Scottie Scheffler - World No.1 seeks Grand Slam
After winning the US PGA and US Open last year, Scheffler is now 'just' a US Open away from winning the Grand Slam. He'd become just the seventh man to do so and this is his first shot at completing the sweep of all four.
While it's a fact that he's only won once this year - his first start at The American Express in January - Scheffler has hardly been in the doldrums. His 11 winless starts since then show six top fives including second at the US Masters.
With four top 10s in his last five US Opens, including second at Brookline in 2022, it would be a surprise if he's not part of the story on his first competitive start at Shinnecock.
Last four events: 12-3-14-2
US Open form: 7-41-3-2-7-MC-27-MC
Shinnecock form: -
Last 50 starts - Win: 28%, Top 5: 62%, Top 10: 80%
Rory McIlroy - Masters winner has superb record
McIlroy's runaway eight-shot win at Congressional in 2011 remains his only US Open victory although he's been runner-up in two of the last three and boasts six top 10s in the last seven.
After following a dramatic defence of his Masters Green Jacket with a seventh in the US PGA, the Northern Irishman now has a better than 50% strike-rate when it comes to top 10s in the majors: 35 in 69 starts. Twenty of those were top fives.
One blip in his US Open career was a missed cut at Shinnecock in 2018 when he set out with an opening 80 (R2 70). He visited the course again ahead of the recent Memorial Tournament and liked the wider fairways so it could be a very different story this time.
Last four events: 12-7-19-1
US Open form: 19-2-2-5-7-8-9-MC-MC-MC-9-23-41-MC-1-MC-10
Shinnecock form: MC
Last 50 starts - Win: 16%, Top 5: 44%, Top 10: 52%
Jon Rahm - Spaniard starting to return to his best
Rahm, the 2021 US Open champ at Torrey Pines, was drawing some heat about his recent performances in the majors. The narrative was that LIV had diminished his drive somewhat and not pitting himself against the very best on a regular basis was hurting him.
But a second place in last month's US PGA quietened the critics and, in fact, that runners-up finish at Aronimink means he's now had four top 10s in the nine majors he's played since moving to LIV.
With LIV wins this season in March (Hong Kong) and April (Mexico) along with a second place on home turf in LIV Andalucia a fortnight ago, the Spaniard heads to Shinnecock (where he missed the cut in 2018) in good spirits and in the sort of form which could help him win this event for a second time.
Last four events: 2-16-2-8
US Open form: 7-10-12-1-23-3-MC-MC-23
Shinnecock form: MC
Last 50 starts - Win: 8%, Top 5: 48%, Top 10: 80%
Xander Schauffele - US Open specialist a marvel in the majors
After winning two majors in a sensational 2024, Schauffele hasn't been able to hit those same heights since. We kind of see him as plodding along in a high-class sort of way.
But it's hard to ignore his stellar record in this event. His US Open career began with a fifth in 2017 and sixth at Shinnecock a year later. He's never let up and can now boast seven top 10s in his nine US Opens. The other two were 14th and 12th (last year)!
Tied ninth at Augusta and tied seventh in the US PGA this year, the Californian now has 19 top 10s in his 36 career majors (eight are top fives). Many will therefore gloss over his last two non-major starts: 60th at the Truist and 29th at Memorial.
Last four events: 29-7-60-12
US Open form: 12-7-10-14-7-5-3-6-5
Shinnecock form: 6
Last 50 starts - Win: 6%, Top 5: 24%, Top 10: 46%
Tommy Fleetwood - Shinnecock runner-up eyes first major
Fleetwood holds the course record at Shinnecock after a stunning final-round 63 in 2018. He even had a makeable putt to become the first player to shoot a 62 in the majors.
It was a fantastic round in the context of a tournament won with +1 but perhaps it's worth noting that he faced much softer conditions on that Sunday as spooked USGA officials watered the course after receiving grief for losing some of the greens in round three.
Fleetwood finished runner-up in 2018 after fifth the year before so it's a surprise to see that he's had just one top 10 in the event since (fifth in 2023). While his form over the last few seasons has been strong enough to take him as high as third in the world rankings, that first major is still proving elusive. In fact, it may come as a surprise that the Englishman hasn't even made the top 10 in any of his last nine majors.
Last four events: 11-4-MC-5
US Open form: MC-16-5-MC-50-MC-65-2-4-27
Shinnecock form: 2
Last 50 starts - Win: 4%, Top 5: 34%, Top 10: 44%
Matt Fitzpatrick - In-form Englishman chasing double
Fitzpatrick's US Open record is unusual. Rather than a strong body of work, he's made the top 10 just once but that was a memorable victory at Brookline in 2022.
He's been in brilliant form in 2026, winning the Valspar Championship, the RBC Heritage and the Zurich Classic pairs event with brother Alex. It's therefore a frustration that he hasn't quite brought that elite form into the majors, finishing 18th in the US Masters and 14th at the US PGA.
Shinnecock looks a good place for the Sheffield man to kick on though as he was 12th here in 2018. Speaking ahead of this week's event it's clear he likes the course and a fast-finishing second place in Canada on Sunday (closing 64) looks ideal prep.
Last four events: 2-36-14-52
US Open form: 38-64-17-1-55-MC-12-12-35-54-48
Shinnecock form: 12
Last 50 starts - Win: 8%, Top 5: 20%, Top 10: 30%
Cameron Young - Players champion ready to take next step
Young enjoyed a superb start to his majors career. He was second on his Open debut, third in his first start at the US PGA and seventh on his second appearance at the US Masters.
But at the US Open he missed his first three cuts before adding 32nd and 67th. However, Young put that right last year when fourth at Oakmont and he's since risen to the giddy heights of third in the OWGR after superb victories in March's Players Championship and May's Cadillac Championship.
A New Yorker, he'll also have the locals onside while third at this year's Masters (he led early in round four) was a reminder that Young is surely a major winner waiting to happen.
Last four events: 46-26-10-1
US Open form: 4-67-32-MC-MC-MC
Shinnecock form: -
Last 50 starts - Win: 6%, Top 5: 18%, Top 10: 34%
Ludvig Aberg - Swede racking up top 10s
Aberg, like Young, is another who took to the majors like a duck to water. The Swede was runner-up (2024) and seventh (2025) in his first two US Masters and 12th (2024) on his US Open debut. Tied 21st at Augusta this year, he followed that with fourth in the US PGA.
His story on the PGA Tour this year is one of near misses and failing to turn golden positions (he led the Players Championship by three with a round to play) into victories.
But those backing him in the Top 5 and Top 10 markets are more than happy with Aberg's efforts. In his last nine starts he's had five top fives and an eighth although has just cooled a little in the latest two with 17th at Colonial and 39th at Memorial.
Last four events: 39-17-4-8
US Open form: MC-12
Shinnecock form: -
Last 50 starts - Win: 2%, Top 5: 24%, Top 10: 36%
Bryson DeChambeau - Double winner suffering a majors dip
While Scheffler is seeking a first US Open, DeChambeau already has two in the bag. He roared to a six-shot win at Winged Foot in 2020 before adding a second in dramatic style at Pinehurst No.2 in 2024 after producing a brilliant up-and-down to cash in on late mistakes from Rory McIlroy.
Add in two seconds and a fourth at the US PGA from 2023-2025 and sixth (2024) and fifth (2025) at Augusta and DeChambeau was entering must-bet territory in the three majors held on American soil.
So it seems somewhat bizarre that he's missed the cut in each of the last three US-based majors, a run that includes early exits at this year's Masters and US PGA. Do third (Korea) and 11th (Andalucia) in the latest two LIV events remove these recent doubts?
Last four events: 11-3-MC-3
US Open form: MC-1-20-56-26-1-35-25-MC-15-MC
Shinnecock form: 25
Last 50 starts - Win: 12%, Top 5: 36%, Top 10: 56%
Sam Burns - American starting to solve major puzzle
Burns was the 36 and 54-hole leader in last year's US Open at Oakmont before it all went wrong during a Sunday 78 and he dropped to seventh. Still, that represented a second straight top 10 in the US Open after ninth at Pinehurst.
The idea that he's now becoming a force at this level was furthered by tied seventh at this year's Masters. That beat his previous Augusta best of 29th.
Burns has again been present on recent leaderboards, finishing fourth at Memorial and sitting second halfway in Canada last week before he fell away to 20th.
Last four events: 20-4-26-37
US Open form: 7-9-32-27-MC-41-MC
Shinnecock form: -
Last 50 starts - Win: 0%, Top 5: 12%, Top 10: 26%
Dave Tindall's Summary and Tips
Matt Fitzpatrick's record of one top 10 in 11 US Opens doesn't look great but, as well as the win at Brookline, he's twice finshed 12th and was Low Amateur on his debut in 2014.
One of those 12ths was at Shinnecock in 2018 and on most of the evidence of 2026 he must have a golden chance of landing a top 10 this time.
The Englishman finished 10th the week before his 2022 US Open victory and he heads to Shinnecock with an even better warm-up performance after taking second at TPC Toronto last week.
Back him for a Top 10 at 3.55/2.
Back Matt Fitzpatrick for Top 10
At the prices, I'm drawn to Cameron Young for a Top 5 at 87/1.
Fourth in this event last year and third in the US Masters, that means he would have landed the Top 5 bet twice in the last four majors.
He's dipped a little in the last few starts but what better to get the juices flowing again than a US Open in his own New York backyard.
Back Cameron Young for Top 5