OAKMONT, Pa. – As the 125th U.S. Open arrives at Oakmont Country Club, could this famously challenging venue present an even tougher test for the world`s best male golfers?
Initial reports from touring professionals who recently scouted the revamped course outside Pittsburgh have described it using terms like `carnage,` `cooked beyond belief,` and `the hardest course in the world.`
Prepare for a dramatic spectacle as players navigate ankle-deep rough, narrowed fairways, the infamous Church Pews bunker, and lightning-fast, firm greens that will leave many feeling like they`re putting downhill on an ice rink.
`I`ve heard from several players, it`s the hardest course they`ve ever played,` Xander Schauffele said. `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.`
It`s the tenth time Oakmont has hosted the U.S. Open, and the United States Golf Association consistently returns for a reason: to provide the season`s most demanding challenge for golfers.
`I would say all of the rumors and everything are pretty on point,` added Justin Thomas, who played a practice round at Oakmont two weeks ago.
Here`s a breakdown of the field, including the contenders, sleepers, qualifiers, and amateurs:
Tier I: The clear favorite
Scottie Scheffler
Yes, put aside any thoughts of Scheffler having a slow start. The world No. 1 arrives at Oakmont Country Club riding another dominant hot streak, having secured victory in three of his last four events (with a combined winning margin of a massive 17 strokes!), most recently claiming his 16th PGA Tour title at the Memorial Tournament. He`s demonstrating Mariano Rivera-like closing ability on Sundays, converting his last seven 54-hole leads.
He holds positive memories of Oakmont; as a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Texas in 2016, he shot a 1-under 69 in his first major championship round there. He narrowly missed the cut by one stroke after an 8-over 78 in the second round. If he maintains accuracy off the tee, he will be exceptionally difficult to overcome.
Tier II: The guys who can win
These players are legitimate candidates to claim the U.S. Open trophy. They possess the necessary skill set, mental fortitude, and composure to handle four intense rounds on a course traditionally known as the most challenging among the majors.
Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau clinched his second U.S. Open title at Pinehurst, even missing nearly half the fairways (57%) over four rounds. He triumphed by outdriving the field (averaging 310.9 yards), hitting greens, and excelling on the putting surfaces. He will need greater accuracy off the tee at Oakmont. While he expressed dissatisfaction with his iron play at the Masters and PGA Championship, he has still managed to finish tied for sixth or better in five of the last six majors.
Rory McIlroy
Rory aims to overcome the disappointment of last year`s U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, North Carolina, where he surrendered a 2-stroke advantage with five holes remaining and missed short putts on Nos. 16 and 18, ultimately losing to DeChambeau by one shot. McIlroy missed the cut in his only previous appearance at Oakmont nine years ago. His confidence with the driver appears shaky currently; he missed the cut at the RBC Canadian Open last week, hitting only 13 of 28 fairways over two rounds. McIlroy reportedly planned to test several new drivers over the weekend to find a suitable one.
Collin Morikawa
The two-time major champion has recorded two runner-up finishes this season, at the opening Sentry event and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Morikawa hasn`t secured a win in over 19 months; his last tour victory was the Zozo Championship in Japan in October 2023. This winless stretch is bound to end eventually. He is notably accurate off the tee (72.9%) and is a top-tier ball striker (hitting 67.6% of greens in regulation).
Jon Rahm
The LIV Golf League star briefly challenged Scheffler on the back nine during the final round of the PGA Championship 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 starts in the tournament. His driving accuracy was highly inconsistent at Quail Hollow, which would be detrimental this week.
Russell Henley
Henley earned his fifth PGA Tour victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and followed it with a tie for eighth at the RBC Heritage and a tie for fifth at the Memorial. He finished tied for seventh at 1 under in the 2024 U.S. Open. Henley ranks 16th on tour in strokes gained: approach (.538) and 11th around the green (.393). He`s also tied for 12th in driving accuracy (67.7%), which will be beneficial at Oakmont.
Sepp Straka
Straka is one of the tour`s more overlooked golfers, having already 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 will be looking for a better performance this week after missing the cut at the Masters and PGA Championship. He is precise off the tee (68.5% fairways hit), leads the tour in greens in regulation (71.4%), and ranks 17th in strokes gained: putting (.427).
Xander Schauffele
Schauffele`s putting appears to be improving, which was arguably the only aspect holding him back since returning from a rib injury. He has the opportunity to complete the third leg of a career Grand Slam after winning the PGA Championship and Open Championship last year. Remarkably, he has finished in the top 10 in seven of his eight U.S. Open starts, including a tie for seventh last year.
Ludvig Åberg
Inconsistency is perhaps the only barrier preventing Åberg from solidifying his position among the sport`s elite. The 25-year-old Swedish golfer won the Genesis Invitational and finished 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 making the weekend at 19 consecutive majors. He has finished in the top 10 in two of the last three U.S. Opens, although his driving accuracy (55.3%) could be a point of concern at Oakmont.
Justin Thomas
JT has experienced a slight dip in form after a blistering start to the season, which included a playoff win at the RBC Heritage and three runner-up finishes. He missed the cut at the PGA Championship and tied for 31st at the Memorial, largely impacted by an opening-round 80. He played significantly better over the weekend at the Memorial.
Shane Lowry
Apart from a missed cut at the PGA Championship, the Irishman has been playing consistently as he prepares for his return in July to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, the site of his last individual PGA Tour victory at the 2019 Open Championship (Lowry and McIlroy won last year`s Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event). He tied for runner-up at the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont, finishing three strokes behind winner Dustin Johnson after holding a 4-shot lead entering the final round.
Harris English
The 35-year-old claimed his fifth tour victory at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January, then tied for second at the PGA Championship, his best career finish in a major. If he improves his iron play and touch around the greens, his putting is strong enough to put him in contention again.
Patrick Cantlay
It has been over 2½ years since Cantlay last won a trophy, but he was in the mix on the back nine during 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 runner-up at the 2024 Open Championship and lost in a playoff to McIlroy at the Masters in April, indicating he is 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 a consistent top-25 performer this season, finishing in the top 22 in all but two of his 12 tour starts. He tied for fourth at the Charles Schwab Challenge and for 16th at the Memorial. He continues to search for his elusive first PGA Tour victory.
Viktor Hovland
Hovland`s ongoing adjustments to his swing remain a constant storyline, but he seemed to be in a better rhythm recently. He is still an exceptional iron player and hits sufficient fairways, but will his short game and putting withstand the challenge of Oakmont`s notoriously difficult greens?
Aaron Rai
If keeping the ball in the fairway is essential for contending at Oakmont, then Rai is arguably the best on tour, leading in driving accuracy (73.4%). He will also need to improve his performance on the greens.
Tyrrell Hatton
USGA course setups don`t seem to favor Hatton`s game. He has only one top-10 finish in the U.S. Open, tying for sixth in 2018 at Shinnecock Hills in Long Island, New York. He has been playing at a level consistent with one of the world`s best golfers for some time now.
Corey Conners
The Canadian golfer hits most fairways (68.8%) and greens (70%) and has shown improved putting this season. He tied for ninth at Pinehurst last season.
Ben Griffin
It is remarkable to consider that four years ago, the former North Carolina star was working as a mortgage loan officer and contemplating leaving the sport. Griffin and Andrew Novak won the team event in New Orleans, and Griffin later secured his first individual title at the Charles Schwab Challenge. He finished runner-up at the Memorial Tournament last week and shows no signs of slowing down, even in his first U.S. Open appearance.
Joaquín Niemann
A four-time winner in 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 make a significant impact in the major championships.
Tier III: If everything goes right
Here are the players considered potential sleepers to win the U.S. Open trophy on Sunday. This group includes past major champions, emerging talents, and other players whose games have been developing this season. Could it all align perfectly at Oakmont?
Tony Finau
Finau seemed to emerge from a quiet period with top-20 finishes at the Truist Championship and PGA Championship. He tied for third last year after carding a 3-under 67 on Sunday.
Brian Harman
Harman won the 2023 Open Championship under challenging conditions and has made the cut in his last five U.S. Open appearances, 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 skills would seem to make him a good fit for Oakmont. However, he missed the cut in his last three majors, leading to speculation about whether he is playing frequently enough in the LIV Golf League to contend consistently.
Matt Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick`s tie for eighth at the PGA Championship suggests his form may be returning. He won the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, also 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 recorded only one top-20 finish in nine subsequent starts, tying for 19th four years ago.
Brooks Koepka
The two-time U.S. Open winner used to approach majors with the belief that he was superior to the rest of the field. He hasn`t secured a top-10 finish in a major since winning his third PGA Championship title in 2023. He missed the cut in the first two majors this year.
Min Woo Lee
`Dr. Chipinski` has had three strong consecutive finishes in the U.S. Open, including a tie for fifth at Los Angeles Country Club two years ago. His form hasn`t been exceptional since the Masters.
Sam Burns
After struggling heading into the Masters, Burns has played better golf in the past couple of months. He appears to have had a breakthrough in majors by tying for ninth in the 2024 U.S. Open, and he currently leads the PGA Tour in strokes gained: putting, which will be a significant asset on Oakmont`s formidable greens.
Ryan Fox
The New Zealander secured his spot in the field by defeating Burns in a playoff at the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday. This was Fox`s second victory in his last four starts; he also won the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic.
Andrew Novak
Novak has been one of the season`s biggest surprises, winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event with Griffin and losing to Thomas in a playoff at the RBC Heritage. This will be just his second U.S. Open appearance.
Patrick Reed
Reed frequently appears on the leaderboard on Sundays at Augusta National, but he hasn`t had similar success in the other three majors. His only top-10 finish in the U.S. Open was a solo fourth in 2018.
Robert MacIntyre
The Scottish golfer won two national championships last year: the Canadian Open and the Scottish Open. He hopes 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 recorded a couple of top-10 finishes in the U.S. Open in his career, and he was playing well before missing back-to-back cuts at the Charles Schwab Challenge and the Memorial.
Davis Riley
Riley had a notable performance at the PGA Championship, tying for second at 6 under, marking his best career finish in a major.
Tom Kim
Kim has posted three consecutive finishes of 26th or better in the U.S. Open, including a tie for eighth in 2023. He has struggled with his form on tour over the past two months.
Maverick McNealy
This will be 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 period of less consistent play in April and early May, Bhatia`s performance has improved in recent weeks. He tied for 16th in the 2024 U.S. Open and possesses the variety of shots needed to contend, particularly on the greens.
Thomas Detry
Detry is not particularly accurate off the tee (56.6%) and has struggled with his irons, but he is an excellent putter and tied for 14th at Pinehurst No. 2 last year.
Si Woo Kim
What other impressive feats 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 appearances. He tied for seventh in 2022.
Jason Day
Day tied for eighth at 2 over the last time the U.S. Open was held at Oakmont. He has not competed on tour since missing the cut at the PGA Championship, having injured his left wrist while moving a bike.
J.T. Poston
Poston tied for fifth at the PGA Championship, his best major finish, and his form was trending positively before a missed cut at the Memorial.
Denny McCarthy
McCarthy has recorded three consecutive solid finishes in the U.S. Open, tying for seventh in 2022, and his putting gives him a chance to make some noise.
Michael Kim
Kim`s form has cooled off after a strong spring where he had five straight top-15 finishes. This is only his third U.S. Open start; he was the 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 is still working on consistency.
Dustin Johnson
DJ overcame a scoring controversy in the final round to win the last U.S. Open held at Oakmont. He has not been a factor in majors over the past two seasons.
Wyndham Clark
Clark`s form has been in decline for several weeks, and his lack of accuracy off the tee (56.5%) coupled with struggling iron play (63.8%) is likely not conducive to success at Oakmont.
Sungjae Im
He is another player who consistently keeps his tee shots in play (68.7%), although he has missed the cut in his last three appearances in this tournament.
J.J. Spaun
Spaun has been a runner-up twice on tour this season, losing to McIlroy in a Monday 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 surprising contender this week. He is one of the best putters on tour, 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 so far this season, winning the Cognizant Classic and tying for eighth at the PGA Championship.
Ryan Gerard
Gerard will aim to build on his unexpected tie for eighth at the PGA Championship.
Lucas Glover
Glover`s putting has recently faltered, which is a reason he hasn`t been in contention 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 significant success in major championships.
Taylor Pendrith
Another player from Canada, Pendrith has finished in the top 20 in two of his last three majors, tying for 16th at the 2024 U.S. Open and for fifth at last month`s PGA Championship.
Adam Scott
The 2013 Masters champion`s best playing days 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, previously ranked 13th in the Official World Golf Ranking, had to advance through final qualifying to make the field. His play has shown recent improvement.
Bud Cauley
After missing over three seasons due to injuries from a 2018 car accident, Cauley is back in the U.S. Open field for the first time in eight years.
Stephan Jager
Jäger, from Germany, tied for 21st in the 2024 U.S. Open. He started strongly at the PGA Championship before fading over the weekend.
Tier IV: Hey, miracles happen
These are the long shots. This tier includes a mix of older former major champions and established 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 tap into something special 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 winner on tour, and Leishman has won 14 times globally, including once on the LIV Golf League. They are certainly capable of putting together four solid rounds if their form peaks this week.
Tier V: Happy to make the cut
These players are not generally expected to be among the leaders unless unusual circumstances arise.
- 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, acknowledged earlier this week that this U.S. Open might represent his final opportunity to complete the career Grand Slam. This is the last year of his five-year exemption earned by winning the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, where he became the oldest major champion.
Mickelson, now 54, has finished as a runner-up in the U.S. Open six times, most recently in 2013. He has missed the cut in four of his last five appearances in this event and has not finished in the top 40 since tying for 28th in 2014.
Dunlap won twice on tour last season, first as an amateur and later 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 made the weekend in any of his five major championship appearances over the past two seasons.
Tier VI: The qualifiers
This group consists of players among the 65 qualifiers who are not regular PGA Tour members and are not included in the tiers above or below. They earned their spots in the field by advancing through local and final qualifying. 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 also on their golf team for four years. His grandfather, Dr. James A. Nicholas, was an orthopedic surgeon famous for operating on Jets quarterback Joe Namath`s knee four times. Nicholas was named Ivy League Player of the Year in 2019.
Hicks, now 50, actually held a share of the first-round lead at 3 under in the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, an event famously won by Tiger Woods in a playoff against Rocco Mediate. Hicks, who now works as a golf instructor in Boca Raton, Florida, finished tied for 74th at 17 over that year.
Haefner, a former player for Wayne State University in Michigan, produced 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
Here are the amateur players who will compete hoping to emulate the achievements of past stars like Cantlay, Mickelson, Rahm, Spieth, and many others at the U.S. Open before they turned professional: winning a medal as the low amateur.
- 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 substantial 15 amateurs in the field this year, with nine advancing through final qualifying, and many bring compelling personal stories.
Vogt, 34, grew up in Pittsburgh and previously worked as a caddie at Oakmont. He played golf 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, 17, is an upcoming senior in high school from Thomasville, Georgia. He shot 18 under and remarkably went bogey-free over two rounds during final qualifying on June 2 at Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta. He is committed to play at the University of Georgia as part of the 2026 class.
La Sasso, a junior at Ole Miss, secured his spot in the field by winning last month`s NCAA Division I individual national championship. The All-American set the lowest scoring average in program history (69.48) and won three times this past season. Tankersley, his teammate at Ole Miss, qualified through open qualifying.
Gutschewski recently graduated from Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska, and is headed to 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 his U.S. Open spot by winning the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur.
