The top golfers to watch at the 2026 US Open

Here are the golfers to watch as the U.S.Open gets underway at Shinnecock Hills on Thursday:Never mind that he hasn’t been his dominant self this year and recently showed frustration at the Memorial as he struggled, Scheffler has been ranked No.

1 in the world for three years and has won 14 times since the beginning of 2024 — seven in ’24, six in ’25 and once earlier this year.This is the first try for Scheffler at winning the career Grand Slam, the U.S.

Open the only major championship trophy missing in his man cave back in Texas.Scheffler is not to be counted out.

Shinnecock is very much about ball striking and few are better at that than Scheffler.McIlroy doesn’t have to worry about completing the career Slam, because he did it last year with his first Masters victory, which he defended in April.McIlroy, the world No.

2 behind Scheffler, is playing with house money, seemingly unburdened and liberated after climbing every mountain in golf.His career is now all about big-game hunting, the way Tiger Woods’ career became after he’d won everything.The Englishman’s form has cooled slightly after winning three PGA Tour events earlier in the year, but his steady, weakness-free game and patience are made to win U.S.

Opens — as evidenced by his victory at Brookline in 2022.Fitzpatrick has gained length and strength in recent years as well as confidence.The pride of Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Westchester County has had a big year, winning the Players Championship and the Cadillac Championship at Doral, two tournaments with stout fields.

As a local of sorts, he thrives on courses in the Northeast, as he did at Bethpage Black in the Ryder Cup last fall.Young is long off the tee, which always helps at a U.S.

Open, and his putting has greatly improved, which is why he’s won twice this year.Sure, he’s in the midst of re-entry to the PGA Tour after leaving LIV Golf, but Koepka cannot be discounted in the big events, particularly one like this at a ...