The 2026 U.S. Open is nearly here, with the year’s third major set to begin Thursday, June 18, at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. The field features several of the sport’s biggest names, including Rory McIlroy and Aaron Rai, who already claimed major titles earlier this season with victories at the Masters and PGA Championship, respectively.
J.J. Spaun returns as the defending U.S. Open champion, while Brooks Koepka brings added intrigue after winning the last U.S. Open contested at Shinnecock Hills in 2018. With a demanding layout and a stacked field, this year’s championship is shaping up as one of the most anticipated events of the golf calendar.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Scottie Scheffler enters the week as the betting favorite at +550 as he looks to complete the Career Grand Slam. McIlroy follows at +1200 as he chases his first U.S. Open title in 15 years, with Jon Rahm next on the board at +1500. Further down the odds list are Koepka at +3500, Spaun at +5500, and Rai at +8000.
Before making any 2026 U.S. Open picks, bettors may want to review the latest predictions and projected leaderboard from SportsLine’s well-known computer model. Developed by DFS professional Mike McClure, the proprietary system simulates every PGA Tour event 10,000 times and has built a reputation for producing profitable golf betting insights.
The model’s track record includes correctly identifying 17 major contenders entering the weekend, including the 2026 Masters, which marked its fifth straight successful Masters call. It also delivered strong results at last year’s PGA Championship and Open Championship, making it a popular resource for golf bettors looking for an edge.
With the 2026 U.S. Open field now finalized, the model has run another 10,000 simulations for this week’s tournament, producing a projected leaderboard that includes a few surprises. Those looking for a deeper breakdown can find the full results and the latest offers through SportsLine.
2026 U.S. Open predictions
One major surprise the model is calling for at the U.S. Open 2026: Rahm, one of the favorites, stumbles and finishes outside the top 5. He’s a golfer to fade in U.S. Open best bets. Rahm won the U.S. Open in 2021, but hasn’t finished better than T-7 at this event since that point. He finished T-2 at last month’s PGA Championship, but that’s the first top-five in a major he’s had since 2023, so the model doesn’t love him as a win contender this week. See who else to fade here.
Another surprise: Cameron Young (+2200) is a top-5 contender on the projected leaderboard despite never having won a major. Young has two wins and six top-10 finishes this year, including a T3 performance at the Masters. His strong driving metrics bode well for success at Shinnecock Hills, making him a golfer to back in U.S. Open best bets. See who else to pick here.
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How to make 2026 U.S. Open picks
The model is also targeting several longshots, including one going off around 45-1 who makes a stunning run for the title. You can only see the model’s picks here.
Who will win the 2026 U.S. Open, and which longshots will stun the golfing world? Check out the 2026 U.S. Open odds below and then visit SportsLine to see the projected leaderboard, all from the model that’s nailed 17 golf majors, including three in 2025.
2026 U.S. Open odds, favorites
Get full 2026 U.S. Open picks, best bets and predictions here.
(odds via FanDuel and subject to change)
Scottie Scheffler +550
Rory McIlroy +1200
Jon Rahm +1500
Xander Schauffele +1800
Matt Fitzpatrick +2000
Tommy Fleetwood +2200
Ludvig Åberg +2200
Cameron Young +2200
Bryson DeChambeau +3300
Brooks Koepka +3500
Si Woo Kim +3500
Russell Henley +3500
Collin Morikawa +4000
Sam Burns +4000
Tyrrell Hatton +4000
Wyndham Clark +4000
Chris Gotterup +4500
Patrick Cantlay +4500
Patrick Reed +4500
Viktor Hovland +4500
Justin Rose +4500
Justin Thomas +4500
J.J. Spaun +5500
Min Woo Lee +6000
Hideki Matsuyama +6500
Joaquin Niemann +6500
Jordan Spieth +7000
Robert MacIntyre +7000
Kurt Kitayama +7000
Shane Lowry +7000
Aaron Rai +8000
Harris English +8000
Maverick McNealy +8000
Alex Fitzpatrick +8000
Adam Scott +8000
Kristoffer Reitan +8000
Ben Griffin +8000
Bud Cauley +8000
Jake Knapp +10000
Alex Smalley +10000
Akshay Bhatia +10000
Jacob Bridgeman +10000
David Puig +10000
Gary Woodland +10000
Cameron Smith +10000
Ryan Gerard +10000
Nicolai Højgaard +10000
Sepp Straka +10000
Alex Noren +10000
