Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jun 15

Bryson DeChambeau Tipped to Win 2026 U.S. Open at +3000 as Analyst Names 6 Rivals

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jun 15

Bryson DeChambeau Tipped to Win 2026 U.S. Open at +3000 as Analyst Names 6 Rivals

Q: Will the USGA's 'hands-off' approach prevent another player meltdown on Shinnecock's treacherous greens?

Probably yes in the narrow sense, but not entirely. The USGA’s 2026 plan is aimed directly at avoiding the kind of setup-driven chaos seen at Shinnecock in 2004 and, to a lesser extent, 2018. Officials have said they learned from those episodes, when greens became borderline unplayable, and are now taking a more restrained approach: wider fairways, more varied recovery options around greens, moderated green speeds around 11.5 to 12 on the Stimpmeter, and closer attention to moisture so surfaces do not get baked out. The stated philosophy is to “let Shinnecock be Shinnecock,” rather than force scoring toward par through extreme setup. That should reduce the risk of another meltdown caused by the USGA overreaching. It is a meaningful shift because past controversies were tied not just to Shinnecock’s natural severity, but to course-preparation decisions that left players with little margin for error and, at times, no realistic way to hold or putt on certain surfaces. But it will not make meltdowns impossible. Shinnecock remains one of the world’s hardest venues: firm, sloping greens, uneven lies, deep fescue, and heavy exposure to coastal wind. Forecast gusts near 30 mph would still make the course volatile, and even slightly firmer conditions can escalate quickly there. So the USGA can likely prevent another embarrassment of unplayable greens. What it cannot prevent is frustration. At Shinnecock, difficult scoring and occasional player unraveling are still very much in play.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 15

Bryson DeChambeau was picked as the analyst’s outright winner for the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, with a +3000 price and a separate top-20 bet at +173.
Shinnecock’s par-70, wind-exposed layout and punishing rough are central to that call, favoring elite driving and recovery skills; DeChambeau is a two-time U.S. Open champion who won in 2024.
Russell Henley, Patrick Reed, Chris Gotterup and Tyrrell Hatton were highlighted as the strongest alternatives because of recent form, links-style results or past success at Shinnecock.
Harris English and Cameron Smith rounded out the six other contenders as longer-shot value plays, with English backed by steady U.S. Open consistency and Smith by his short game and improved recent form.
The picks were framed as a course-fit betting card for the 2026 championship’s return to Shinnecock, where only four players have finished under par across the last four U.S. Opens there.