Preview and Picks for the 2026 U.S. Open

The U.S. Open 2026 major championship tees off June 18 from Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Long Island. I previewed the major golf event at Off Shore Gaming Association, and some players odds to win have changed in the market over the weekend leading into the 126th U.S. Open. I've added more golf stats to guide you as you prepare for the toughest test at Shinnecock and the U.S. Open. The top golfers, favorites, contenders and most bet players to win and props at the U.S. Open Golf Championship are provided below along with our picks, matchups and additional information you can bet on. 

The 156-player field includes more than 60 U.S. Open qualifiers from 10,201 entries, including 19 amateurs shooting for the U.S. Open Trophy, Jack Nicklaus Medal and more than $4.3 million from a prize pool greater than 21 million U.S. dollars. Of the 156 golfers, 54 have never played in the U.S. Open. The last two years, the number of players that had never played in a United States Open major championship were 44 and 36, while 49 players in both 2022 and 2023 had never previously played in the U.S. Open. 

U.S. Open Picks

Fairway’s Favorites: McIlroy, Schauffele, Fleetwood, Fitzpatrick
Fairway’s Longshots: Hatton, Morikawa, Thomas, Cantlay, Gotterup     
Fairway’s Flyers: Spieth, Kitayama, Hall, Day, Cam Smith, Alex Fitzpatrick 

Tournament matchups
- McIlroy (+160) over Scheffler 
- Hatton (+105) over Spaun

I'll be evaluating more matchups, players, props and odds ahead of Thursday's opening round, and continuing with more during the U.S. Open, where weather and wind will be a factor. So check back as we add more matchups, picks and props with our posted 2026 PGA Tour tournament matchups 20-11 following last week's winner in the Canadian Open. While I bet many more matchups and props, I do post select matchups throughout the PGA Tour season including Majors and Signature Events here at OSGA, which are 9-8 overall. 

Since 2009, 13 of the last 17 major champions had never captured a Major title. Will any of the players profiled below win their first major? Fleetwood, Young, Aberg, Henley, Hatton, Cantlay, Hovland shooting for a major breakthrough like major longshot Aaron Rai at last month's PGA Championship.  

Here are your 18 leading players, favorites and other contenders and longshots for the 2026 U.S. Open. 

Bet on PGA Gofl at one of these Elite-rated sportsbooks!

U.S. Open Player Profiles

Scottie Scheffler (+550): Driver - TaylorMade Qi10, 8 degrees. The No. 1 player in the world enters as the favorite in every major since 2022. Scheffler is a 20-time PGA Tour winner before age 30, and he's now gone 11 straight events without winning since the opening 2026 American Express, but does have three runner-up finishes this year including at The Masters behind winner Rory McIlroy. The 4-time major winner turns 30 years old on Sunday, June 21 - the final round of the 2026 U.S. Open. That would be quite the birthday present for Scheffler, who is shooting to complete the career Grand Slam. His best finish at the U.S. Open is T2 in 2022, and last year he finished T7 without contending. The site GolfStats has performance charts, player competitor tools, stats and previews plus a feature on Scheffler this week. Scheffler is No. 1 on Tour in True Strokes Gained Tee to Green and Total, which adjusts for field strength. PGA Tour and U.S. Open stats show Scheffler No. 1 in Total Driving and Greens in Regulation, No. 2 in Scrambling, and top 30 in Putting, which will be the tougher test along with Around the Green play at this week's major championship. 

Rory McIlroy (+1300): Driver - TaylorMade Qi4D, 9 degrees. McIlroy won his 6th career major championship at the 2026 Masters, and his first major title came at the 2011 U.S. Open at age 22 with a record-breaking 8-shot victory. McIlroy and Scheffler added comments and insight about Shinnecock in my U.S. Open preview at OSGA, and Rory missed the cut at the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock while Scheffler made his PGA Tour debut as a professional in 2019. McIlroy's focus and motivation towards majors is noted, as are his stats this year playing fewer events but ranking highly in key strokes gained categories, No. 1 in SG: Total, Tee to Green, Off the Tee. McIlroy has fallen off a bit since his Masters win, and his approach game and around the green play needs to be better to win again. But the setup, winds and conditions favor this year's U.S. Open contenders and champion being a world-class experienced pro who has proven major track record including under links conditions. McIlroy checks those boxes.

Jon Rahm (+1600): Driver - Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond, 10.5 degrees. The top LIV Golfer was +1200 to win the 2026 PGA Championship ahead of The Masters before he flamed out at Augusta, and the highest-paid player in LIV ranks No. 1 on that fledgling Tour in Birdies (> 5.5/round). That won't matter as much at Shinnecock, but the 29-year-old Spaniard's Tee to Green and Off the Tee game remain among the best in golf, and he's shown he can handle the wind and toughers tests. Rahm will also need to be his best on Approach and Around the Green to challenge at Shinnecock and the 2026 U.S. Open, but he's clearly a top contender. 

Xander Schauffele (+1900): Driver - Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond, 10.5 degrees. The 2024 2-time major winner has not won on Tour in nearly two years, but his U.S. Open and majors record remains elite. The 32-year-old had been in a groove with high finishes since March in The Players Championship (3rd), Valspar (T4), Masters (T9), RBC Heritage (T12). Schauffele has never missed a cut at the U.S. Open, and he's finished top 15 in all nine of his appearances with three top 5's, three top 10's and T12 last year. 

Cameron Young (+2500): Driver - Titleist GT3, 11 degrees. A 2-time winner in 2026 at The Players Championship and Cadillac Championship Signature Event, Young also has four other top 10 finishes including T5 at The Masters while playing in the final group with winner Rory McIlroy. His odds to win the U.S. Open have drifted from 20/1 to 25/1 the past week, as the now 29-year-old previously missed three straight cuts at the U.S. Open, then failed to crack the top 30 before breaking through last year T4. The New York native grew up an hour north of Westchester County, and was a key player in last year's Ryder Cup win at Bethpage Black won by the European Team. Young is now a top 2026 Player of the Year candidate and consistently among the betting favorites at each PGA Tour event while ranking No. 3 in SG Total this year and an overall strong, balanced game ranking top 5 in SG: Total, Off the Tee, Tee to Green, Ball Striking, while ranking top 15 in this field over the past 12 months in Strokes Gained Putting. That includes a PGA Tour-best 2+ strokes putting in more than 23% of his rounds. Young also ranks top 10 in this field in bogey-avoidance rate over the past 12 months, and there will be more bogey's than birdies this week at Shinnecock Hills. 

Tommy Fleetwood (+1900): Driver - TaylorMade Qi4D LS, 9-10 degrees plus TM r7 Quad Mini Driver. The 35-year-old still has just one win on the PGA Tour capturing the 2025 Tour Championship on the Donald Ross design at East Lake in Atlanta. He's ranked No. 7 in the world after reaching No. 3 the end of 2025, and Tommy Boy has been challenging in recent events including last week at the Canadian Open (T11) with a poor Sunday finish and T4 at The Memorial Tournament. Recall Fleetwood finished 2nd here at Shinnecock in the 2018 U.S. Open, and his stats profile, accuracy, Ball Striking and flight, Around the Green game and proven ability on links, windy conditions and meticulous course management skills make him a Fairway favorite to challenge this week.

Matt Fitzpatrick (+2200): Driver Titleist GT3, 9 degrees and top 10 in driving accuracy near 68%. The 3-time PGA Tour winner this year is another Player of the Year top candidate having also finished 2nd at The Players Championship. Since that event, the 31-year-old Englishman has continued to be among the stats leaders on Tour in SG: Tee to Green, Around the Green, Scrambling and Approach. Matt is clearly having one of the top seasons on Tour with his best Ball-Striking season and leading the Tour in earnings with more than $12 million in 2026 - a few hundred thousand more than Scheffler and Young, and 4 million more than McIlroy. After winning the RBC Heritage Signature Event a second time, Matt won the team event with his brother Alex Fitzpatrick (+11500 U.S. Open Champ) at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans, which earned Alex his PGA Tour card. Matt was top 2 in Greens in Regulation in two recent events at The Memorial and Canadian Open. Fitzpatrick had a pair of T12 finishes in the U.S. Open before breaking through with his first major championship win in the 2022 U.S. Open. His best finish since is T17, but he's playing his best golf now as a top-5 player in the world rankings. 

Ludvig Aberg (+2800): Driver - Titleist TSR2, 9 degrees. The big hitting and smooth swinging 26-year-old Swedish star continues his solid play and stats mostly across the board. Aberg finished T3 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T5 at The Players when he led by 3-shots through 54 holes, T5, T21 at The Masters, T4 RBC Heritage, T8 Truist and T4 at the PGA Championship. Not closing well enough to win, but a top talent and let's see how his game translates at a tougher U.S. Open venue after a T12 on debut in 2024 and missed cut last year. 

Brooks Koepka (+5000): Driver - Titleist GT3 and Srixon ZX7 Mk II irons. The 36-year-old won the 2017 and 2018 U.S. Opens including at Shinnecock Hills with a 1-over par winning score. His Ball Striking has been his best SG category, but putrid putting much of this year and a withdrawl last weekend at the Canadian Open with numbness in his left hand leaves him off my card this week. 

Bryson DeChambeau (+4000): Driver - Krank Golf Formula FIRE PRO TOUR, 6 degrees. Bold Bryson missed the cut at The Masters, one year after playing in the final group with eventual winner Rory McIlroy. Bettors bit the bullet betting on overhyped DeChambeau at Augusta, and the LIV top pro is receiving less interest at the PGA Championship. The 32-year-old YouTuber ranks outside the top 30 on LIV Golf in Fairways hit (59%), No. 2 in driving distance (319/yards), No. 4 in Putting average but still has shortcomings in Approach play and Around-the-Green. 

Collin Morikawa (+5000): Driver - TaylorMade Qi4D LS, 8 degrees and top 10 in driving accuracy near 67%. The 2-time major winner was having a solid start to the season before a back injury forced him to withdraw from The Players Championship. The 29-year-olds unspecified injury struggles have continued and he withdrew from the Truist Championship just ahead of the 2026 PGA Championship. His elite and dynamic irons have spearheaded his strong stats, including top approach play, driving accuracy and precision and trajectory excellence. A links winner at the 2021 Open Championship, Morikawa is a mid-range longshot to watch and wager on as well this week.

Russell Henley (+4000): Driver - Titleist TS3 fairway wood, 16.5 degees. The PGA Tour leader in scrambling and driving accuracy near 72% and quietly up to No. 5 in the world rankings, Henley continues to lack respect in the betting market despite solid results. The 37-year-old 6-time PGA Tour winner has four top 10's this year including T3 at The Masters before winning the Charles Schwab Challenge last month in a playoff. His approach play and proximity stats from 150-175 yards are strong, along with his SG Putting. Over his last seven starts in major championships, Henley has five top 10 finishes while ranking top 10 in SG Total. That includes T7 and T10 the last two U.S. Opens, and back-to-back top 10's in the British Open the last two years playing links courses.

Tyrrell Hatton (+4000) - The 34-year-old Englishman was the best LIV Golfer at the 2026 Masters, shooting a final round 66 to finish T3 and had a chance to win on the back nine. He's accurate and a strong iron player and ball striker, and most competitive playing under pressure and in big major moments. He did have a shot to win last year's U.S. Open on the back nine Sunday, but a few bogey's and a +3 finish left him short and T4 with Cam Young. Hatton remains a top contender and links specialist with limited media mentions and coverage this week. 

Patrick Reed (+4500): Driver - Titleist GT3 driver., 9 degrees. The 35-year-old 2018 Masters Champion finished 4th at Shinnecock in the 2018 U.S. Open behind winner Koepka, runner-up Fleetwood and 3rd place finisher Dustin Johnson. He's gained strokes through his bag this year playing limited events (8) outside the PGA Tour and leaving LIV Golf, and his Around the Green game has remained a strength. Reed did finish top 12 at both The Masters and PGA Championship this year, where only winner Aaron Rai gained more strokes on Approach than Reed.   

Wyhdham Clark (+5000): Driver - TaylorMade Qi4D, 10.5 degree. The 32-year-old U.S. Open champion (2023) has been a top in-form player, and he's been testing a new golf product and training aid on the range this week at Shinnecock. He won the Byron Nelson last month and then finished 3rd at The Memorial two weeks ago and T11 last week at the Canadian Open. 

Sam Burns (+3800): Driver - Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond S. The 29-year-olds odds have been dropping with his improved play and elite putting skills. The 5-time PGA Tour winner was a favorite at the Canadian Open and co-led after Round 1 before finish T20, one week after a T4 at the Memorial. Burns was 60/1 to win at last month's PGA Championship, where he finished T26, and recall he finished T7 at this year's Masters with his elite putting skills. Burns also led last year's U.S. Open through 54 holes, but shot 8-over par on Sunday to finish T7. 

Justin Thomas (+5500): Driver - Titleist GTS2, 9.5 to 10 degrees. The 33-year-old Thomas captured his first major title at the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, and won the tournament again in 2022 at Southern Hills. His U.S. Open record includes  two top 10's in 11 starts, but Thomas has surprisingly missed the cut in each of the last three U.S. Opens.  

Patrick Cantlay (+5500) - Cantlay has quietly put together a solid season despite no wins or top 5 finishes. But the 34-year-old, 8-time PGA Tour winner does have three top 10's this year plus a T12 at The Masters. His stats profile, patience and top 15 ranking in Strokes Gained Total provide upside if his Around the Green game is on par this week, and he's he's most comfortable and putts best on bentgrass (poa) greens.  

Other golfers to watch and wager (or not) with notes. 

J.J. Spaun (+6000) - The 35-year-old emerged on the golf scene last year and then broke through with a stunning win at the U.S. Open and the only player to finish under par (-1) over four rounds after sinking a 64-foot birdie putt on the closing hole Sunday. 

Jordan Spieth (+8000) – The 3-time major winner becomes more intriguing at these longer odds with some improved play. But he's posted just one top-10 in 14 U.S. Open starts.   

Hideki Matsuyama (+8000). It's been 5 years since the 34-year-old Japanese star won The Masters. But he's playing better than these odds suggest again this year with solid approach play, which is needed as you get closer to the holes at Shinnecock. Despite more inconsistent play and results than the top of the market golfers, Hideki's ceiling remains high.   

Viktor Hovland (+5000): The 28-year-old Norweigian needs to perform better Around the Green and putt better if he's to contend at Shinnecock, but Hovland did finish 3rd at last year's U.S. Open. His Approach play and stats have been positive, and will be tested further in the windy conditions in Long Island.

Justin Rose (+5500): Rose made a change to new golf clubs a few months ago and has not gotten into a groove with his new McLaren Golf blades. He's still playing his old woods, which includes a Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max driver. But a T65 at the Cadillac event and T45 at the Truist left him out of his comfort zone before a T10 at the PGA Championship and T12 at Memorial. The 45-year-old 13-time PGA Tour winner is shooting for his second major win having won the U.S. Open in 2013.    

Si Woo Kim (+3500): A strong start to the season included T11, T6, T2, T3 the first four tournaments of the year. The 30-year-old South Korean also finished top 5 in the recent Signature Events in both the RBC Heritage and Cadillac Championship, and recenly 2nd at the Byron Nelson and T10 at The Memorial. 

Chris Gotterup (+6000): A top player on Tour this year with 2 wins and up to No. 11 in the world after starting the year at No. 28. The 26-year-old is 2-for-2 making cuts at the U.S. Open, both finishing 8-over par with a best finish of T23 last year. He's also finished top 25 in his recent four majors including a top 10 and T3. A big hitter who grew up on the Atlantic Coast and attended Rutgers before transferring to Oklahoma and familiar with the agronomy and windy conditions.  

Cam Smith (+10000): The 32-year-old Australian LIV Golfer won the 2022 British Open, and boasts five top-10 finishes at Augusta and The Masters. His elite putting and short game skills make him a popular long shot pick this week having improved his play since a swing coach change this spring with three top 20's including T7 at the PGA Championship.

Maverick McNealy (+8000): A pair of top 20 finishes in this year's first two majors, but still no top 10's in the 30-year-old McNealy's career in major championships. 

Kurt Kitayama (+8000): Shooting for a longshot Vegas (resident) pick? The 33-year-old Kitayama ranks top 15 in Tee to Green and Approach over his last eight tournaments with three top 10's and a runner-up finish through April. Sure his Putting and Around the Green game can improve, but his iron play from 150-200 yards is among the leaders. 

Robert MacIntyre (+8000): The 29-year-old Scotsman finished 2nd at last year's U.S. Open, and the links specialist has creative shot shaping/making skills and proven play when required to manage the wind and tougher course setups having also won the Scottish Open and Dunhill Links.  

Min Woo Lee (+7000): The 27-year-old Australian missed the cut at last year's U.S. Open, but finished T23 and T5 the previous two years. Lee has three top 10's this year on the PGA Tour plus three straight top 20's since the end of April including at the PGA Championship. 

Shane Lowry (+8000): The 39-year-old Irishman and 2019 Open Championship winner had two top 10 finishes to start the year, but no top 20's since March. 

Joaquin Niemann (+11000): More LIV wins including in South Korea, but another poor majors record including a best of T23 in six U.S. Open starts. 

Adam Scott (+10000): A major winner at The Masters who also had the Claret Jug in his grasp at the 2012 Open Championship before losing a 4-shot lead with 4 holes to play to winner Ernie Els. The 45-year-old Scott is still playing well and has the patience and understanding of links golf and tougher assignements. Scott T12 at last year's U.S. Open.  

Ben Griffin (+11000): The 30-year old riser T10 at last year's U.S. Open in his debut. 

Sepp Straka (+13500): Four missed cuts in his last six majors and no finish better than T-41. Three missed cuts at U.S. Open the last four years with a best finish of T56. 

Jason Day (+18500): Five top 10's in the U.S. Open, but all before 2017. Four missed cuts since, but T23 last year at U.S. Open. 

Harris English (+11000): A pair of top 5 finishes in the U.S. Open in 2020 and 2021 plus T8 in 2023.

Aaron Rai (+11000), Alex Fitzpatrick (+11500), Alex Noren (+15000), Dustin Johnson (+18500), Harry Hall (+20000), Davis Thompson (+27500), 

Check back for more updates, player profiles, stats, picks and props with information you can bet on ahead of the 2026 U.S. Open and during tournament action with live/in-game betting options providing more ways to win while finding the best odds at top online sportsbooks.  

You can bet on it. 

FairwayJay is a leading sports betting industry analyst, handicapper, content creator, golf writer, reporter and poker player based in Las Vegas. He's been covering major sports including from a betting perspective for more than two decades. FairwayJay is also on the scene for major sports and poker events plus industry conferences as a credentialed media member. Follow @FairwayJay on X and OSGA for more betting insight and information you can bet on.