of America’s wealthy and social elite at the time.
Played on Newport’s nine-hole course, the first U.S. Open was held in one day, with each of the 11 golfers in the field playing the course four times. Horace Rawlins, a 21-year-old from England, posted 91-82 to win the tournament by two strokes. He was awarded a $150 share of the $335 purse.
Eighteen years later, the 1913 U.S. Open was held at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. The heavy favorites were English legends Harry Vardon (1900 U.S. Open winner; four-time British Open winner) and Ted Ray (reigning British Open champion). After 72 holes the pair found themselves tied with an unknown 20-year-old amateur named Francis Ouimet, who had grown up across the street from the course and was a former caddie at the club — forcing an 18-hole playoff the next day.
In a shocking upset, Ouimet soundly defeated the two professional golfers in front of huge galleries, resulting in newspaper stories which captured the imagination of the American public. The number of golfers in the country at least tripled in the subsequent decade, with a corresponding increase in golf courses (including many public courses, opening up the game to a larger segment of the population).
The story of Ouimet’s triumph at the 1913 US Open was commercialized by Mark Frost’s 2002 book, ‘The Greatest Game Ever Played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the Birth of Modern Golf,’ which Frost then adapted for a 2005 film.
Over time, the tournament developed a reputation for being the most challenging event in golf, allowing it to draw in the best of the best.
The U.S. Open boasts the most prestigious list of winners of each of the four majors. That list includes Harry Vardon, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Bobby Jones, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, and Tiger Woods, among others.
Modern-day superstars who’ve won the U.S. Open include Rory McIlroy (2011), Jordan Spieth (2015), Dustin Johnson (2016), Brooks Koepka (2017-18), Jon Rahm (2021), and Bryson DeChambeau (2020, 2024).
Hogan, Jones, Nicklaus, and Willie Anderson all share the tournament record for most wins with four apiece. Tiger and Hale Irwin are next with three victories, followed by two apiece by Alex Smith, John McDermott, Ralph Guldahl, Cary Middlecoff, Julius Boros, Billy Casper, Andy North, Curtis Strange, Lee Janzen, Retief Goosen, Trevino, Hagen, Sarazen, Stewart, Els, Koepka and DeChambeau.
A testament to just how difficult the U.S. Open has played historically: In 125 editions of the tournament just five players have finished double-digits under par: Woods (-12) at Pebble Beach in 2000, McIlroy (-16) at Congressional Country Club in 2011, Koepka (-16) at Erin Hills in 2017, Gary Woodland (-13) at Pebble Beach in 2019, and Wyndham Clark at L.A. Country Club in 2023.
U.S. Open History: Recent Winners
2025: J.J. Spaun (-1)
2024: Bryson DeChambeau (-6)
2023: Wyndham Clark (-10)
2022: Matt Fitzpatrick (-6)
2021: Jon Rahm (-6)
2020: Bryson DeChambeau (-6)
2019: Gary Woodland (-13)
2018: Brooks Koepka (+1)
2017: Brooks Koepka (-16)
2016: Dustin Johnson (-4)
2015: Jordan Spieth (-5)
2014: Martin Kaymer (-9)
2013: Justin Rose (+1)
U.S. Open History: Records
SCORING
(268) – Rory McIlroy (2011)
(-16) – Rory McIlroy (2011), Brooks Koepka (2017)
WINS
(4) – Ben Hogan (1948, 1950, 1951, 1953)
(4) – Bobby Jones (1923, 1926, 1929-30)
(4) – Jack Nicklaus (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980)
(4) – Willie Anderson (1901, 1903-05)
(3) – Tiger Woods (2000, 2002, 2008)
(3) – Hale Irwin (1974, 1979, 1990)
The Course: Shinnecock GC
Shinnecock is a links-style course located in Southampton, New York. It was designed by prominent architect William Flynn, who’s had his hand in designing some of America’s most iconic golf courses, including Merion, Cherry Hills, and The Country Club (Brookline).
Founded in 1891, it is one of the oldest golf clubs in the United States and was among the five charter clubs that formed the United States Golf Association (USGA) in 1894.
Shinnecock, which holds the distinction of being the only host of a U.S. Open in three centuries (1896, 1986, 1995, 2004, 2018), will host its sixth national golf championship.
Shinnecock Golf Club is a par-70, 7440-yard beast, known for its lightning-fast greens, stately clubhouse which was built in 1892 and is still considered an architectural classic.
The course evokes classic links golf with minimal trees, wide fairways, firm fescue surfaces, crowned/sloping greens, deep bunkers, and strategic routing that uses natural contours and prevailing winds.
Standout Features and Holes
The routing creates triangles of holes that force players to confront changing wind directions throughout the round. Expect low scores to be rare, with the course rewarding patience and creativity.
- Hole 7 (Redan, par 3, ~187 yards): Iconic template hole with a sharply sloping green guarded by deep bunkers and heavily affected by crosswinds.
- Hole 11 (Hill Head, par 3, ~157 yards): The famous ultra-short but exposed par 3 perched high above sea level—often called the “shortest par 5 in the world” due to its difficulty in the wind.
- Front 9 opens relatively manageably but builds into stern par 4s and a reachable par 5.
- Back 9 ramps up the drama with dunes, elevation changes, and risk-reward opportunities.
Wind will likely be the ultimate defender, as always at Shinnecock, turning firm conditions into a brutal examination of ball-striking and course management. Recent setup tweaks aim to let the course “play like Shinnecock” with more natural widths and ground interaction.
In short, expect a pure, historic, and demanding U.S. Open test — one of golf’s most revered venues delivering drama, strategy, and potential for another memorable champion.
The Course Skinny
Name: Shinnecock Golf Club
Established: 1891
Where: Southampton, NY
Architect: Willian Flynn (1931)
Renovation: Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw (2013)
Par: 35-35-70
Yards: 7440
Green Speed: Lightning-fast (Poa)
Bunkers: Over 150 (6 acres)
Rough: 5″ thick (Chewings fescue)
Par 3s: 4 (2, 7, 11, 17)
Par 5s: 2 (5, 16)
Par 4s: 12
Signature Holes:
- Hole 7 (Par 3, 187 yards): Modeled after the famous Redan at North Berwick, this hole features an angled green sloping sharply front-right to back-left, guarded by deep bunkers and heavily influenced by crosswinds.
- Hole 11 (Par 3, 157 yards): Only about 155–160 yards, but with an elevated, well-bunkered green. Under firm or windy conditions, it can play notoriously difficult despite its short yardage.
- Hole 18 (Par 4, 490 yards): A classic uphill finisher around 490 yards, with the iconic Stanford White–designed clubhouse beyond the green. Often decisive in U.S. Open play (e.g., Corey Pavin’s famed 4-wood approach in 1995).
Shinnecock: Hole-By-Hole
- Hole 1: Par 4, 394 Yards (WESTWARD HO)
- Hole 2: Par 3, 346 Yards (PLATEAU)
- Hole 3: Par 4, 501 Yards (PECONIC)
- Hole 4: Par 4, 476 Yards (PUMP HOUSE)
- Hole 5: Par 5, 592 Yards (MONTAUK)
- Hole 6: Par 4, 495 Yards (POND)
- Hole 7: Par 3, 187 Yards (REDAN)
- Hole 8: Par 4, 440 Yards (LOWLANDS)
- Hole 9: Par 4, 482 Yards (BEN NEVIS)
- OUT: Par 35, 3819 Yards
- Hole 10: Par 4, 415 Yards (EASTWARD HO)
- Hole 11: Par 3, 157 Yards (HILL HEAD)
- Hole 12: Par 4, 469 Yards (TUCKAHOE)
- Hole 13: Par 4, 371 Yards (ROAD SIDE)
- Hole 14: Par 4, 520 Yards (THOM’S ELBOW)
- Hole 15: Par 4, 409 Yards (SEBONAC)
- Hole 16: Par 5, 614 Yards (SHINNECOCK)
- Hole 17: Par 3, 176 Yards (EDEN)
- Hole 18: Par 4, 490 Yards (HOME)
- IN: Par 35, 3621 Yards
- TOT: Par 70, 7440 Yards
U.S. Open Field
Who plans to seize the moment this week?
At 6-1, Scottie Scheffler is an overwhelming favorite in western PA. The Texan enters in close to top form, highlighted by five top-3s in his last seven starts. He’s the only player offered in the single digits.
Jon Rahm also enters in top form with a win and two seconds in his last five starts. The Spaniard is offered at 12-1.
Rory McIlroy was next at 14-1. The Northern Irishman hasn’t played particularly well this season aside (and it’s a big aside) from his win at the Masters. He enters off a T12 at the Memorial and T7 at the PGA, both backdoor efforts.
Cameron Young, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Xander Schauffele round out the top-5 favs at 18-1. Fitzpatrick comes in off a solo second at the Canadian Open. Young and Schauffele each enter amid suspect form.
Bryson DeChambeau enters a major for the first time in two years not among the top-5 betting favorites. But at 22-1 he’s top-7, alongside Tommy Fleetwood who finished T11 in Canada. DeChambeau, meanwhile, has missed the cut in both majors this season, but on the LIV circuit he’s played well with two wins and a couple top-5s.
Rounding out the top-10 favorites, at 35-1, was Brooks Koepka, who won the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock, along with 2023 U.S. Open winner Wyndham Clark and Swedish star Ludvig Aberg.
Patrick Cantlay, Patrick Reed, Collin Morikawa, Chris Gotterup, Russell Henley, Sam Burns, and Tyrrell Hatton were all listed at 40-1.
Five more big names were offered at 45-1 to round out the top-20 favs: Justin Thomas, J.J. Spaun, Justin Rose, Si Woo Kim, and Viktor Hovland.
Finally, Hideki Maysuyama, Jordan Spieth, Joaquin Niemann, and Shane Lowry were all listed at 60-1 to wrap up the top-25 contenders in New York.
Top-75 Betting Favorites
1. Scottie Scheffler (6-1)
2. Jon Rahm (12-1)
3. Rory McIlroy (14-1)
4. Cam Young (18-1)
4. Matt Fitzpatrick (18-1)
4. Xander Schauffele (18-1)
7. Bryson DeChambeau (22-1)
7. Tommy Fleetwood (22-1)
9. Brooks Koepka (35-1)
9. Ludvig Aberg (35-1)
9. Wyndham Clark (35-1)
12. Patrick Cantlay (40-1)
12. Patrick Reed (40-1)
12. Collin Morikawa (40-1)
12. Chris Gotterup (40-1)
12. Russell Henley (40-1)
12. Sam Burns (40-1)
12. Tyrrell Hatton (40-1)
19. Justin Thomas (45-1)
19. J.J. Spaun (45-1)
19. Justin Rose (45-1)
19. Si Woo Kim (45-1)
19. Viktor Hovland (45-1)
24. Hideki Matsuyama (60-1)
24. Joaquin Niemann (60-1)
24. Jordan Spieth (60-1)
24. Shane Lowry (60-1)
28. Robert MacIntyre (65-1)
29. Ben Griffin (70-1)
29. Min Woo Lee (70-1)
31. Aaron Rai (80-1)
31. Kristoffer Reitan (80-1)
31. Maverick McNealy (80-1)
34. Adam Scott (90-1)
34. Alex Fitzpatrick (90-1)
34. Cam Smith (90-1)
34. Harris English (90-1)
34. Jake Knapp (90-1)
34. Kurt Kitayama (90-1)
34. Nicolai Hojgaard (90-1)
41. Akshay Bhatia (100-1)
41. Bud Cauley (100-1)
41. Gary Woodland (100-1)
41. Ryan Gerard (100-1)
41. Sepp Straka (100-1)
46. Alex Noren (125-1)
46. Alex Smalley (125-1)
46. J.T. Poston (125-1)
46. Jackson Koivun (125-1)
46. Jason Day (125-1)
46. Keegan Bradley (125-1)
46. Nick Taylor (125-1)
46. Rickie Fowler (125-1)
54. Corey Connors (150-1)
54. Daniel Berger (150-1)
54. David Puig (150-1)
54. Dustin Johnson (150-1)
54. Jacob Bridgeman (150-1)
54. Ryan Fox (150-1)
54. Sahith Theegala (150-1)
61. Harry Hall (175-1)
61. Keith Mitchell (175-1)
61. Sungjae Im (175-1)
61. Tom Kim (175-1)
65. Ben James (200-1)
65. Brian Harman (200-1)
65. Davis Thompson (200-1)
65. Michael Brennan (200-1)
65. Ryo Hisatune (200-1)
65. Sudarshan Yellamaraju (200-1)
71. Michael Kim (225-1)
71. Sam Stevens (225-1)
73. Andrew Novak (250-1)
73. Andrew Putnam (250-1)
73. Billy Horschel (250-1)
73. Carlos Ortiz (250-1)
73. Jackson Suber (250-1)
73. Jayden Schaper (250-1)
73. Johnny Keefer (250-1)
73. Lucas Herbert (250-1)
73. Matt McCarty (250-1)
73. Max Greyserman (250-1)
Other Notables
Padraig Harrington 750-1
Graeme McDowell 1000-1
Credits: Carey Hoffman, Joel Cook, USGA, Getty Images, PGA Tour Media, LIV Golf Media
