7 months ago
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Mark SchlabachJun 9, 2025, 10:08 AM ET
- Senior assemblage shot writer
- Author of 7 books connected assemblage football
- Graduate of the University of Georgia
OAKMONT, Pa. -- Could the toughest trial successful men's nonrecreational play get adjacent much hard astatine Oakmont Country Club, the tract of this week's 125th U.S. Open?
Early scouting reports of the revamped people extracurricular Pittsburgh from circuit pros the past fewer weeks person included descriptions similar "carnage," "cooked beyond belief" and the "hardest people successful the world."
Grab the popcorn and get acceptable to spot who tin past the ankle-high rough, tightened fairways, celebrated Church Pews bunker and lightning-fast (and firm) greens that volition permission galore golfers feeling similar they're putting downhill astatine an crystal rink.
"I've heard from respective players, it's the hardest people they've ever played," Xander Schauffele said. "That's benignant of [what] astir radical person talked about. Not overmuch item connected why. Just it's agelong and the unsmooth is impossible, and you tin extremity up hitting 50-yard pitches trying to get up and down for par connected each hole, thing of that nature."
It's the 10th clip Oakmont is hosting the U.S. Open, and there's a crushed the United States Golf Association keeps going backmost -- to springiness golfers their astir hard trial of the season.
"I would accidental each of the rumors and everything are beauteous connected point," added Justin Thomas, who played a signifier circular astatine Oakmont 2 weeks ago.
Here's a look astatine the field, including the contenders, sleepers, qualifiers and amateurs:
Jump to a section:
The wide favorite | Guys who tin win | If everything goes right
Miracles happen | Happy to marque the cut | Qualifiers | Amateurs
It's Scottie Scheffler's satellite erstwhile again successful men's nonrecreational golf, and everyone other conscionable seems to beryllium witnessing what he'll bash next. After capturing past month's PGA Championship to spell with his 2 Masters victories, Scheffler tin implicit three-fourths of the vocation Grand Slam with a triumph connected Sunday.
Tier I: The wide favorite
Yeah, hide astir Scheffler being disconnected to a dilatory start. The satellite No. 1 golfer heads to Oakmont Country Club connected different epic heater, having won successful 3 of his past 4 starts (by a whopping 17 strokes combined!), including his 16th PGA Tour triumph astatine the Memorial Tournament. He's turning into Mariano Rivera during the 2nd 9 connected Sunday, converting each of his past 7 54-hole leads.
He has fond memories of Oakmont; helium carded a 1-under 69 successful his archetypal circular successful a large successful the 2016 U.S. Open astatine Oakmont arsenic a 19-year-old sophomore astatine the University of Texas. He missed the chopped by 1 changeable aft posting an 8-over 78 successful the 2nd round. If he's close disconnected the tee, he'll beryllium hard to beat.
Tier II: The guys who tin win
Here are the morganatic contenders to triumph the U.S. Open. They person the game, guts and nerves to grip 4 pressure-packed rounds connected a setup that is traditionally the astir hard among the majors.
DeChambeau captured his 2nd U.S. Open rubric astatine Pinehurst, contempt missing astir fractional the fairways (57%) implicit 4 rounds. He won by outdriving everyone other (310.9-yard average), hitting greens and putting lights-out. He'll person to beryllium much close disconnected the tee astatine Oakmont, and helium wasn't blessed with his robust play astatine the Masters and PGA Championship. Still, helium has finished tied for sixth oregon amended successful 5 of the past six majors.
Rory volition effort to exorcise his demons from past year's U.S. Open astatine Pinehurst No. 2 successful North Carolina, wherever helium squandered a 2-stroke pb with 5 holes to play and missed abbreviated putts connected Nos. 16 and 18. He mislaid to DeChambeau by 1 shot. McIlroy missed the chopped successful his lone commencement astatine Oakmont 9 years ago. He doesn't look to person overmuch assurance disconnected the tee close now; helium missed the chopped astatine past week's RBC Canadian Open aft hitting lone 13 of 28 fairways successful 2 rounds. McIlroy planned connected investigating respective caller drivers implicit the play to find 1 helium likes.
The two-time large champion is simply a two-time runner-up this season, astatine the season-opening Sentry and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Morikawa hasn't won successful much than 19 months; his past triumph connected circuit came astatine the Zozo Championship successful Japan successful October 2023. That drought has to extremity sometime soon. He's highly close disconnected the tee (72.9%) and is simply a world-class shot striker (67.6% greens successful regulation).
The LIV Golf League prima got himself into the premix against Scheffler connected the 2nd 9 of the last circular of the PGA Championship but collapsed down the stretch. Rahm, who won the 2021 U.S. Open astatine Torrey Pines, finished successful a necktie for 12th oregon amended successful 4 of his past 5 starts successful the tournament. He was wildly inaccurate disconnected the tee astatine Quail Hollow, which would spell catastrophe for him this week.
Henley collected his 5th PGA Tour triumph astatine the Arnold Palmer Invitational and followed that with a necktie for eighth astatine the RBC Heritage and for 5th astatine the Memorial. He tied for seventh successful the 2024 U.S. Open astatine 1 under. Henley ranks 16th connected circuit successful strokes gained: attack (.538) and 11th astir the greenish (.393). He's tied for 12th successful driving accuracy (67.7%), which volition assistance astatine Oakmont, too.
Straka is 1 of the much underrated golfers connected tour, having already won doubly this play astatine the American Express and Truist Championship. He besides has piled up 5 top-10s and 11 top-25s successful 13 starts, each but securing his spot connected the European Ryder Cup team. He'll look for a amended showing this week aft missing the chopped astatine the Masters and PGA Championship. He doesn't miss fairways (68.5% fairways hit), leads the circuit successful greens successful regularisation (71.4%) and is 17th successful strokes gained: putting (.427).
Schauffele's putter seems to beryllium warming up, which was astir the lone happening holding him backmost since his instrumentality from a rib injury. He tin drawback the 3rd limb of a vocation Grand Slam aft winning the PGA Championship and Open Championship past year. Remarkably, helium finished successful the apical 10 successful 7 of his 8 starts successful the U.S. Open, including a necktie for seventh past year.
Inconsistency is astir the lone happening holding Åberg backmost from being astatine the apical of the precocious echelon of the sport. The 25-year-old Swedish golfer finished archetypal astatine the Genesis Invitational and solo seventh astatine the Masters. Surprisingly, helium ranks 77th successful strokes gained: full (.214), 109th successful attack (-.025) and 129th successful putting (-.144). Still, his crippled seems tailor-made to triumph a U.S. Open.
The 2019 Masters champion missed the chopped astatine the PGA Championship, which ended his streak of playing connected the play astatine 19 consecutive majors. He finished successful the apical 10 successful 2 of the past 3 U.S. Opens, though his accuracy disconnected the tee (55.3%) mightiness beryllium a interest astatine Oakmont.
JT has cooled disconnected a spot aft a sizzling commencement to the season, which included a playoff triumph astatine the RBC Heritage and 3 runner-up finishes. He missed the chopped astatine the PGA Championship and tied for 31st astatine the Memorial, successful which helium was undone by an opening-round 80. He played overmuch amended connected the weekend.
Outside of a missed chopped astatine the PGA Championship, the Irishman has played consistently arsenic helium continues to ramp up for his instrumentality successful July to Royal Portrush successful Northern Ireland, the tract of his past idiosyncratic PGA Tour triumph successful the 2019 Open Championship (Lowry and McIlroy won past year's Zurich Classic of New Orleans). He tied for runner-up astatine 2016 U.S. Open, 3 strokes down victor Dustin Johnson, aft taking a 4-shot pb into the last round.
The 35-year-old won for the 5th clip connected circuit astatine the Farmers Insurance Open successful precocious January, past tied for 2nd astatine the PGA Championship, his champion vocation decorativeness successful a major. If helium tightens up his robust play and interaction astir the greens, his putting is bully capable to get him successful contention again.
It has been much than 2½ years since Cantlay lifted a trophy, but helium was successful the premix connected the backmost 9 of the last circular astatine Pinehurst, wherever helium tied for 3rd astatine 4 under. He ranks successful the apical 10 successful strokes gained: full (1.124) and attack (.628).
The 2013 U.S. Open victor was runner-up astatine the 2024 Open Championship and lost successful a playoff to McIlroy astatine the Masters successful April, truthful he's inactive bully capable to get successful the mix. He missed the chopped successful 4 of the past 5 U.S. Opens.
Fleetwood has been a top-25 instrumentality this season, finishing successful the apical 22 successful each but 2 of his 12 starts connected tour. He tied for 4th successful the Charles Schwab Challenge and for 16th astatine the Memorial. He's inactive searching for an elusive archetypal PGA Tour victory.
Hovland's love-hate narration with his plaything is simply a never-ending drama, but helium seemed to beryllium successful a amended spot recently. He's inactive an exceptional robust subordinate and hits capable fairways, but volition his abbreviated crippled and putting clasp up connected Oakmont's diabolical greenish structures?
If keeping the shot successful the fairway is simply a prerequisite for contending astatine Oakmont, nary 1 connected circuit does it amended than Rai, who leads successful driving accuracy (73.4%). He'll person to bash a amended occupation connected the greens, too.
USGA setups don't look to acceptable Hatton's eye. He finished successful the apical 10 lone once, tying for sixth successful 2018 astatine Shinnecock Hills successful Long Island, New York. He has played similar 1 of the champion golfers successful the satellite for a portion now.
The Canadian golfer hits astir fairways (68.8%) and greens (70%) and is putting amended this season. He tied for ninth astatine Pinehurst past season.
It's hard to judge that the erstwhile North Carolina prima was moving arsenic a owe indebtedness serviceman 4 years agone and astir walked distant from the sport. Griffin and Andrew Novak captured the team lawsuit successful New Orleans, and past Griffin picked up his archetypal idiosyncratic title astatine the Charles Schwab Challenge. He was runner-up astatine past week's Memorial Tournament and doesn't look acceptable to dilatory down anytime soon, adjacent successful his archetypal commencement successful the U.S. Open.
A four-time victor successful the LIV Golf League this year, Niemann yet collected a top-10 successful a large with a necktie for eighth successful the PGA Championship. It mightiness beryllium the breakthrough helium needed to marque immoderate sound successful the large four.
Tier III: If everything goes right
Here are the sleeper candidates to assistance the U.S. Open trophy connected Sunday. The database includes erstwhile large title winners, rising stars and different players whose games person been works successful advancement this season. Will it each travel unneurotic astatine Oakmont?
Finau seemed to aftermath up from his slumber with top-20 finishes astatine the Truist Championship and PGA Championship. He tied for 3rd past twelvemonth aft carding a 3-under 67 connected Sunday.
Harman won the 2023 Open Championship successful pugnacious conditions and made the chopped successful each of the past 5 U.S. Opens, tying for 21st astatine Pinehurst. He won the Valero Texas Open successful April and tied for 3rd successful the RBC Heritage.
Smith's putting prowess would look to marque him a bully acceptable astatine Oakmont. He missed the chopped successful the past 3 majors, leaving galore to wonderment if he's playing often capable successful the LIV Golf League to contend again.
Fitzpatrick's necktie for eighth astatine the PGA Championship was a motion that his signifier mightiness beryllium back. He won the 2022 U.S. Open astatine The Country Club successful Brookline, Massachusetts, successful not-so-great conditions.
Since becoming the youngest golfer since Bobby Jones successful 1923 to triumph the U.S. Open astatine Chambers Bay successful 2015, Spieth has 1 top-20 decorativeness successful 9 starts, tying for 19th 4 years ago.
The two-time U.S. Open victor utilized to amusement up astatine majors believing helium was amended than everyone other successful the field. He hasn't had a top-10 successful a large since winning his 3rd PGA Championship rubric successful 2023. He missed the chopped successful the archetypal 2 majors this year.
"Dr. Chipinski" has 3 consecutive beardown finishes successful the U.S. Open, including a necktie for 5th astatine Los Angeles Country Club 2 years ago. His signifier hasn't been large since the Masters.
After limping into the Masters, Burns has played amended play the past mates of months. He seemed to person a breakthrough successful majors by tying for ninth successful the 2024 U.S. Open, and helium leads the PGA Tour successful strokes gained: putting, which volition assistance connected Oakmont's intimidating greens.
The golfer from New Zealand earned an exemption into the tract Sunday by defeating Burns successful a playoff astatine the RBC Canadian Open. It was Fox's 2nd triumph successful 4 starts; helium besides finished archetypal successful the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic.
Novak has been 1 of the biggest surprises connected circuit this season, teaming up with Griffin to triumph the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and losing to Thomas successful a playoff astatine the RBC Heritage. It's conscionable his 2nd commencement successful the U.S. Open.
Reed keeps showing up connected the leaderboard connected Sundays astatine Augusta National, but helium hasn't had akin occurrence successful the different 3 majors. His lone top-10 successful the U.S. Open was solo 4th successful 2018.
The Scottish golfer captured 2 nationalist championships past year: the Canadian Open and Scottish Open. He'd similar to adhd a U.S. Open and called Oakmont "absolute carnage connected a simulator, ne'er caput the existent event."
Berger has a mates of top-10s successful the U.S. Open successful his career, and helium was playing good earlier back-to-back missed cuts astatine the Charles Schwab Challenge and the Memorial.
Riley had a breakthrough astatine the PGA Championship, tying for 2nd astatine 6 under, his champion decorativeness successful a major.
Kim has stacked up 3 consecutive finishes of 26th oregon amended successful the U.S. Open, including a necktie for eighth successful 2023. He has struggled the past 2 months connected tour.
It's McNealy's archetypal U.S. Open commencement since helium qualified arsenic an 18-year-old amateur astatine Pinehurst No. 2 successful 2014.
After a lull successful April and aboriginal May, Bhatia has played amended successful caller weeks. He tied for 16th successful the 2024 U.S. Open and has each the shots you request to contend, particularly connected the greens.
Detry isn't peculiarly close disconnected the tee (56.6%) and has struggled with his irons, but helium putts lights-out and tied for 14th astatine Pinehurst No. 2 past year.
What other does Kim person successful his container aft helium recorded the longest ace successful large title past connected the 252-yard, par-3 sixth spread astatine Quail Hollow Club successful the PGA Championship?
The U.S. Ryder Cup squad skipper missed the chopped astatine the U.S. Open successful 4 of his past six starts. He tied for seventh successful 2022.
Day tied for eighth astatine 2 implicit the past clip the U.S. Open was played astatine Oakmont. He hasn't competed connected circuit since missing the chopped astatine the PGA Championship; helium injured his near wrist portion moving a bike.
Poston tied for 5th astatine the PGA Championship, his champion decorativeness successful a major, and his signifier was trending good earlier a missed chopped astatine the Memorial.
McCarthy had 3 consecutive coagulated finishes successful the U.S. Open, tying for seventh successful 2022, and his putting gives him a accidental to marque immoderate noise.
Kim has cooled disconnected aft his sizzling spring, erstwhile helium piled up 5 consecutive top-15s. It's lone his 3rd U.S. Open start; helium was debased amateur and tied for 17th successful 2013.
Thompson tied for ninth astatine Pinehurst No. 2 past year, his champion decorativeness successful a major. The 26-year-old is immensely talented but inactive struggling with consistency.
DJ survived a scoring contention successful the last circular to triumph the past U.S. Open played astatine Oakmont. He has been a nonfactor successful majors the past 2 seasons.
Clark's signifier has been trending successful the incorrect absorption for weeks, and his inaccuracy disconnected the tee (56.5%) and struggling robust play (63.8%) astir apt aren't a look for occurrence astatine Oakmont.
He's different golfer who keeps his tee shots betwixt the lines (68.7%), though helium missed the chopped successful each of his past 3 starts successful this tournament.
Spaun is simply a two-time runner-up connected circuit this season, losing to McIlroy successful a Monday playoff astatine the Players. He missed the chopped successful his lone erstwhile U.S. Open commencement successful 2021.
The erstwhile Clemson prima mightiness beryllium a sneaky prime to contend this week. He's 1 of the champion putters connected tour, has 4 top-10 finishes and performed good astatine Oakmont successful the 2021 U.S. Amateur.
Højgaard is simply a five-time victor connected the DP World Tour. He missed the chopped successful his lone erstwhile U.S. Open commencement successful 2020.
Highsmith has been a breakout performer truthful acold this season, winning the Cognizant Classic and tying for eighth astatine the PGA Championship.
Gerard volition look to physique connected his astonishing necktie for eighth astatine the PGA Championship.
Glover's putting has gone acold again, which is simply a crushed helium hasn't been successful contention arsenic overmuch arsenic he'd similar this season. He played successful 2 erstwhile U.S. Opens astatine Oakmont, successful 2007 and 2016, missing the chopped successful both.
Pavon became the archetypal French golfer to triumph connected the PGA Tour successful January 2024 with a triumph astatine a U.S. Open people successful the Farmers Insurance Open astatine Torrey Pines. He was solo 5th astatine Pinehurst No. 2 past year.
The Canadian golfer is simply a five-time victor connected the PGA Tour, but he's inactive searching for occurrence successful the majors.
Another golfer from northbound of the border, Pendrith finished successful the apical 20 successful 2 of his past 3 majors, tying for 16th astatine the 2024 U.S. Open and for 5th astatine past month's PGA Championship.
The 2013 Masters champion's champion days connected the people are astir apt successful the rearview mirror. He has 1 top-10 successful a large since tying for seventh astatine the 2019 U.S. Open.
Young, erstwhile ranked 13th successful the Official World Golf Ranking, had to spell done final qualifying to marque the field. He has played amended lately.
After missing much than 3 seasons due to the fact that of injuries suffered successful a 2018 car accident, Cauley is backmost successful the U.S. Open for the archetypal clip successful 8 years.
Jäger, from Germany, tied for 21st successful the 2024 U.S. Open. He made aboriginal sound astatine the PGA Championship earlier fading connected the weekend.
Tier IV: Hey, miracles happen
These are the agelong shots. This tier includes a fistful of older erstwhile large 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 drawback lightning successful a vessel astatine the PGA Championship erstwhile helium grabbed the 18- and 36-hole leads and tied for 5th astatine 5 under? He has ne'er finished successful the apical 40 successful the U.S. Open.
Woodland captured the 2019 U.S. Open, Kirk is simply a six-time victor connected tour, and Leishman has won 14 times astir the world, including erstwhile successful the LIV Golf League. They're much than susceptible of stringing unneurotic 4 coagulated rounds if their signifier is better.
Tier V: Happy to marque the cut
These players aren't expected to beryllium among the contenders unless thing chaotic happens.
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 large champion, acknowledged earlier this week that this mightiness beryllium his past chance to implicit the vocation Grand Slam. It is the last twelvemonth of his five-year exemption for capturing the 2021 PGA Championship astatine Kiawah Island, South Carolina, wherever helium became the oldest large title winner.
Mickelson, 54, is simply a six-time runner-up successful the U.S. Open, astir precocious successful 2013. He missed the chopped successful 4 of his past 5 starts successful the lawsuit and hasn't finished successful the apical 40 since tying for 28th successful 2014.
Dunlap won doubly connected circuit past season, erstwhile arsenic an amateur and different arsenic a rookie aft turning pro. He has struggled mightily since then, however, missing the chopped successful six of his past 9 starts. He hasn't played connected the play successful immoderate of his 5 large appearances the past 2 seasons.
Tier VI: The qualifiers
Here are the remaining players among the 65 qualifiers who aren't PGA Tour regulars and included successful tiers supra oregon below. They went done section and last qualifying to drawback spots successful the field. The past qualifier to triumph the U.S. Open was Lucas Glover successful 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 shot for 1 play astatine Yale and was connected its play squad for four. His gramps Dr. James A. Nicholas was an orthopedic surgeon who operated connected Jets backmost Joe Namath's genu 4 times. Nicholas was the Ivy League Player of the Year successful 2019.
Hicks, 50, really held a stock of the first-round pb astatine 3 nether successful the 2008 U.S. Open astatine Torrey Pines, successful which Tiger Woods bushed Rocco Mediate successful abrupt decease aft an 18-hole playoff. Hicks, present a play teacher successful Boca Raton, Florida, tied for 74th astatine 17 over.
Haefner, who played astatine Wayne State University successful Michigan, had 1 of the astir melodramatic finishes connected golf's longest day, sinking a 60-foot putt from disconnected the greenish connected the 36th spread to gain medalist honors successful last qualifying astatine Springfield Country Club successful Ohio.
Go up and DO THAT, Grant Haefner!
The Bloomfield Hills autochthonal had the perfectly due absorption to clinching his spot successful the U.S. Open. pic.twitter.com/Vgp0cg0McV
Tier VII: The amateurs
Here are the amateur players who volition effort to bash what stars specified arsenic Cantlay, Mickelson, Rahm, Spieth and truthful galore others did astatine the U.S. Open earlier turning pro: triumph a medal arsenic a debased 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 whopping 15 amateurs successful the field, including 9 who precocious done last qualifying, and galore of them erstwhile again person compelling stories.
Vogt, 34, grew up successful Pittsburgh and was erstwhile a caddie astatine Oakmont. He played astatine Butler University successful Indianapolis, wherever helium present works arsenic a dentist. He was the medalist successful last qualifying successful Walla Walla, Washington, helium wore a ribbon connected his chapeau successful tribute to his precocious deceased father, who utilized to way his scores connected his phone.
A caddie turned dentist turned U.S. Open competitor! 👏 👏 👏
If you ticker 1 Golf's Longest Day interview, marque definite it's this 1 from Matthew Vogt. pic.twitter.com/f1WEehPfsG
Howell, 17, is simply a rising elder successful precocious schoolhouse successful Thomasville, Georgia. He went 18 nether and didn't marque a bogey successful 2 rounds during last qualifying connected June 2 astatine Piedmont Driving Club successful Atlanta. He is committed to play astatine the University of Georgia arsenic portion of the 2026 class.
La Sasso, a inferior astatine Ole Miss, got into the tract by capturing past month's NCAA Division I idiosyncratic nationalist championship. The All-American posted the lowest scoring mean successful programme past (69.48) and won 3 times this past season. Tankersley, his Ole Miss teammate, made the tract done unfastened qualifying.
Gutschewski conscionable graduated from Westside High School successful Omaha, Nebraska, and is headed to the University of Florida. His father, Scott, is simply a three-time victor connected the Korn Ferry Tour, and his older brother, Luke, played astatine Iowa State. Gutschewski earned a U.S. Open spot by capturing the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur.
