Scottie Scheffler arrives at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Wednesday as the world number one and the heavy favourite to win the 2026 US Open, a title that would complete the career Grand Slam at the age of 29.
Scheffler already holds the Masters, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship. A US Open title in New York would make him one of the youngest players ever to complete all four major championships. Only five players in history have achieved the career Grand Slam: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. Scheffler is chasing that company.
Shinnecock Hills, located in Southampton on Long Island, has a reputation as one of the most demanding US Open venues. The fescue-lined fairways, fast greens, and wind off Peconic Bay make it a test of patience and precision. The course hosted the US Open in 1986, 1995, 2004, and 2018. In 2018, Brooks Koepka won the second of his back-to-back US Open titles here, shooting 1-under for the week while the field averaged well over par.
This year’s setup is expected to be similarly punishing. The USGA typically sets the course to play at the edge of fairness, rewarding the best ball-strikers while making the rough nearly unplayable. Scheffler’s accuracy off the tee and his ability to control trajectory in wind make him well suited to Shinnecock’s demands.
The field features several major champions who could challenge. Rory McIlroy is looking for a US Open to add to his 2011 title at Congressional. Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, and Collin Morikawa are all capable of sustained low scoring. But Scheffler has been the most consistent player in the world over the past two years, winning on multiple Tours and producing contending performances at nearly every major.
First round tee times begin Wednesday, with Scheffler expected in a featured group alongside two top-10 ranked players. The field tees off across two days, with the cut falling on Friday evening.
A US Open victory at Shinnecock Hills would put Scheffler in the most exclusive company in golf. The pressure is obvious, but he has shown a remarkable ability to manage high expectations. He won the Masters in 2022 and again in 2024, both times appearing unaffected by the weight of the occasion.
First round action begins at Shinnecock Hills on Wednesday, June 18. NBC Sports and Peacock carry live coverage in the United States.
