OAKMONT, Pa. — May the hardest check in males’s skilled golf get much more troublesome at Oakmont Nation Membership, the location of this week’s a hundred and twenty fifth U.S. Open?
Early scouting studies of the revamped course outdoors Pittsburgh from tour execs the previous few weeks have included descriptions like “carnage,” “cooked past perception” and the “hardest course on this planet.”
Seize the popcorn and prepare to see who can survive the ankle-high tough, tightened fairways, well-known Church Pews bunker and lightning-fast (and agency) greens that can go away many golfers feeling like they’re placing downhill at an ice rink.
“I’ve heard from a number of gamers, it is the toughest course they’ve ever performed,” Xander Schauffele mentioned. “That is sort of [what] most individuals have talked about. Not a lot element on why. Simply it is lengthy and the tough is not possible, and you may find yourself hitting 50-yard pitches attempting to rise up and down for par on each gap, one thing of that nature.”
It is the tenth time Oakmont is internet hosting the U.S. Open, and there is a motive the USA Golf Affiliation retains going again — to provide golfers their most troublesome check of the season.
“I might say all the rumors and the whole lot are fairly on level,” added Justin Thomas, who performed a observe spherical at Oakmont two weeks in the past.
This is a have a look at the sphere, together with the contenders, sleepers, qualifiers and amateurs:
Soar to a bit:
The clear favourite | Guys who can win | If the whole lot goes proper
Miracles occur | Pleased to make the reduce | Qualifiers | Amateurs
It is Scottie Scheffler’s world as soon as once more in males’s skilled golf, and everybody else simply appears to be witnessing what he’ll do subsequent. After capturing final month’s PGA Championship to go together with his two Masters victories, Scheffler can full three-fourths of the profession Grand Slam with a victory on Sunday.
Tier I: The clear favourite
Scottie Scheffler
Yeah, neglect about Scheffler being off to a sluggish begin. The world No. 1 golfer heads to Oakmont Nation Membership on one other epic heater, having gained in three of his previous 4 begins (by a whopping 17 strokes mixed!), together with his sixteenth PGA Tour victory on the Memorial Event. He is turning into Mariano Rivera in the course of the second 9 on Sunday, changing every of his previous seven 54-hole leads.
He has fond recollections of Oakmont; he carded a 1-under 69 in his first spherical in a significant within the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont as a 19-year-old sophomore on the College of Texas. He missed the reduce by one stroke after posting an 8-over 78 within the second spherical. If he is correct off the tee, he’ll be troublesome to beat.
Tier II: The blokes who can win
Listed below are the respectable contenders to win the U.S. Open. They’ve the sport, guts and nerves to deal with 4 pressure-packed rounds on a setup that’s historically probably the most troublesome among the many majors.
Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau captured his second U.S. Open title at Pinehurst, regardless of lacking practically half the fairways (57%) over 4 rounds. He gained by outdriving everybody else (310.9-yard common), hitting greens and placing lights-out. He’ll need to be extra correct off the tee at Oakmont, and he wasn’t comfortable together with his iron play on the Masters and PGA Championship. Nonetheless, he has completed tied for sixth or higher in 5 of the previous six majors.
Rory McIlroy
Rory will attempt to exorcise his demons from final 12 months’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina, the place he squandered a 2-stroke lead with 5 holes to play and missed quick putts on Nos. 16 and 18. He misplaced to DeChambeau by 1 shot. McIlroy missed the reduce in his solely begin at Oakmont 9 years in the past. He does not appear to have a lot confidence off the tee proper now; he missed the reduce finally week’s RBC Canadian Open after hitting solely 13 of 28 fairways in two rounds. McIlroy deliberate on testing a number of new drivers over the weekend to search out one he likes.
Collin Morikawa
The 2-time main champion is a two-time runner-up this season, on the season-opening Sentry and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Morikawa hasn’t gained in additional than 19 months; his final victory on tour got here on the Zozo Championship in Japan in October 2023. That drought has to finish someday quickly. He is extraordinarily correct off the tee (72.9%) and is a world-class ball striker (67.6% greens in regulation).
Jon Rahm
The LIV Golf League star received himself into the combo towards Scheffler on the second 9 of the ultimate spherical of the PGA Championship however collapsed down the stretch. Rahm, who gained the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, completed in a tie for twelfth or higher in 4 of his previous 5 begins within the match. He was wildly inaccurate off the tee at Quail Hole, which might spell catastrophe for him this week.
Russell Henley
Henley collected his fifth PGA Tour victory on the Arnold Palmer Invitational and adopted that with a tie for eighth on the RBC Heritage and for fifth on the Memorial. He tied for seventh within the 2024 U.S. Open at 1 below. Henley ranks sixteenth on tour in strokes gained: strategy (.538) and eleventh across the inexperienced (.393). He is tied for twelfth in driving accuracy (67.7%), which is able to assist at Oakmont, too.
Sepp Straka
Straka is among the extra underrated golfers on tour, having already gained twice this season on the American Categorical and Truist Championship. He additionally has piled up 5 top-10s and 11 top-25s in 13 begins, all however securing his spot on the European Ryder Cup crew. He’ll search for a greater exhibiting this week after lacking the reduce on the Masters and PGA Championship. He does not miss fairways (68.5% fairways hit), leads the tour in greens in regulation (71.4%) and is seventeenth in strokes gained: placing (.427).
Xander Schauffele
Schauffele’s putter appears to be warming up, which was about the one factor holding him again since his return from a rib damage. He can seize the third leg of a profession Grand Slam after successful the PGA Championship and Open Championship final 12 months. Remarkably, he completed within the prime 10 in seven of his eight begins within the U.S. Open, together with a tie for seventh final 12 months.
Ludvig Åberg
Inconsistency is about the one factor holding Åberg again from being on the prime of the higher echelon of the game. The 25-year-old Swedish golfer completed first on the Genesis Invitational and solo seventh on the Masters. Surprisingly, he ranks 77th in strokes gained: whole (.214), 109th in strategy (-.025) and 129th in placing (-.144). Nonetheless, his recreation appears tailored to win a U.S. Open.
Hideki Matsuyama
The 2019 Masters champion missed the reduce on the PGA Championship, which ended his streak of taking part in on the weekend at 19 straight majors. He completed within the prime 10 in two of the previous three U.S. Opens, though his accuracy off the tee (55.3%) could be a priority at Oakmont.
Justin Thomas
JT has cooled off a bit after a scorching begin to the season, which included a playoff victory on the RBC Heritage and three runner-up finishes. He missed the reduce on the PGA Championship and tied for thirty first on the Memorial, wherein he was undone by an opening-round 80. He performed significantly better on the weekend.
Shane Lowry
Outdoors of a missed reduce on the PGA Championship, the Irishman has performed constantly as he continues to ramp up for his return in July to Royal Portrush in Northern Eire, the location of his final particular person PGA Tour victory within the 2019 Open Championship (Lowry and McIlroy gained final 12 months’s Zurich Traditional of New Orleans). He tied for runner-up at 2016 U.S. Open, three strokes behind winner Dustin Johnson, after taking a 4-shot lead into the ultimate spherical.
Harris English
The 35-year-old gained for the fifth time on tour on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open in late January, then tied for second on the PGA Championship, his greatest profession end in a significant. If he tightens up his iron play and contact across the greens, his placing is sweet sufficient to get him in competition once more.
Patrick Cantlay
It has been greater than 2½ years since Cantlay lifted a trophy, however he was within the combine on the again 9 of the ultimate spherical at Pinehurst, the place he tied for third at 4 below. He ranks within the prime 10 in strokes gained: whole (1.124) and strategy (.628).
Justin Rose
The 2013 U.S. Open winner was runner-up on the 2024 Open Championship and misplaced in a playoff to McIlroy on the Masters in April, so he is nonetheless adequate to get within the combine. He missed the reduce in 4 of the previous 5 U.S. Opens.
Tommy Fleetwood
Fleetwood has been a top-25 machine this season, ending within the prime 22 in all however two of his 12 begins on tour. He tied for fourth within the Charles Schwab Problem and for sixteenth on the Memorial. He is nonetheless looking for an elusive first PGA Tour victory.
Viktor Hovland
Hovland’s love-hate relationship together with his swing is a endless drama, however he gave the impression to be in a greater place not too long ago. He is nonetheless an distinctive iron participant and hits sufficient fairways, however will his quick recreation and placing maintain up on Oakmont’s diabolical inexperienced constructions?
Aaron Rai
If retaining the ball within the fairway is a prerequisite for contending at Oakmont, nobody on tour does it higher than Rai, who leads in driving accuracy (73.4%). He’ll need to do a greater job on the greens, too.
Tyrrell Hatton
USGA setups do not appear to suit Hatton’s eye. He completed within the prime 10 solely as soon as, tying for sixth in 2018 at Shinnecock Hills in Lengthy Island, New York. He has performed like top-of-the-line golfers on this planet for some time now.
Corey Conners
The Canadian golfer hits most fairways (68.8%) and greens (70%) and is placing higher this season. He tied for ninth at Pinehurst final season.
Ben Griffin
It is arduous to imagine that the previous North Carolina star was working as a mortgage mortgage officer 4 years in the past and practically walked away from the game. Griffin and Andrew Novak captured the crew occasion in New Orleans, after which Griffin picked up his first particular person title on the Charles Schwab Problem. He was runner-up finally week’s Memorial Event and does not appear able to decelerate anytime quickly, even in his first begin within the U.S. Open.
Joaquín Niemann
A four-time winner within the LIV Golf League this 12 months, Niemann lastly collected a top-10 in a significant with a tie for eighth within the PGA Championship. It could be the breakthrough he wanted to make some noise within the huge 4.
Tier III: If the whole lot goes proper
Listed below are the sleeper candidates to elevate the U.S. Open trophy on Sunday. The checklist contains former main championship winners, rising stars and different gamers whose video games have been works in progress this season. Will all of it come collectively at Oakmont?
Tony Finau
Finau appeared to get up from his slumber with top-20 finishes on the Truist Championship and PGA Championship. He tied for third final 12 months after carding a 3-under 67 on Sunday.
Brian Harman
Harman gained the 2023 Open Championship in robust circumstances and made the reduce in every of the previous 5 U.S. Opens, tying for twenty first at Pinehurst. He gained the Valero Texas Open in April and tied for third within the RBC Heritage.
Cameron Smith
Smith’s placing prowess would appear to make him match at Oakmont. He missed the reduce previously three majors, leaving many to surprise if he is taking part in typically sufficient within the LIV Golf League to contend once more.
Matt Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick’s tie for eighth on the PGA Championship was an indication that his type could be again. He gained the 2022 U.S. Open at The Nation Membership in Brookline, Massachusetts, in not-so-great circumstances.
Jordan Spieth
Since turning into the youngest golfer since Bobby Jones in 1923 to win the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in 2015, Spieth has one top-20 end in 9 begins, tying for nineteenth 4 years in the past.
Brooks Koepka
The 2-time U.S. Open winner used to indicate up at majors believing he was higher than everybody else within the area. He hasn’t had a top-10 in a significant since successful his third PGA Championship title in 2023. He missed the reduce within the first two majors this 12 months.
Min Woo Lee
“Dr. Chipinski” has three straight robust finishes within the U.S. Open, together with a tie for fifth at Los Angeles Nation Membership two years in the past. His type hasn’t been nice for the reason that Masters.
Sam Burns
After limping into the Masters, Burns has performed higher golf the previous couple of months. He appeared to have a breakthrough in majors by tying for ninth within the 2024 U.S. Open, and he leads the PGA Tour in strokes gained: placing, which is able to assistance on Oakmont’s intimidating greens.
Ryan Fox
The golfer from New Zealand earned an exemption into the sphere Sunday by defeating Burns in a playoff on the RBC Canadian Open. It was Fox’s second win in 4 begins; he additionally completed first within the ONEflight Myrtle Seashore Traditional.
Andrew Novak
Novak has been one of many greatest surprises on tour this season, teaming up with Griffin to win the Zurich Traditional of New Orleans and dropping to Thomas in a playoff on the RBC Heritage. It is simply his second begin within the U.S. Open.
Patrick Reed
Reed retains exhibiting up on the leaderboard on Sundays at Augusta Nationwide, however he hasn’t had related success within the different three majors. His solely top-10 within the U.S. Open was solo fourth in 2018.
Robert MacIntyre
The Scottish golfer captured two nationwide championships final 12 months: the Canadian Open and Scottish Open. He’d like so as to add a U.S. Open and known as Oakmont “absolute carnage on a simulator, by no means thoughts the precise occasion.”
Daniel Berger
Berger has a few top-10s within the U.S. Open in his profession, and he was taking part in properly earlier than back-to-back missed cuts on the Charles Schwab Problem and the Memorial.
Davis Riley
Riley had a breakthrough on the PGA Championship, tying for second at 6 below, his greatest end in a significant.
Tom Kim
Kim has stacked up three straight finishes of twenty sixth or higher within the U.S. Open, together with a tie for eighth in 2023. He has struggled the previous two months on tour.
Maverick McNealy
It is McNealy’s first U.S. Open begin since he certified as an 18-year-old novice at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2014.
Akshay Bhatia
After a lull in April and early Could, Bhatia has performed higher in current weeks. He tied for sixteenth within the 2024 U.S. Open and has all of the photographs you want to contend, particularly on the greens.
Thomas Detry
Detry is not notably correct off the tee (56.6%) and has struggled together with his irons, however he putts lights-out and tied for 14th at Pinehurst No. 2 final 12 months.
Si Woo Kim
What else does Kim have in his bag after he recorded the longest ace in main championship historical past on the 252-yard, par-3 sixth gap at Quail Hole Membership within the PGA Championship?
Keegan Bradley
The U.S. Ryder Cup crew captain missed the reduce on the U.S. Open in 4 of his previous six begins. He tied for seventh in 2022.
Jason Day
Day tied for eighth at 2 during the last time the U.S. Open was performed at Oakmont. He hasn’t competed on tour since lacking the reduce on the PGA Championship; he injured his left wrist whereas transferring a motorbike.
J.T. Poston
Poston tied for fifth on the PGA Championship, his greatest end in a significant, and his type was trending properly earlier than a missed reduce on the Memorial.
Denny McCarthy
McCarthy had three straight stable finishes within the U.S. Open, tying for seventh in 2022, and his placing offers him an opportunity to make some noise.
Michael Kim
Kim has cooled off after his scorching spring, when he piled up 5 straight top-15s. It is solely his third U.S. Open begin; he was low novice and tied for seventeenth in 2013.
Davis Thompson
Thompson tied for ninth at Pinehurst No. 2 final 12 months, his greatest end in a significant. The 26-year-old is immensely gifted however nonetheless fighting consistency.
Dustin Johnson
DJ survived a scoring controversy within the remaining spherical to win the final U.S. Open performed at Oakmont. He has been a nonfactor in majors the previous two seasons.
Wyndham Clark
Clark’s type has been trending within the improper route for weeks, and his inaccuracy off the tee (56.5%) and struggling iron play (63.8%) in all probability aren’t a recipe for achievement at Oakmont.
Sungjae Im
He is one other golfer who retains his tee photographs between the traces (68.7%), though he missed the reduce in every of his previous three begins on this match.
J.J. Spaun
Spaun is a two-time runner-up on tour this season, dropping to McIlroy in a Monday playoff on the Gamers. He missed the reduce in his solely earlier U.S. Open begin in 2021.
Jacob Bridgeman
The previous Clemson star could be a sneaky choose to contend this week. He is top-of-the-line putters on tour, has 4 top-10 finishes and carried out properly at Oakmont within the 2021 U.S. Beginner.
Rasmus Højgaard
Højgaard is a five-time winner on the DP World Tour. He missed the reduce in his solely earlier U.S. Open begin in 2020.
Joe Highsmith
Highsmith has been a breakout performer thus far this season, successful the Cognizant Traditional and tying for eighth on the PGA Championship.
Ryan Gerard
Gerard will look to construct on his stunning tie for eighth on the PGA Championship.
Lucas Glover
Glover’s placing has gone chilly once more, which is a motive he hasn’t been in competition as a lot as he’d like this season. He performed in two earlier U.S. Opens at Oakmont, in 2007 and 2016, lacking the reduce in each.
Matthieu Pavon
Pavon turned the primary French golfer to win on the PGA Tour in January 2024 with a victory at a U.S. Open course within the Farmers Insurance coverage Open at Torrey Pines. He was solo fifth at Pinehurst No. 2 final 12 months.
Nick Taylor
The Canadian golfer is a five-time winner on the PGA Tour, however he is nonetheless looking for success within the majors.
Taylor Pendrith
One other golfer from north of the border, Pendrith completed within the prime 20 in two of his previous three majors, tying for sixteenth on the 2024 U.S. Open and for fifth finally month’s PGA Championship.
Adam Scott
The 2013 Masters champion’s greatest days on the course are in all probability within the rearview mirror. He has one top-10 in a significant since tying for seventh on the 2019 U.S. Open.
Cameron Younger
Younger, as soon as ranked thirteenth within the Official World Golf Rating, needed to undergo remaining qualifying to make the sphere. He has performed higher currently.
Bud Cauley
After lacking greater than three seasons due to accidents suffered in a 2018 automotive accident, Cauley is again within the U.S. Open for the primary time in eight years.
Stephan Jager
Jäger, from Germany, tied for twenty first within the 2024 U.S. Open. He made early noise on the PGA Championship earlier than fading on the weekend.
Tier IV: Hey, miracles occur
These are the lengthy photographs. This tier features a handful of older former main champions and PGA Tour regulars.
Gary Woodland
Brian Campbell
Cam Davis
Laurie Canter
Mackenzie Hughes
Jhonattan Vegas
Nico Echavarria
Max Greyserman
Sam Stevens
Emiliano Grillo
Matt Wallace
Marc Leishman
Chris Kirk
Tom Hoge
Christiaan Bezuidenhout
Byeong Hun An
Thriston Lawrence
Mark Hubbard
Lanto Griffin
Justin Decrease
Richard Bland
Eric Cole
Doug Ghim
Carlos Ortiz
Did Vegas catch lightning in a bottle on the PGA Championship when he grabbed the 18- and 36-hole leads and tied for fifth at 5 below? He has by no means completed within the prime 40 within the U.S. Open.
Woodland captured the 2019 U.S. Open, Kirk is a six-time winner on tour, and Leishman has gained 14 occasions world wide, together with as soon as within the LIV Golf League. They’re greater than able to stringing collectively 4 stable rounds if their type is best.
Tier V: Pleased to make the reduce
These gamers aren’t anticipated to be among the many contenders except one thing wild occurs.
Phil Mickelson
Nick Dunlap
Matt McCarty
Erik van Rooyen
Thorbjørn Olesen
Victor Perez
Niklas Nørgaard
Zac Blair
Chris Gotterup
Will Chandler
Trevor Cone
James Hahn
Adam Schenk
Mickelson, a six-time main champion, acknowledged earlier this week that this could be his final likelihood to finish the profession Grand Slam. It’s the remaining 12 months of his five-year exemption for capturing the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, the place he turned the oldest main championship winner.
Mickelson, 54, is a six-time runner-up within the U.S. Open, most not too long ago in 2013. He missed the reduce in 4 of his previous 5 begins within the occasion and hasn’t completed within the prime 40 since tying for twenty eighth in 2014.
Dunlap gained twice on tour final season, as soon as as an novice and one other as a rookie after turning professional. He has struggled mightily since then, nevertheless, lacking the reduce in six of his previous 9 begins. He hasn’t performed on the weekend in any of his 5 main appearances the previous two seasons.
Tier VI: The qualifiers
Listed below are the remaining gamers among the many 65 qualifiers who aren’t PGA Tour regulars and included in tiers above or under. They went via native and remaining qualifying to seize spots within the area. The final qualifier to win the U.S. Open was Lucas Glover in 2009.
Yuta Sugiura
James Nicholas
Roberto Díaz
Ben James
Zach Bauchou
Scott Vincent
Jordan Smith
Joakim Lagergren
Jinichiro Kozuma
Guido Migliozzi
Frédéric Lacroix
Sam Bairstow
Edoardo Molinari
Jacques Kruyswijk
Andrea Pavan
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
Alistair Docherty
Johnny Keefer
Alvaro Ortiz
Emilio Gonzalez
Trent Phillips
George Kneiser
Chandler Blanchet
Justin Hicks
Philip Barbaree Jr.
Jackson Buchanan
Ryan McCormick
Bryan Lee
Harrison Ott
Grant Haefner
George Duangmanee
Kevin Velo
Brady Calkins
Joey Herrera
Austen Truslow
Chase Johnson
Matthew Jordan
Takumi Kanaya
Riki Kawamoto
Riley Lewis
Maxwell Moldovan
Nicholas, from New York, performed soccer for one season at Yale and was on its golf crew for 4. His grandfather Dr. James A. Nicholas was an orthopedic surgeon who operated on Jets quarterback Joe Namath’s knee 4 occasions. Nicholas was the Ivy League Participant of the Yr in 2019.
Hicks, 50, really held a share of the first-round lead at 3 below within the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, wherein Tiger Woods beat Rocco Mediate in sudden demise after an 18-hole playoff. Hicks, now a golf teacher in Boca Raton, Florida, tied for 74th at 17 over.
Haefner, who performed at Wayne State College in Michigan, had one of the dramatic finishes on golf’s longest day, sinking a 60-foot putt from off the inexperienced on the thirty sixth gap to earn medalist honors in remaining qualifying at Springfield Nation Membership in Ohio.
Go forward and DO THAT, Grant Haefner!
The Bloomfield Hills native had the completely applicable response to clinching his spot within the U.S. Open. pic.twitter.com/Vgp0cg0McV
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 2, 2025
Tier VII: The amateurs
Listed below are the novice gamers who will try to do what stars resembling Cantlay, Mickelson, Rahm, Spieth and so many others did on the U.S. Open earlier than turning professional: win a medal as a low novice.
Jose Luis Ballester
Noah Kent
Evan Beck
Trevor Gutschewski
Michael La Sasso
Justin Hastings
Lance Simpson
Cameron Tankersley
Frankie Harris
Mason Howell
Tyler Weaver
Jackson Koivun
Matt Vogt
Preston Summerhays
Zachery Pollo
There are a whopping 15 amateurs within the area, together with 9 who superior via remaining qualifying, and plenty of of them as soon as once more have compelling tales.
Vogt, 34, grew up in Pittsburgh and was as soon as a caddie at Oakmont. He performed at Butler College in Indianapolis, the place he now works as a dentist. He was the medalist in remaining qualifying in Walla Walla, Washington, he wore a ribbon on his hat in tribute to his not too long ago deceased father, who used to trace his scores on his cellphone.
A caddie turned dentist turned U.S. Open competitor! 👏 👏 👏
For those who watch one Golf’s Longest Day interview, be certain that it is this one from Matthew Vogt. pic.twitter.com/f1WEehPfsG
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 3, 2025
Howell, 17, is a rising senior in highschool in Thomasville, Georgia. He went 18 below and did not make a bogey in two rounds throughout remaining qualifying on June 2 at Piedmont Driving Membership in Atlanta. He’s dedicated to play on the College of Georgia as a part of the 2026 class.
La Sasso, a junior at Ole Miss, received into the sphere by capturing final month’s NCAA Division I particular person nationwide championship. The All-American posted the bottom scoring common in program historical past (69.48) and gained thrice this previous season. Tankersley, his Ole Miss teammate, made the sphere via open qualifying.
Gutschewski simply graduated from Westside Excessive College in Omaha, Nebraska, and is headed to the College of Florida. His father, Scott, is a three-time winner on the Korn Ferry Tour, and his older brother, Luke, performed at Iowa State. Gutschewski earned a U.S. Open spot by capturing the 2024 U.S. Junior Beginner.
