It is a glorious time for sports fans in New York. While the Knicks parade down the Canyon of Heroes on Thursday, the world’s best golfers will be teeing off at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island in the 126th U.S. Open.
This is the sixth time the Open will be held at Shinnecock. The first was in 1896 and the most recent was in 2018. Back in the late 19th century, the course was a mere 12 holes and measured 4,423 yards. In 2026, the course will play 7440 yards. It is a Par 70. The course features zero trees and wide fairways. So why is it that of the 654 players who have teed it up at Shinnecock Hills only three have finished under par? The answer: the wind, the eight acres of bunkers, the meadow-like rough, and the massive and undulating greens.
Weather Alert: The winds on Thursday for Round 1 are expected to be gusting at up to 40mph. If that is the case, the field will need every inch of the wide fairways to avoid all the trouble and danger the course presents just to try and hit the small, safe spots on these large greens.
How to Watch the 126th U.S. Open
- Date: June 18-21, 2026
- Time: Golfers tee off beginning at 6:35AM ET
- Site: Shinnecock Hills Country Club
- City: Southampton, NY
- Network/Streaming: NBC, USA, NBCSN, Golf Channel and streaming on Peacock
So who can survive these conditions let alone master them? Let’s dive into the field for the 126th United States Open Championship.
The Favorites to win the U.S. Open
Scottie Scheffler (+450)
World No. 1 has not looked the part the last few months. Maybe the fundamental issue is on approach as Scheffler ranks outside the Top 100 in proximity to the hole. Was Top 5 the past couple of seasons. Would shock no one, however, if World #1 dials it in and completes the career Grand Slam on Father’s Day.
Rory McIlroy (+930)
The wider fairways at Shinnecock should allow Rory to bomb it and go pin seeking more often than most in the field. The only reason not to bet him is if you believe the putter will betray him as has happened down the stretch a few times in majors.
John Rahm (+1175)
Challenged at Augusta. Can he keep his desperation to win a major in check? His patience will be tested. The Spaniard is so good around the greens, that he has to be considered at least to finish Top Ten. Round 1 will tell us plenty.
Xander Schauffele (+1900)
Getting plenty of attention this week. Finished sixth here in 2019. Followed up his ninth place finish at Augusta with a seventh place finish at the PGA Championship. Would be a surprise if he is not in the mix this week.
Cameron Young (+1900)
T4 at last year’s Open and T3 at this year’s Masters, the local boy has it dialed in with two wins and six Top Ten finishes this year. His driving stats are too good to ignore. This price is fair and worth some pizza money as Young looks to claim his first major.
Tommy Fleetwood (+2200)
Yet to win a full field event, Fleetwood is playing well with two Top 5s and a T11 in his last four starts. Important to note that Fleetwood is fifth in scrambling this year (62.25%).
Matt Fitzpatrick (+2300)
Third in scoring and maybe more pertinent to this week third in shots gained: total (1.472) this season on TOUR. A winner at Brookline, this is an appetizing number and worth a taste.
Ludvig Aberg (+2500)
World #13 has six Top Ten finishes this year. Finished 21st at the Masters and fourth at the PGA, Aberg has the physical tools but is he mentally capable of four rounds on such a demanding course?
Bryson DeChambeau (+3400)
Has missed the last two cuts at majors. Just too erratic…especially off the tee. As his social post yesterday showed, missing fairways will prove lethal this week. Can’t run with the YouTube star this week. A hard pass.
Brooks Koepka (+3600)
Won here in 2018 and the putter is starting to heat up. Was in contention early last week before withdrawing with a hand injury. Grip strength per Brooks not at 100% but he expects to play and play well. A stay away considering we have no idea how the hand will hold up especially when a wayward drive finds the rough.
Longer Shots to Consider:
Russell Henley (+4000)
Is he the best player yet to win a major? Henley ranks just 143rd on TOUR in Driving Distance (293.4 yards) but leads the TOUR in Driving Accuracy (71%). Shinnecock is a course that allows “short” but punishes reckless. And oh by the way, Henley also leads the TOUR in scrambling.
Wyndham Clark (+4500)
The 2023 U.S. Open Champion has his putter rolling true and so his confidence and swagger are back. He has a win and a T3 in his last two events.
Extreme Long Shot to Consider:
Cameron Smith (+12000) – Was his T7 at the PGA an outlier or has the winner of the 2022 Open Championship found his game and is ready to contend again. The short game is so brilliant. That is the tease that makes us consider throwing a little pizza money on him at that number.
The U.S. Open is annually billed as the toughest test in golf. No question that will be the case again this season thanks to everything that makes Shinnecock Hills so challenging.
We can narrow our list to five plays. On Sunday, our expectations are that one of Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Cam Young, Tommy Fleetwood, or Russell Henley will be the last man standing.
Enjoy the tournament and enjoy the sweat.
*Odds courtesy of DraftKings
