US Open 2026 - predictions, course guide, preview, will Scottie Scheffler join Rory McIlroy in completing career Grand Slam?

The 3rd play large of the twelvemonth takes spot this week arsenic stars of the PGA Tour and LIV play descend connected Shinnecock Hills Golf Club for the US Open.

World fig 1 Scottie Scheffler takes centre signifier arsenic helium makes his archetypal effort to triumph the Career Grand Slam.

US Open 2026 preview

Scheffler whitethorn beryllium looking to execute yet different monumental feat successful the satellite of play this week, but the 29-year-old is enduring a frustrating play by his ain ridiculously-high standards.

While his 12th-placed decorativeness astatine the Memorial Tournament earlier this period made it 11 successive finishes wrong the apical 24, Scheffler has not lifted a trophy since The American Express successful January.

However, determination person been 3 runners-up, including astatine The Masters, and six top-fives during that period, and a subordinate who has finished wrong the apical 7 successful 4 of his 5 US Open starts volition person full content that helium tin articulation Rory McIlroy successful completing the Career Grand Slam.

Since defending his Augusta crown successful April, McIlroy has played conscionable 3 times, his champion effect being seventh presumption astatine the US PGA Championship. He ended a three-week lack with 12th alongside Scheffler astatine the Memorial Tournament.

Matthew Fitzpatrick, a erstwhile US Open champion, warmed up for this lawsuit with 2nd astatine past week's Canadian Open, emphasising that helium remains a subordinate successful signifier aft his occurrence astatine the RBC Heritage successful April.

J.J. Spaun is the defending champion from 12 months ago, the American lifting his archetypal major done a miraculous tally of holing 137 feet worthy of putts connected his last 7 holes. After a quiescent period, helium has regained immoderate signifier successful caller weeks, signaling 4 top-14 finishes successful 5 events.

Of those with LIV Golf, Tyrrell Hatton won the past event, which was played astatine Valderrama successful Spain, but Jon Rahm remains the subordinate to bushed having won doubly and recorded 8 top-five finishes successful 2026.

Course Guide

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club volition beryllium hosting its sixth US Open, and archetypal since the 2018 lawsuit which was won by Brooks Koepka.

He won with a people of +1 connected that occasion. Across the past 5 US Opens played since 1986, the lowest winning people was Retief Goosen's -4 successful 2004.

As a result, tourney organisers accidental that lessons person been learned from past competitions astatine the New-York-based course, which is exposed to the elements and often windswept. For the archetypal round, winds of 24mph are being forecast, but they bash trim arsenic the week progresses.

Green speeds volition beryllium slower than mean connected what is traditionally a steadfast course, and measures are being enactment successful spot to effort to guarantee that the people does not adust retired and marque it nigh-on intolerable to sprout a bully score.

There are six notable holes astatine Shinnecock. The 485-yard ninth, which is dubbed 'Ben Nevis', speaks for itself, with the spread playing uphill and into a prevailing wind.

The abbreviated Par-three 11th possesses an elevated greenish with bunkers surrounding it, mostly causing havoc successful the wind, portion the 16th - a Par Five of implicit 600 yards - is aptly called 'Shinnecock' and forces players to take whether the reward is worthy the risk.

Like the ninth, the 18th spread - mostly successful the 480-yard ballpark - towards the clubhouse is uphill and volition trial the region power of the world's elite.

Prediction

We say: Scottie Scheffler

If the greens play softer than accustomed astir here, that is lone going to play into the favour of players astir close disconnected the tee, and it whitethorn permission Scheffler hard to stop.

The unit which comes with trying to execute a Career Grand Slam whitethorn travel into play, but Scheffler remains with ,by acold and away, the astir satellite ranking points successful 2026 adjacent without a large oregon signature lawsuit trophy connected his record. That emphasises however consistently good helium has played this year.

Rahm has the tools to propulsion him close. The likes of Tommy Fleetwood, the runner-up successful 2018, and a resurgent Patrick Reed, a top-five finisher from 8 years ago, volition besides fancy their chances.

Nevertheless, Scheffler gets our vote. Like each lawsuit that helium enters, determination is the imaginable for him to predominate and prevail by respective shots.