U.S. Open tiers: Ranking favorites, contenders and...
Key takeaways
- Open returns to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, starting Thursday, and the third major of the season figures to once again be the toughest test in golf.
- Opens at Shinnecock Hills dating back to 1896, only three golfers have finished with scores under par.
- Open at Shinnecock Hills, Brooks Koepka became the first back-to-back winner of the U.S.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Illustration by ESPNMark Schlabach Multiple Authors Jun 15, 2026, 10:00 AM ETEmail Print Open Extended Reactions Let the challenge begin.
The U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, starting Thursday, and the third major of the season figures to once again be the toughest test in golf.
In five previous U.S. Opens at Shinnecock Hills dating back to 1896, only three golfers have finished with scores under par. Raymond Floyd finished 1 under when he became the oldest U.S. Open champion in 1986. Corey Pavin shot even par when he won his first major in 1995, and Retief Goosen (4 under) and Phil Mickelson (2 under) were the only golfers under par in 2004.