The U.S. Open, the third major championship of the golf season, is just one week away.
Before heading to Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh for the major test, several prominent golfers from both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf League are competing this week to sharpen their skills.
World No. 2, Rory McIlroy, is back in action on the PGA Tour at the RBC Canadian Open. Meanwhile, defending U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau is participating in the LIV Golf tournament held in Gainesville, Virginia.
“We are all aiming to achieve feats that haven`t been accomplished in quite some time, and winning back-to-back would be fantastic,” DeChambeau commented. “Winning three times consecutively would be an even greater achievement, so that goal is definitely on my mind.”
What`s Happening on the PGA Tour
RBC Canadian Open
- When: Thursday – Sunday
- Where: TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course), Caledon, Ontario
- Defending Champion: Robert MacIntyre
- Purse: $9.8 million
Rory`s Comeback
After skipping the Memorial Tournament last week, a designated signature event, McIlroy is set to play north of the border. Having previously won the Canadian Open in 2019 and 2022, McIlroy has an opportunity to join an elite group as only the fourth three-time champion, alongside legends like Tommy Armour, Sam Snead, and Lee Trevino.
McIlroy expressed his approval of the PGA Tour`s decision to move the Canadian Open`s date earlier in the schedule.
“Honestly, I really like the date change,” McIlroy stated. “I appreciate that it`s the week leading into the U.S. Open. I`ve shared this before, but prior to playing in this event from 2016 to 2018, I missed the cut three times in a row at the U.S. Open. Since playing the Canadian Open the week before, I`ve achieved six consecutive top-10 finishes in the U.S. Open, so there seems to be a connection.”
Following his Masters victory, which completed his career Grand Slam, McIlroy admitted that “spending three or four hours on the driving range every day might be a bit more challenging than it used to be.”
“When you have a life event that you`ve worked so hard for finally happen, sometimes it`s difficult to regain the drive and get back to it,” McIlroy explained. “I believe the past two weeks have been beneficial for me, acting as a reset to reflect on my current state, what I want to pursue, and where I want to play. It helped reset some goals.”
Scheffler Secures Ryder Cup Spot
Though the Ryder Cup is still over three months away, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has become the first player to officially qualify for the U.S. team. The team will face Europe at Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York, from September 26-28.
The PGA of America confirmed on Wednesday that Scheffler has earned enough Ryder Cup points, accumulating 25,918.25, which is more than double the points of any other golfer. Xander Schauffele ranks second with 11,905.84 points.
“Scottie consistently demonstrates why he is the world`s top-ranked player, showing incredible consistency and dominance week after week,” commented U.S. team captain Keegan Bradley in a statement. “He is the ultimate team player, and I am confident that he will be prepared and highly motivated come September. I couldn`t be more thrilled to have him as a member of the U.S. Team.”
The top six eligible golfers following the BMW Championship on August 17, 2025, will automatically make the team. Captain Bradley will then select six additional players as captain`s picks.
This will mark Scheffler`s third appearance in the Ryder Cup. He had a 0-2-2 record during the U.S. team`s 16½-11½ defeat at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club near Rome in 2023. As a rookie in 2021, he went 2-0-1 in a decisive 19-9 victory at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.
“Representing the United States at the Ryder Cup has been one of the greatest honors of my career, and I look forward to doing so for a third time this September,” Scheffler stated. “I will do whatever is necessary to help our team regain the Cup and eagerly anticipate playing in front of the passionate New York spectators at Bethpage Black.”
Clanton`s Professional Debut
Three golfers in the RBC Canadian Open field are making their professional debuts this week: Luke Clanton, Gordon Sargent, and David Ford.
High expectations surround Clanton, a former Florida State standout. He finished as a runner-up twice on the PGA Tour as an amateur last year, tying for second place at both the John Deere Classic and RSM Classic. He was the first amateur since Jack Nicklaus in 1961 to record three or more top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour in a single season.
This year, Clanton tied for 15th at the Farmers Insurance Open and for 18th at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.
“It`s been incredible,” Clanton told reporters in Canada. “As I said, it`s something you constantly dream about. To be here now and to call myself a professional is a little strange at first, honestly, because I`ve always been an amateur.”
“It`s amazing. I`m simply excited to come out and compete. It`s not about the money. It`s not about any of the fame. It`s about competing against these players on tour. This is something I`ve pursued my entire life, and my family has supported me greatly.”
Clanton was ranked the No. 1 amateur globally before turning pro this week. He also received the Ben Hogan Award as the top collegiate golfer after winning four times for FSU this spring.
Clanton is scheduled to play the first two rounds alongside Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Åberg.
On Tuesday, Clanton acknowledged his parents: his mother, Rhonda, who recently retired after over four decades as a Delta flight attendant, and his father, David, who owned two businesses to help fund his son`s private school education and support his golf career.
“What they did, not just for me but also for my two older sisters, to help us through everything, was remarkable,” Clanton said. “Again, my mom and dad are incredibly hard-working individuals, and they will never claim credit for it, which sometimes annoys me because they truly did everything they possibly could.”
Clanton is known for hitting the ball a long way off the tee (his average drive of 312.4 yards would rank 14th on tour if he had played enough rounds to qualify), and he considers his “strong mentality” one of his key strengths.
When asked if the LIV Golf League attempted to recruit him, he responded, “I want to play the PGA Tour, it`s quite straightforward. I want to compete against the best players, participate in major championships, and that`s it. Simple.”
Gordon Sargent was the NCAA individual champion in 2022 as a freshman at Vanderbilt and the low amateur at the 2023 U.S. Open. He secured a PGA Tour card through the PGA Tour University Accelerated program in October 2023 but chose to defer turning pro to return to Vanderbilt.
David Ford, who won five collegiate events for North Carolina this past season, earned his PGA Tour card by finishing No. 1 in the PGA Tour University Rankings. He was awarded the Jack Nicklaus Award and Fred Haskins Award this spring.
All three young golfers are guaranteed status on the PGA Tour through the 2026 season.
What`s Next in the LIV Golf League
LIV Golf Virginia
- When: Friday – Sunday
- Where: Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Gainesville, Virginia
- Defending Champion: Harold Varner III
- Purse: $25 million
Bryson`s Eventful Period
In addition to tying for second place at the PGA Championship, defending U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau has recently hit tee shots at locations ranging from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to a mountain range, the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, and even the White House.
It was simply another busy month for the self-proclaimed “content king” of professional golf, who boasts over 2 million subscribers on his YouTube channel.
“How do I manage to find time to sleep? I actually sleep quite well,” DeChambeau joked. “It requires a significant amount of planning. We prepare, strategize, and execute according to these game plans, which depend on other people`s schedules lining up.”
DeChambeau took a couple of 180 mph laps as a passenger on the famous oval in Indiana and mentioned he is now incorporating salt from Utah into his meals.
DeChambeau was initially hesitant about hitting golf balls on the White House lawn until prompted by President Donald Trump.
“I never imagined I would ever have the chance to do that in my life, but the President himself said, `Just go out there and hit some shots,`” DeChambeau recalled. “I responded, `Okay, yes, sir.` It was quite an experience. It was 105 yards to the target, and I hit a few solid shots that landed within a couple of feet, almost making a few of them too.”
The reigning U.S. Open champion maintains that his primary objective remains winning golf tournaments.
“Do I desire to win every single tournament I enter? Absolutely, 100 percent,” DeChambeau asserted. “In my view, I will always be the fiercest competitor out there. But these endeavors have also allowed me to pursue other activities that are meaningful as well.”
“I believe starting my YouTube channel was something I always wanted to do, seeing what creators like MrBeast and Dude Perfect accomplished in the mid-2010s. I thought, `Why can`t I do something similar? I believe there`s an opportunity to have the kind of influence I possess now, and this is merely the beginning. I think there`s much more to come.`”
Turning a Corner
Torque GC captain Joaquín Niemann feels he has finally turned a corner after tying for eighth place in the PGA Championship. This was his first top-10 finish in 24 major championship starts. His total score of 4-under 143 for 72 holes put him seven strokes behind winner Scottie Scheffler.
“I didn`t feel like I played my absolute best game,” Niemann commented. “I felt like there was potential to play much better at that time. I knew I could have achieved a significantly better result. However, I think we can focus on the positives and progress step by step. It`s my first top-10 in a major, so that`s a positive outcome.”
Winning on the LIV Golf League circuit has not been an issue for Niemann; he has claimed victory five times since February 2024, including three wins this season. His success in the Saudi Arabian-financed league led Phil Mickelson to controversially call him the best golfer in the world, which raised some eyebrows.
“I think because LIV is relatively new, people don`t fully appreciate the field`s strength and the caliber of players you compete against – these same top players repeatedly,” Mickelson stated. “Joaco is winning while competing week in and week out against Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, and others of that caliber. He`s facing that same level of competition every single week, and it`s challenging to fully grasp the significance and excellence of that when it`s a new circuit.”
Getting Ready for Oakmont
Mickelson, Niemann, and other LIV Golf participants believe this week`s course setup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, which has previously hosted four Presidents Cups and the 2024 Solheim Cup, provides an excellent test in preparation for next week`s U.S. Open.
“We have greens rolling at 14 to 15 on the stimpmeter, just like we will next week,” Mickelson explained. “We have contours and undulations similar to what we`ll face next week. Short game skills, touch, chipping around the greens, rough penalty, green speed, lag putting practice, and touch on the greens – all of that is crucial here, just as it will be next week. It couldn`t be a better location to get ready.”
The last time the U.S. Open was held at Oakmont in 2016, Dustin Johnson won with a score of 4-under 276. Only four players finished the tournament under par.
“It`s going to be difficult,” Niemann predicted. “I know it will be a good challenge. Greens will be extremely fast, so I anticipate not having many 5-foot or 6-foot putts for birdie. I feel like the focus will be on positioning your ball well, perhaps leaving yourself uphill putts, which will be easier.”
“They aim for the winning score to be over par, so ultimately, I believe it`s less about who makes the most birdies and more about who makes the fewest bogeys and mistakes.”
