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The U.S. Open Predictions - Top contenders for victory at Shinnecock Hills

Brad Newcomb

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Last updated: 15 Jun 2026

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Brad Newcomb 15 Jun 2026

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The U.S. Open takes place between 18-21 June.
The tournament takes place at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Long Island, New York.
Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Wyndham Clark, and J.J. Spaun are top contenders to win.

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Scottie Scheffler is chasing the career Grand Slam at Shinnecock Hills this weekend (Getty Images)

The 126th edition of the U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock Hills for the first time since 2018, with a stellar field of the world's elite golfers competing for top honours in New York this weekend. Who will rise to the challenge and win this year's third Major come Sunday?

J.J. Spaun is back to defend his title after a one-stroke victory over Robert MacIntyre in 2025.

The Shinnecock Hills Golf Club has hosted the U.S. Open on five previous occasions, in 1896, 1986, 1995, and 2004, with Brooks Koepka winning the 2018 edition held at this venue.

Past and present Major winners who will tee off on Thursday include Aaron Rai, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Matt Fitzpatrick, J.J. Spaun, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Keegan Bradley, Brian Harman, Wyndham Clark, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry, Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth, Gary Woodland, Graeme McDowell, and Padraig Harrington.

These are our four selections that could win the title this weekend.

Scottie Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler was in fine form at of the start the PGA Tour season with a victory at the American Express before finishing T3 at the WM Phoenix Open, T4 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and T12 at the Genesis Invitational.

Scheffler had a slight dip in form in his subsequent two events, finishing T24 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T22 at the Players Championship before regaining his touch, placing 2nd at the Masters, 2nd at the RBC Heritage, 2nd at the Cadillac Championship, T14 at the PGA Championship, 3rd at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, and T12 at the Memorial Tournament.

The four-time Major winner has performed well in his last five starts at the U.S. Open, finishing T7 in 2021, T2 in 2022, 3rd in 2023, T41 in 2024, and T7 in 2025.

Scheffler has come close to winning for a second time this season on multiple occasions and can become the seventh golfer to complete the Career Grand Slam with a victory in New York this weekend.

Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy was in solid form at the start of his season on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, placing T14 at the Crown Australian Open, T3 at the Dubai Invitational, T33 at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, T14 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and T2 at the Genesis Invitational before withdrawing from the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and finishing T46 at the Players Championship.

However, McIlroy bounced back to his best with a victory at the Masters before finishing T19 at the Truist Championship, T7 at the PGA Championship, and T12 at the Memorial Tournament.

The six-time Major champion has been in great touch in his last seven starts at the U.S. Open, placing T9 in 2019, T8 in 2020, T7 in 2021, T5 in 2022, 2nd in 2023, 2nd in 2024, and T19 in 2025.

McIlroy has the form to win his second Major of the year at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club this weekend.

Wyndham Clark

Wyndham Clark lacked consistency at the beginning of his season on the PGA Tour, finishing T13 at the American Express, T65 at the Farmers Insurance Open, T35 at the WM Phoenix Open, T58 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, T41 at the Genesis Invitational, T42 at the Players Championship, MC at the Valspar Championship, and MC at the Texas Children's Houston Open.

Clark has found another gear since those results, placing T21 at the Masters, T16 at the RBC Heritage, T20 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, MC at the PGA Championship, victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, 3rd at the Memorial Tournament, and T11 at the RBC Canadian Open last weekend.

The former Major winner has featured five times at the U.S. Open, with results of MC in 2021, MC in 2022, victory in 2023, T56 in 2024, and MC in 2025.

Clark has been on top of his game lately and could emerge victorious in New York come Sunday.

J.J. Spaun

J.J. Spaun struggled at the beginning of his season on the PGA Tour, finishing T40 at the Sony Open in Hawaii, MC at the Farmers Insurance Open, T45 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, MC at the Genesis Invitational, MC at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T24 at the Players Championship, and MC at the Valspar Championship.

However, Spaun soon rediscovered his touch, recording a victory at the Valero Texas Open, an MC at the Masters, a T25 at the RBC Heritage, a T14 at the Cadillac Championship, a T5 at the Truist Championship, an MC at the PGA Championship, a T6 at the Charles Schwab Challenge, and a T12 at the Memorial Tournament.

The defending champion missed the cut at this event in 2021 before winning the title in 2025.

Spaun has come good in recent months and can secure back-to-back U.S. Open titles at Shinnecock Hills this weekend.

Verdict

US Open Golf

Scheffler comes into this tournament on the back of excellent results and has every chance of winning the U.S. Open for the first time come Sunday.

McIlroy has gone close to winning this event in recent years and can secure his seventh career Major title this weekend.

Clark has been performing well lately and can emerge victorious at Shinnecock Hills come Sunday.

Spaun has the form to defend his crown in New York this weekend.

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Brad graduated from the University of South Africa with a Bcom-Management Accounting degree and has a financial background.

His love of sport has seen him venture down the road of researching sporting history for the past several years, specifically boxing, cricket and football.

Other sports of particular interest are golf, tennis, horse racing and motorsports.

Additionally, he spends his time researching the military history of his home country of South Africa.

He is an ardent Liverpool supporter and is known to DJ and release music on occasion.