Overview
- The 126th U.S. Open will be played June 18–21 at Shinnecock Hills, where world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler enters as the betting favorite at roughly +550 and can complete the career Grand Slam if he wins on June 21.
- USGA chief competitions officer John Bodenhamer said the association has widened fairways to an average of about 48 yards and plans slower green speeds to prevent repeat problems from 2004 and 2018 when greens were so firm that officials watered surfaces in 2004 and the last 45 starters in 2018 failed to break par.
- The official field is 156 players with 19 amateurs, defending champion J.J. Spaun included, the USGA holding seven spots for late qualifiers and veteran Adam Scott set to make his 100th consecutive major appearance.
- Bookmakers and predictive models list Scheffler on top but also flag surprise contenders and longshots, with some models highlighting players such as Ludvig Aberg and downgrading others like Xander Schauffele in their simulations.
- Shinnecock will play at 7,440 yards and par 70 and remains a links‑style test where wind and thick first‑cut rough heavily punish missed fairways, a setup that historically produced very few under‑par totals in prior Opens at the course.