SOUTHAMPTON, New York — The world’s top golfers are converging on Shinnecock Hills Golf Club this week for the U.S. Open, scheduled for June 18-21. Here are five major storylines to keep an eye on as the action unfolds.
SCHEFFLER CHASING GOLF’S ULTIMATE PRIZE
World number one Scottie Scheffler — a two-time Masters champion who also claimed last year’s PGA Championship and British Open titles — will have his first opportunity to complete the career Grand Slam by capturing all four of golf’s major championships. A victory would place him among an exclusive group of just seven men to accomplish the feat, joining Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, and Gene Sarazen. Through 12 PGA Tour starts this season, Scheffler has posted seven top-10 finishes, including a January win at La Quinta and runner-up showings at the Masters, the Cadillac Championship, and the RBC Heritage.
EUROPEANS RIDING HIGH
European golfers arrive in New York with significant momentum. When Englishman Aaron Rai captured the 2026 PGA Championship just a month after Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy defended his Masters title in April, it marked the first time in the modern major era that the season’s opening two majors were both claimed by European players. McIlroy and Rai will spearhead the European effort at Shinnecock Hills, with McIlroy’s Ryder Cup teammates Justin Rose and Matt Fitzpatrick also looking to build on their own wins earlier this season.
SCOTT POISED TO ENTER RARE TERRITORY
Australian Adam Scott is on the verge of a remarkable milestone. When he tees it up in Thursday’s opening round, he will join Jack Nicklaus as the only men in history to compete in 100 consecutive major championships. Scott’s extraordinary streak dates back to the 2001 British Open and includes his 2013 Masters victory. By comparison, Nicklaus played in 146 straight majors, from the 1962 Masters through the 1998 U.S. Open.
KOEPKA’S STATUS IN QUESTION
Brooks Koepka would have entered this week with a distinct edge, having won his second U.S. Open title at Shinnecock Hills back in 2018. However, a puzzling hand injury forced him to withdraw during the final round of the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday, casting doubt on whether he’ll be able to compete. Koepka described the moment it became clear something was wrong: “(I) got to the range and went to grip the club and I just couldn’t even grip it,” he told reporters.
THE HAMPTONS BACKDROP
This year’s U.S. Open takes place in the Hamptons, the glamorous Long Island destination favored by celebrities and Manhattan’s wealthiest residents. The influx of summer visitors and tournament traffic is expected to create significant congestion across Long Island. To help ease the burden, a temporary Long Island Rail Road platform has been built right next to the tournament grounds, and organizers have urged ticket holders to use public transportation. Home rental prices in the surrounding area have also surged ahead of the event.
