Updated

Updated · PGA TOUR · Jun 17

Xander Schauffele Targets U.S. Open Top 20 at 7,440-Yard Shinnecock as 40-mph Winds Loom

Updated

Updated · PGA TOUR · Jun 17

Xander Schauffele Targets U.S. Open Top 20 at 7,440-Yard Shinnecock as 40-mph Winds Loom

Q: Can Europe’s golfers conquer America's toughest test to continue their historic 2026 winning streak?

Yes—Europe has a realistic chance to make it three straight majors in 2026, but Shinnecock Hills may still favor the deepest all-around player in the field, which keeps Scottie Scheffler the man to beat. The case for Europe is strong. Rory McIlroy arrives with the best major record of the year among the leading contenders: a Masters win, a top-10 at the PGA Championship, and a game well suited to Shinnecock’s wider fairways and links-style demands. Jon Rahm was runner-up at the PGA, Matt Fitzpatrick is a proven U.S. Open winner, Tommy Fleetwood has been trending well, and Ludvig Aberg has produced nine straight top-21 finishes with six top-10s. Aaron Rai’s PGA title also showed Europe’s depth is not limited to its biggest names. Shinnecock, however, is a severe filter. Only three players have finished under par in five previous U.S. Opens there, and Brooks Koepka won at 1-over in 2018. Even with the USGA using wider fairways and slightly slower greens in a more “hands-off” setup, wind remains the defining defense. That kind of examination rewards patience, elite ball-striking, and control more than momentum alone. That is why Europe’s streak is plausible but far from secure. McIlroy may be the best European fit, with Rahm and Fitzpatrick close behind, yet Scheffler’s consistency and statistical dominance make him the biggest obstacle. Europe can win at Shinnecock, but it will likely require one of its stars to outlast Scheffler on a course where par is a very good score.

3 articles · Updated · PGA TOUR · Jun 17

Xander Schauffele enters the U.S. Open as a favored Top 20 play at -102, backed by 16 top-20 finishes in his last 17 major starts since 2022.
Shinnecock Hills sets up for his all-around game: the par-70 course stretches 7,440 yards, the rough reaches 5 inches, and Thursday winds could be among the season's strongest.
That profile rewards Schauffele's consistency more than pure form; despite a winless 18 months, he remains strong on long, difficult layouts and already posted a top-20 finish here in 2018.
Matt Fitzpatrick was highlighted as the top outright pick at +2300, with recent form and a past U.S. Open title reinforcing the view that precision and scrambling will matter most this week.
The broader test at Shinnecock is expected to hinge on survival as much as scoring, with gusts near 40 mph threatening to make one of golf's toughest venues even harsher.