OAKMONT, Pa. – Many wonder if men`s professional golf`s most challenging test could become even tougher at Oakmont Country Club, the venue for this week`s 125th U.S. Open.
Early reports from touring professionals who have recently scouted the redesigned course near Pittsburgh have included terms like `carnage,` `cooked beyond belief,` and `the hardest course in the world.`
Prepare for the spectacle and see who can endure the ankle-deep rough, narrowed fairways, the infamous Church Pews bunker, and lightning-fast, firm greens that will make putting feel like sliding downhill on an ice rink.
Xander Schauffele commented, “I`ve heard from several players it`s the hardest course they`ve ever played. That`s kind of what most people have talked about. Not much detail on why. Just it`s long and the rough is impossible, and you can end up hitting 50-yard pitches trying to get up and down for par on every hole, something of that nature.”
This marks the 10th time Oakmont is hosting the U.S. Open, and the United States Golf Association consistently returns for a reason: to provide golfers with their most demanding challenge of the season.
Justin Thomas, who recently played a practice round at Oakmont, added, “I would say all of the rumors and everything are pretty on point.”
Here`s a look at the field, categorized by contenders, potential dark horses, qualifiers, and amateurs:
Scottie Scheffler continues to dominate the world of men`s professional golf, with everyone else seemingly watching his next move. After winning last month`s PGA Championship, adding to his two Masters titles, Scheffler has the chance to secure three-fourths of the career Grand Slam with a victory this Sunday.
Tier I: The Clear Favorite
Scottie Scheffler
Dismiss any thoughts of Scheffler starting slowly. The world No. 1 arrives at Oakmont Country Club in exceptional form, having won three of his last four tournaments by a combined margin of 17 strokes, including his 16th PGA Tour victory at the Memorial Tournament. He has become incredibly reliable when holding a lead, converting his last seven 54-hole leads.
He has positive memories of Oakmont; as a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Texas, he shot a 1-under 69 in his first major round at the 2016 U.S. Open held there. He missed the cut by one stroke after a second-round 8-over 78. If he can maintain accuracy off the tee, he will be extremely difficult to beat.
Tier II: The Guys Who Can Win
These are the legitimate contenders for the U.S. Open title. They possess the necessary game, courage, and composure to handle four rounds under pressure on a course traditionally known as the most challenging among the majors.
Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau secured his second U.S. Open title at Pinehurst, despite hitting less than half (43%) of the fairways over four rounds. He won by outdriving the field (averaging 310.9 yards), hitting greens, and excelling on the putting surface. He will need greater accuracy off the tee at Oakmont. He expressed dissatisfaction with his iron play at the Masters and PGA Championship, but he has still finished tied for sixth or better in five of the last six majors.
Rory McIlroy
Rory will aim to overcome his struggles from last year`s U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina, where he let a 2-stroke lead slip with five holes remaining and missed short putts on Nos. 16 and 18, losing to DeChambeau by one shot. McIlroy missed the cut in his only prior appearance at Oakmont nine years ago. His confidence off the tee appears low currently; he missed the cut at the recent RBC Canadian Open after hitting only 13 of 28 fairways in two rounds. McIlroy planned to test several new drivers to find one that suits him.
Collin Morikawa
The two-time major champion has been a runner-up twice this season, at the Sentry opener and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Morikawa hasn`t won in over 19 months, with his last tour victory being the Zozo Championship in Japan in October 2023. This winless streak is bound to end soon. He is remarkably accurate off the tee (72.9%) and a world-class ball striker (67.6% greens in regulation).
Jon Rahm
The LIV Golf League standout positioned himself as a challenger against Scheffler on the back nine of the PGA Championship`s final round but faltered late. Rahm, the 2021 U.S. Open champion at Torrey Pines, has finished tied for 12th or better in four of his last five tournament starts. His driving was highly inaccurate at Quail Hollow, which would be disastrous this week.
Russell Henley
Henley earned his fifth PGA Tour victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and followed up with a tie for eighth at the RBC Heritage and fifth at the Memorial. He tied for seventh in the 2024 U.S. Open at 1 under par. Henley ranks 16th on tour in strokes gained: approach (.538) and 11th around the green (.393). His driving accuracy is also strong (tied for 12th at 67.7%), which will be beneficial at Oakmont.
Sepp Straka
Straka is one of the tour`s most underrated players, having won twice this season at the American Express and Truist Championship. He has also accumulated five top-10s and 11 top-25s in 13 starts, essentially guaranteeing his spot on the European Ryder Cup team. He hopes for a better performance this week after missing cuts at the Masters and PGA Championship. He rarely misses fairways (68.5% fairways hit), leads the tour in greens in regulation (71.4%), and is 17th in strokes gained: putting (.427).
Xander Schauffele
Schauffele`s putting appears to be improving, which was previously his main limitation since recovering from a rib injury. He could achieve the third leg of a career Grand Slam, having won the PGA Championship and Open Championship last year. Notably, he has finished in the top 10 in seven of his eight U.S. Open appearances, including a tie for seventh last year.
Ludvig Åberg
Inconsistency is perhaps the only barrier preventing Åberg from being consistently among the sport`s elite. The 25-year-old Swedish golfer finished first at the Genesis Invitational and solo seventh at the Masters. Surprisingly, he ranks 77th in strokes gained: total (.214), 109th in approach (-.025), and 129th in putting (-.144). Despite these stats, his game seems ideally suited for winning a U.S. Open.
Hideki Matsuyama
The 2019 Masters champion missed the cut at the PGA Championship, ending his streak of 19 consecutive made cuts in majors. He finished in the top 10 in two of the last three U.S. Opens, although his driving accuracy (55.3%) might be a concern at Oakmont.
Justin Thomas
JT`s hot start to the season, which included a playoff victory at the RBC Heritage and three runner-up finishes, has cooled slightly. He missed the cut at the PGA Championship and tied for 31st at the Memorial, hampered by an opening-round 80, though he played much better on the weekend.
Shane Lowry
Aside from a missed cut at the PGA Championship, the Irishman has shown consistent play as he prepares for his return to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland in July, the site of his last individual PGA Tour win at the 2019 Open Championship (Lowry and McIlroy won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans last year). He tied for runner-up at the 2016 U.S. Open, finishing three strokes behind winner Dustin Johnson after holding a 4-shot lead entering the final round.
Harris English
The 35-year-old achieved his fifth tour victory at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January, then tied for second at the PGA Championship, his best career major finish. If he can improve his iron play and short game touch, his putting is strong enough to put him in contention again.
Patrick Cantlay
It`s been over 2½ years since Cantlay last won a trophy, but he was competitive on the back nine of the final round at Pinehurst, where he tied for third at 4 under. He ranks in the top 10 in strokes gained: total (1.124) and approach (.628).
Justin Rose
The 2013 U.S. Open winner was a runner-up at the 2024 Open Championship and lost in a playoff to McIlroy at the Masters in April, showing he`s still capable of contending. However, he has missed the cut in four of his last five U.S. Open starts.
Tommy Fleetwood
Fleetwood has been consistently finishing in the top 25 this season, with top-22 results in all but two of his 12 starts on tour. He tied for fourth at the Charles Schwab Challenge and 16th at the Memorial. He is still seeking his first elusive PGA Tour victory.
Viktor Hovland
Hovland`s fluctuating relationship with his golf swing is an ongoing narrative, though he recently seemed more settled. He remains an exceptional iron player and hits enough fairways, but his short game and putting will be tested on Oakmont`s notoriously difficult greens.
Aaron Rai
If keeping the ball in the fairway is crucial for contending at Oakmont, no one on tour does it better than Rai, who leads in driving accuracy (73.4%). He will need to significantly improve his performance on the greens.
Tyrrell Hatton
USGA course setups don`t seem to suit Hatton particularly well. He has only one top-10 finish in the event, tying for sixth in 2018 at Shinnecock Hills. Despite this, he has performed like one of the world`s best golfers for some time now.
Corey Conners
The Canadian golfer consistently finds fairways (68.8%) and greens (70%) and has improved his putting this season. He tied for ninth at Pinehurst last season.
Ben Griffin
It`s remarkable that the former North Carolina standout was working as a mortgage loan officer just four years ago and was close to quitting the sport. Griffin and Andrew Novak won the team event in New Orleans, and Griffin subsequently claimed his first individual title at the Charles Schwab Challenge. He was a runner-up at the recent Memorial Tournament and shows no signs of slowing down, even in his debut U.S. Open start.
Joaquín Niemann
A four-time winner on the LIV Golf League this year, Niemann finally achieved a top-10 finish in a major, tying for eighth at the PGA Championship. This could be the breakthrough he needed to become a significant factor in the major championships.
Tier III: If Everything Goes Right
Here are the potential dark horse candidates who could lift the U.S. Open trophy on Sunday. This group includes former major champions, emerging talents, and players whose games have shown promise this season. Will everything align for them at Oakmont?
Tony Finau
Finau appeared to find his form with top-20 finishes at the Truist Championship and PGA Championship. He tied for third last year after a Sunday 3-under 67.
Brian Harman
Harman won the 2023 Open Championship under challenging conditions and has made the cut in his last five U.S. Open starts, tying for 21st at Pinehurst. He won the Valero Texas Open in April and tied for third at the RBC Heritage.
Cameron Smith
Smith`s renowned putting skill would seem to make him a good fit for Oakmont. He has missed the cut in his last three majors, leading some to question if his LIV Golf League schedule provides enough competitive preparation.
Matt Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick`s tie for eighth at the PGA Championship suggests his form might be returning. He won the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, also played under difficult conditions.
Jordan Spieth
Since becoming the youngest player since Bobby Jones in 1923 to win the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in 2015, Spieth has only one top-20 finish in nine subsequent starts, tying for 19th four years ago.
Brooks Koepka
The two-time U.S. Open winner previously arrived at majors with the conviction that he was superior to everyone else. He hasn`t recorded a top-10 finish in a major since winning his third PGA Championship title in 2023 and missed the cut in the first two majors this year.
Min Woo Lee
`Dr. Chipinski` has achieved three consecutive strong finishes in the U.S. Open, including a tie for fifth at Los Angeles Country Club two years ago. His form has not been at its peak since the Masters.
Sam Burns
After struggling leading up to the Masters, Burns has played better golf in recent months. He appeared to have a major breakthrough by tying for ninth in the 2024 U.S. Open, and he leads the PGA Tour in strokes gained: putting, which will be a significant advantage on Oakmont`s challenging greens.
Ryan Fox
The New Zealander secured an exemption into the field by defeating Burns in a playoff at the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday. This was Fox`s second victory in four starts; he also won the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic.
Andrew Novak
Novak has been one of the biggest surprises on tour this season, winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with Griffin and losing to Thomas in a playoff at the RBC Heritage. This is just his second U.S. Open appearance.
Patrick Reed
Reed consistently performs well on Sundays at Augusta National but hasn`t found similar success in the other three majors. His sole top-10 finish in the U.S. Open was solo fourth in 2018.
Robert MacIntyre
The Scottish golfer won two national championships last year: the Canadian Open and Scottish Open. He aims to add a U.S. Open title and described Oakmont as “absolute carnage on a simulator, never mind the actual event.”
Daniel Berger
Berger has a couple of top-10 finishes in the U.S. Open in his career and was playing well before consecutive missed cuts at the Charles Schwab Challenge and the Memorial.
Davis Riley
Riley had a significant breakthrough at the PGA Championship, tying for second at 6 under, his best major finish.
Tom Kim
Kim has recorded three straight finishes of 26th or better in the U.S. Open, including a tie for eighth in 2023. He has faced difficulties on tour over the past two months.
Maverick McNealy
This is McNealy`s first U.S. Open start since he qualified as an 18-year-old amateur at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2014.
Akshay Bhatia
After a less consistent period in April and early May, Bhatia`s play has improved in recent weeks. He tied for 16th in the 2024 U.S. Open and possesses all the necessary shots to contend, particularly on the greens.
Thomas Detry
Detry isn`t particularly accurate off the tee (56.6%) and has struggled with his irons, but his putting is excellent, and he tied for 14th at Pinehurst No. 2 last year.
Si Woo Kim
What other surprises does Kim have in store after recording the longest ace in major championship history on the 252-yard, par-3 sixth hole at Quail Hollow Club during the PGA Championship?
Keegan Bradley
The U.S. Ryder Cup team captain has missed the cut in the U.S. Open in four of his last six starts. He tied for seventh in 2022.
Jason Day
Day tied for eighth at 2 over par the last time the U.S. Open was held at Oakmont. He hasn`t competed on tour since missing the cut at the PGA Championship due to a left wrist injury sustained while moving a bike.
J.T. Poston
Poston tied for fifth at the PGA Championship, his best major finish, and his form was strong before a missed cut at the Memorial.
Denny McCarthy
McCarthy has three straight solid finishes in the U.S. Open, tying for seventh in 2022, and his putting skill provides him a chance to make a significant impact.
Michael Kim
Kim`s momentum has cooled after a strong spring with five consecutive top-15 finishes. This is only his third U.S. Open start; he was low amateur and tied for 17th in 2013.
Davis Thompson
Thompson tied for ninth at Pinehurst No. 2 last year, his best major finish. The 26-year-old is highly talented but still working on consistency.
Dustin Johnson
DJ famously navigated a scoring controversy in the final round to win the previous U.S. Open held at Oakmont. He has not been a significant factor in majors over the past two seasons.
Wyndham Clark
Clark`s form has been declining for several weeks, and his lack of accuracy off the tee (56.5%) and struggling iron play (63.8%) are unlikely to be a recipe for success at Oakmont.
Sungjae Im
He is another player who typically keeps his tee shots in play (68.7% accuracy), though he has missed the cut in his last three starts in this tournament.
J.J. Spaun
Spaun has been a runner-up twice on tour this season, including losing to McIlroy in a playoff at the Players Championship. He missed the cut in his only previous U.S. Open start in 2021.
Jacob Bridgeman
The former Clemson star could be a sleeper pick this week. He is one of the tour`s best putters, has four top-10 finishes, and performed well at Oakmont during the 2021 U.S. Amateur.
Rasmus Højgaard
Højgaard is a five-time winner on the DP World Tour. He missed the cut in his only previous U.S. Open start in 2020.
Joe Highsmith
Highsmith has been a standout performer this season, winning the Cognizant Classic and tying for eighth at the PGA Championship.
Ryan Gerard
Gerard will aim to build on his surprising tie for eighth at the PGA Championship.
Lucas Glover
Glover`s putting has recently gone cold again, which is a reason he hasn`t contended as often as he would like this season. He played in two previous U.S. Opens at Oakmont, in 2007 and 2016, missing the cut in both.
Matthieu Pavon
Pavon became the first French golfer to win on the PGA Tour in January 2024 with a victory at a U.S. Open venue, the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. He finished solo fifth at Pinehurst No. 2 last year.
Nick Taylor
The Canadian golfer is a five-time winner on the PGA Tour but is still seeking success in major championships.
Taylor Pendrith
Another Canadian golfer, Pendrith, has finished in the top 20 in two of his last three majors, tying for 16th at the 2024 U.S. Open and fifth at last month`s PGA Championship.
Adam Scott
The 2013 Masters champion`s prime competitive years are likely behind him. He has only one top-10 finish in a major since tying for seventh at the 2019 U.S. Open.
Cameron Young
Young, formerly ranked 13th in the Official World Golf Ranking, had to go through final qualifying to secure his spot. He has shown improved play recently.
Bud Cauley
After missing over three seasons due to injuries from a 2018 car accident, Cauley returns to the U.S. Open for the first time in eight years.
Stephan Jager
Jäger, from Germany, tied for 21st in the 2024 U.S. Open. He started strong at the PGA Championship before fading on the weekend.
Tier IV: Hey, Miracles Happen
These players are considered long shots. This tier includes a mix of older former major champions and regular PGA Tour players.
- 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 experience a moment of brilliance at the PGA Championship, where he held the 18- and 36-hole leads and tied for fifth at 5 under? He has never finished in the top 40 at the U.S. Open.
Woodland won the 2019 U.S. Open, Kirk is a six-time tour winner, and Leishman has won 14 times worldwide, including one LIV Golf League event. They are certainly capable of putting together four solid rounds if their current form is strong.
Tier V: Happy to Make the Cut
These players are not generally expected to be among the contenders unless highly unusual circumstances occur.
- 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 major champion, recently admitted this might be his final opportunity to complete the career Grand Slam. This is the last year of his five-year exemption from winning the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, where he became the oldest major champion.
Mickelson, aged 54, has finished as a runner-up six times in the U.S. Open, most recently in 2013. He has missed the cut in four of his last five appearances in the event and hasn`t finished in the top 40 since tying for 28th in 2014.
Dunlap won twice on tour last season, first as an amateur and then as a rookie after turning professional. However, he has struggled significantly since then, missing the cut in six of his last nine starts. He has not played on the weekend in any of his five major appearances over the past two seasons.
Tier VI: The Qualifiers
This list comprises the remaining players from the 65 qualifiers who are not regular PGA Tour members and are not included in the tiers above or below. They earned their spots by advancing through local and final qualifying rounds. The last 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, played football for one season at Yale and was on their golf team for four years. His grandfather, Dr. James A. Nicholas, was an orthopedic surgeon who operated on Jets quarterback Joe Namath`s knee four times. Nicholas was named Ivy League Player of the Year in 2019.
Hicks, aged 50, actually shared the first-round lead at 3 under par in the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, an event where Tiger Woods defeated Rocco Mediate in a sudden-death playoff after an 18-hole tie. Hicks, now a golf instructor in Boca Raton, Florida, tied for 74th at 17 over par.
Haefner, who played at Wayne State University in Michigan, delivered one of the most dramatic finishes on golf`s longest day, sinking a 60-foot putt from off the green on the 36th hole to earn medalist honors in final qualifying at Springfield Country Club in Ohio.
Tier VII: The Amateurs
These amateur players will attempt to emulate stars like Cantlay, Mickelson, Rahm, Spieth, and many others who earned a medal as the low amateur at the U.S. Open before turning professional.
- 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 notable 15 amateurs in the field, including nine who advanced through final qualifying, and many of them bring compelling stories.
Vogt, 34, grew up in Pittsburgh and once worked as a caddie at Oakmont. He played at Butler University in Indianapolis, where he now practices as a dentist. He was the medalist in final qualifying in Walla Walla, Washington, and wore a ribbon on his hat in tribute to his recently deceased father, who used to track his scores on his phone.
Howell, aged 17, is a rising senior in high school from Thomasville, Georgia. He finished 18 under par and did not make a bogey over two rounds during final qualifying on June 2 at Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta. He is committed to play for the University of Georgia as part of the 2026 recruiting class.
La Sasso, a junior at Ole Miss, qualified for the field by winning last month`s NCAA Division I individual national championship. The All-American posted the lowest scoring average in program history (69.48) and won three times this past season. Tankersley, his teammate at Ole Miss, secured his spot through open qualifying.
Gutschewski recently graduated from Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska, and is set to attend the University of Florida. His father, Scott, is a three-time winner on the Korn Ferry Tour, and his older brother, Luke, played at Iowa State. Gutschewski earned a U.S. Open spot by winning the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur.
