OAKMONT, Pa. — Might the hardest check in males’s skilled golf get much more tough at Oakmont Nation Membership, the location of this week’s one hundred and twenty fifth U.S. Open?
Early scouting experiences of the revamped course outdoors Pittsburgh from tour professionals the previous few weeks have included descriptions like “carnage,” “cooked past perception” and the “hardest course on the earth.”
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 depart 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 type 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 tough check of the season.
“I’d say all the rumors and every thing are fairly on level,” added Justin Thomas, who performed a apply spherical at Oakmont two weeks in the past.
This is a have a look at the sector, together with the contenders, sleepers, qualifiers and amateurs:
Leap to a piece:
The clear favorite | Guys who can win | If everything goes right
Miracles happen | Happy to make the cut | 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
Yeah, neglect about Scheffler being off to a gradual begin. The world No. 1 golfer heads to Oakmont Nation Membership on one other epic heater, having received in three of his previous 4 begins (by a whopping 17 strokes mixed!), together with his 16th PGA Tour victory at the Memorial Tournament. He is turning into Mariano Rivera through the second 9 on Sunday, changing every of his previous seven 54-hole leads.
He has fond reminiscences 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 lower by one stroke after posting an 8-over 78 within the second spherical. If he is correct off the tee, he’ll be tough to beat.
Tier II: The blokes who can win
Listed below are the official 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 essentially the most tough among the many majors.
DeChambeau captured his second U.S. Open title at Pinehurst, regardless of lacking practically half the fairways (57%) over 4 rounds. He received 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 pleased 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 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 lower 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 cut at last 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 seek out one he likes.
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 received 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).
The LIV Golf League star bought himself into the combination in opposition to Scheffler on the second 9 of the ultimate spherical of the PGA Championship however collapsed down the stretch. Rahm, who received 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.
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 beneath. 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.
Straka is without doubt one of the extra underrated golfers on tour, having already received twice this season on the American Specific 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 lower 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).
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 profitable 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.
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.
The 2019 Masters champion missed the lower on the PGA Championship, which ended his streak of enjoying 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%) is likely to be a priority at Oakmont.
JT has cooled off a bit after a scorching begin to the season, which included a playoff victory at the RBC Heritage and three runner-up finishes. He missed the lower on the PGA Championship and tied for thirty first on the Memorial, by which he was undone by an opening-round 80. He performed a lot better on the weekend.
Outdoors of a missed lower 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 received 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.
The 35-year-old received for the fifth time on tour on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open in late January, then tied for second on the PGA Championship, his finest 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.
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 beneath. He ranks within the prime 10 in strokes gained: whole (1.124) and strategy (.628).
The 2013 U.S. Open winner was runner-up on the 2024 Open Championship and lost in a playoff to McIlroy at the Masters in April, so he is nonetheless adequate to get within the combine. He missed the lower in 4 of the previous 5 U.S. Opens.
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.
Hovland’s love-hate relationship together with his swing is a endless drama, however he gave the impression to be in a greater place lately. 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 buildings?
If maintaining 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.
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 the earth for some time now.
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.
It is exhausting 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 team event in New Orleans, after which Griffin picked up his first individual title on the Charles Schwab Problem. He was runner-up ultimately week’s Memorial Event and does not appear able to decelerate anytime quickly, even in his first begin within the U.S. Open.
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 is likely to be the breakthrough he wanted to make some noise within the massive 4.
Tier III: If every thing goes proper
Listed below are the sleeper candidates to raise the U.S. Open trophy on Sunday. The listing consists of 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?
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.
Harman received the 2023 Open Championship in robust situations and made the lower in every of the previous 5 U.S. Opens, tying for twenty first at Pinehurst. He received the Valero Texas Open in April and tied for third within the RBC Heritage.
Smith’s placing prowess would appear to make him a very good match at Oakmont. He missed the lower previously three majors, leaving many to marvel if he is enjoying usually sufficient within the LIV Golf League to contend once more.
Fitzpatrick’s tie for eighth on the PGA Championship was an indication that his kind is likely to be again. He received the 2022 U.S. Open at The Nation Membership in Brookline, Massachusetts, in not-so-great situations.
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.
The 2-time U.S. Open winner used to point out up at majors believing he was higher than everybody else within the area. He hasn’t had a top-10 in a significant since profitable his third PGA Championship title in 2023. He missed the lower within the first two majors this 12 months.
“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 kind hasn’t been nice because the Masters.
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.
The golfer from New Zealand earned an exemption into the sector 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.
Novak has been one of many largest 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.
Reed retains exhibiting up on the leaderboard on Sundays at Augusta Nationwide, however he hasn’t had comparable success within the different three majors. His solely top-10 within the U.S. Open was solo fourth in 2018.
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.”
Berger has a few top-10s within the U.S. Open in his profession, and he was enjoying properly earlier than back-to-back missed cuts on the Charles Schwab Problem and the Memorial.
Riley had a breakthrough on the PGA Championship, tying for second at 6 beneath, his finest end in a significant.
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.
It is McNealy’s first U.S. Open begin since he certified as an 18-year-old newbie at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2014.
After a lull in April and early Might, Bhatia has performed higher in current weeks. He tied for sixteenth within the 2024 U.S. Open and has all of the pictures it is advisable contend, particularly on the greens.
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.
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?
The U.S. Ryder Cup crew captain missed the lower on the U.S. Open in 4 of his previous six begins. He tied for seventh in 2022.
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 lower on the PGA Championship; he injured his left wrist whereas transferring a motorbike.
Poston tied for fifth on the PGA Championship, his finest end in a significant, and his kind was trending properly earlier than a missed lower on the Memorial.
McCarthy had three straight stable finishes within the U.S. Open, tying for seventh in 2022, and his placing provides him an opportunity to make some noise.
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 newbie and tied for seventeenth in 2013.
Thompson tied for ninth at Pinehurst No. 2 final 12 months, his finest end in a significant. The 26-year-old is immensely proficient however nonetheless battling consistency.
DJ survived a scoring controversy within the ultimate spherical to win the final U.S. Open performed at Oakmont. He has been a nonfactor in majors the previous two seasons.
Clark’s kind has been trending within the mistaken path for weeks, and his inaccuracy off the tee (56.5%) and struggling iron play (63.8%) most likely aren’t a recipe for fulfillment at Oakmont.
He is one other golfer who retains his tee pictures between the traces (68.7%), though he missed the lower in every of his previous three begins on this match.
Spaun is a two-time runner-up on tour this season, dropping to McIlroy in a Monday playoff on the Gamers. He missed the lower in his solely earlier U.S. Open begin in 2021.
The previous Clemson star is likely to be a sneaky decide 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. Newbie.
Højgaard is a five-time winner on the DP World Tour. He missed the lower in his solely earlier U.S. Open begin in 2020.
Highsmith has been a breakout performer to date this season, profitable the Cognizant Traditional and tying for eighth on the PGA Championship.
Gerard will look to construct on his stunning tie for eighth on the PGA Championship.
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 lower in each.
Pavon grew to become 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.
The Canadian golfer is a five-time winner on the PGA Tour, however he is nonetheless looking for success within the majors.
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 ultimately month’s PGA Championship.
The 2013 Masters champion’s finest days on the course are most likely within the rearview mirror. He has one top-10 in a significant since tying for seventh on the 2019 U.S. Open.
Younger, as soon as ranked thirteenth within the Official World Golf Rating, needed to undergo final qualifying to make the field. He has performed higher currently.
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.
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 pictures. 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 Lower
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 beneath? 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 received 14 instances all over the world, together with as soon as within the LIV Golf League. They’re greater than able to stringing collectively 4 stable rounds if their kind is best.
Tier V: Completely satisfied to make the lower
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 might be his last chance to finish the profession Grand Slam. It’s the ultimate 12 months of his five-year exemption for capturing the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, the place he grew to become the oldest main championship winner.
Mickelson, 54, is a six-time runner-up within the U.S. Open, most lately in 2013. He missed the lower 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 received twice on tour final season, as soon as as an newbie and one other as a rookie after turning professional. He has struggled mightily since then, nonetheless, lacking the lower 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 by means of native and ultimate 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 instances. Nicholas was the Ivy League Participant of the 12 months in 2019.
Hicks, 50, really held a share of the first-round lead at 3 beneath within the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, by which 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 ultimate 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 newbie gamers who will try to do what stars akin to Cantlay, Mickelson, Rahm, Spieth and so many others did on the U.S. Open earlier than turning professional: win a medal as a low newbie.
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 by means of ultimate 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 ultimate qualifying in Walla Walla, Washington, he wore a ribbon on his hat in tribute to his lately deceased father, who used to trace his scores on his cellphone.
A caddie turned dentist turned U.S. Open competitor! 👏 👏 👏
In the event you watch one Golf’s Longest Day interview, make sure 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 beneath and did not make a bogey in two rounds throughout ultimate 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, bought into the sector 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 received 3 times this previous season. Tankersley, his Ole Miss teammate, made the sector by means of 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 Newbie.
