US Open 2025: Can anybody cease Scottie Scheffler? Contenders and pundit predictions for main victory at Oakmont | Golf Information

Scottie Scheffler has performed down his standing as overwhelming favorite for US Open victory, however will the world No 1 get pleasure from extra main success or can somebody cease him at Oakmont?

Scheffler registered a five-shot victory on the PGA Championship final month – his third main victory – and adopted it up with one other spectacular success on the Memorial Match, with the world No 1 now trying to find a fourth win in his final 5 begins.

The 28-year-old leads all gamers within the majors since 2022 in a number of statistics, together with scoring and ball hanging, with Scheffler producing consistency in latest seasons not seen since Tiger Woods.

He has solely ended exterior the highest 10 in 4 of the final 17 majors, together with two top-threes in his final two US Open begins, leaving Scheffler because the shortest betting favorite in a serious – with American bookmakers – since Woods on the 2009 PGA Championship.

“I do not take note of the favorite stuff or something like that,” Scheffler mentioned in his pre-tournament press convention. “Beginning Thursday morning we’re at even par and it is as much as me to go on the market and play towards the golf course and see what I can do.”

Scheffler has been high of the world rankings since Might 2023 and heading in the right direction to complete high of the FedExCup common season standings for a fourth 12 months operating, whereas US Open victory would give him the prospect to finish the profession Grand Slam at The Open subsequent month.

Who’s finest primed to problem Scheffler’s bid for back-to-back main success? We check out a few of his most important contenders…

Rory McIlroy

The Northern Irishman has posted six consecutive top-nine finishes on the US Open and been runner-up the final two years, lacking out to Wyndham Clark in 2023 and Bryson DeChambeau final 12 months, having additionally claimed his maiden main title within the 2011 contest.

McIlroy leads in birdies or higher on the US Open since 2018 – averaging 3.85 a spherical – and tops the “strokes gained whole” stats within the occasion over the previous 5 years, with the world No 2 admitting he has develop into a “rather more assured US Open participant”.

He ended his anticipate an elusive fifth main title and accomplished the profession Grand Slam with a dramatic play-off victory over Justin Rose at The Masters, whereas a win this week would see him pull degree with Sir Nick Faldo’s all-time main tally.

McIlroy mentioned he has to “get his stuff collectively” this week after failing to contend on the PGA Championship and lacking the minimize on the US Open, the place he struggled off the tee, however a return to acquainted driver mannequin this week may spark a return to type.

Xander Schauffele

Final 12 months’s winner of the PGA Championship and The Open has the very best cumulative rating to par within the majors for the reason that starting of final 12 months, at present at 38 underneath and two strokes higher than Scheffler.

Schauffele has completed no worse than 14th in his earlier eight US Open appearances, with solely Jack Nicklaus (12 years) and Sam Snead (9 years) providing extra consecutive high 15s within the occasion since World Conflict II.

The world No 3 has 5 top-eight finishes in his final six main begins, gaining strokes on the sphere in all eight of his rounds in majors this season, plus has the very best scoring common in US Open historical past for gamers with 20 or extra profession rounds within the occasion.

Schauffele continues to be on his run of 65 consecutive cuts made, stretching again to The Masters in 2022. It will be no shock to see him difficult for the third leg of the profession Grand Slam.

Bryson DeChambeau

DeChambeau has delivered Scheffler-esque ranges of consistency within the majors, with 5 top-six finishes – together with final 12 months’s victory and a final-day duel at with McIlroy at The Masters, the place he ended tied for fifth – in his final six main begins.

The American has contended in each majors this 12 months – additionally ending runner-up on the PGA Championship for a second successive season – and now appears to affix Brooks Koepka (2017 and 2018) as the one gamers this century to defend their US Open title.

He gained a LIV Golf League occasion in Korea and has top-five finishes in every of his final 4 appearances on the Saudi-backed circuit, with DeChambeau lately implementing a “model three” of 3D-printed irons to enhance his inconsistent strategy play.

DeChambeau dominated with driver in each his 2020 US Open success and final 12 months’s win, ending inside the highest 4 for strokes gained off tee in each weeks – with distance prone to be an enormous benefit once more this week round one of many hardest main assessments.

Collin Morikawa

Morikawa has seven top-five finishes in majors for the reason that begin of 2020, successful the PGA Championship that 12 months and The Open the next season, with Morikawa additionally boasting a superb US Open report.

The world No 4 stays and not using a victory this season regardless of runner-up finishes at The Sentry and the Arnold Palmer Invitational, though he mentioned forward of this week’s main that he “has the sport to win” round Oakmont.

Morikawa has 4 top-15 finishes on the US Open regardless of traditionally making gradual begins, posting a mixed 10 over in opening rounds throughout that interval in comparison with six underneath over the ultimate three rounds. An excellent begin at Oakmont would put Morikawa firmly within the combine.

Who else may impress?

Jon Rahm produced a final-round cost throughout final month’s PGA Championship earlier than ending tied-eighth, whereas the Spaniard has completed inside the highest 10 in all 21 begins on the LIV Golf League since leaving the PGA Tour forward of final season.

One participant who has outperformed each Rahm and DeChambeau on that circuit is Joaquin Niemann, getting into the US Open through the USGA’s new LIV Golf League exemption, with final week’s win in Virginia his fourth of the season.

Justin Thomas gained the RBC Heritage to finish three years and not using a PGA Tour victory however has not completed within the high 10 in his final 4 majors, whereas Shane Lowry held a four-shot lead after 54 holes at Oakmont in 2016 earlier than ending in tied-second behind Dustin Johnson.

Lowry is a previous main champion at The Open and has contended a number of occasions on the PGA Tour already this season, ending runner-up to McIlroy on the AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am and narrowly lacking out to Sepp Straka on the Truist Championship.

Straka is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour in 2025 and amongst these trying to find a maiden main title, with Ryder Cup team-mate Tommy Fleetwood a former US Open runner-up who has three high 10s in his final 5 worldwide begins. Will Fleetwood make his first PGA Tour title a serious victory?

Radar: Scheffler has Tiger odds

Sky Sports activities Golf’s Wayne Riley:

“Can anyone cease Scheffler this week? Anyone can cease Scheffler so long as they’re on their recreation and he’s not, particularly a McIlroy.

“You possibly can go proper right down to a man like Corey Conners, who is likely one of the straightest hitters, he has a recreation that fits this sort of US Open format. It’s a must to keep on the green.

“However it, he is not 3/1 for no cause, these are Tiger Woods odds for a serious championship.

“Very tough, however a straight hitter. Why not Xander?

“If he will get this win right here he is one away from the profession Grand Slam, however proper now it is exhausting to see previous Scheffler.

“We’re clutching at straws looking for gamers who can beat Scottie, however who is aware of?”

Who will win the US Open? Watch prolonged protection all through the week dwell on Sky Sports activities, with the opening spherical dwell on Thursday from 12.30pm on Sky Sports activities Golf. Get Sky Sports activities or stream no contract on NOW