U.S. Open 2025: Player Rankings and Analysis

Oakmont, Pennsylvania – This week`s 125th U.S. Open is held at Oakmont Country Club. Could this already challenging course, known as one of golf`s toughest tests, become even more difficult?

Recent reports from touring professionals who have previewed the renovated course near Pittsburgh describe conditions as `carnage,` `cooked beyond belief,` and the `hardest course in the world.`

Expect to see players tested by ankle-high rough, narrowed fairways, the notorious Church Pews bunker, and extremely fast, firm greens, potentially making putting feel like navigating an ice rink.

Xander Schauffele commented, “I`ve heard from several players, it`s the hardest course they`ve ever played… Just it`s long and the rough is impossible, and you can end up hitting 50-yard pitches trying to get up and down for par on every hole, something of that nature.”

Oakmont is hosting the U.S. Open for the 10th time. The United States Golf Association (USGA) frequently returns here precisely because it provides the season`s most demanding challenge.

Justin Thomas, after a practice round two weeks prior, added, “I would say all of the rumors and everything are pretty on point.”

Here`s a breakdown of the field, categorized by their potential performance:

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Tier I: The Clear Favorite

It seems like men`s professional golf currently revolves around Scottie Scheffler, with everyone else simply observing his next move. After winning last month`s PGA Championship to complement his two Masters victories, Scheffler could achieve three-fourths of the career Grand Slam with a win this Sunday.

Scottie Scheffler

Dismiss any notion of a slow start for Scheffler. The world No. 1 arrives at Oakmont Country Club on another dominant run, having won three of his last four starts (by a combined 17 strokes!), including his 16th PGA Tour victory at the Memorial Tournament. He`s performing like Mariano Rivera during the final nine holes on Sunday, successfully converting each of his last seven 54-hole leads.

Oakmont holds positive memories; he shot a 1-under 69 in his first major round at the 2016 U.S. Open here as a 19-year-old sophomore from the University of Texas. He missed the cut by one shot after an 8-over 78 in the second round. If he maintains accuracy off the tee, he will be exceptionally difficult to beat.

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Tier II: The Guys Who Can Win

These players are legitimate contenders for the U.S. Open title. They possess the skill, resilience, and composure required to navigate four high-pressure rounds on a course traditionally set up as the most challenging of the majors.

Bryson DeChambeau

DeChambeau claimed his second U.S. Open title at Pinehurst, despite missing nearly half the fairways (57%) over four rounds. His victory was built on outdriving the field (averaging 310.9 yards), hitting greens, and exceptional putting. He`ll need greater accuracy off the tee at Oakmont and has expressed dissatisfaction with his iron play at the Masters and PGA Championship. Nonetheless, he has finished tied for sixth or better in five of the last six majors.

Rory McIlroy

Rory aims to overcome the disappointment of last year`s U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, where he lost a 2-stroke lead with five holes remaining and missed short putts on Nos. 16 and 18, finishing one shot behind DeChambeau. McIlroy missed the cut in his only previous start at Oakmont nine years ago. His confidence off the tee seems low currently; he missed the cut at last week`s RBC Canadian Open after hitting only 13 of 28 fairways in two rounds. McIlroy planned to test several new drivers over the weekend.

Collin Morikawa

The two-time major champion has been a runner-up twice this season, at the Sentry and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Morikawa hasn`t won in over 19 months; his last tour victory was at the Zozo Championship in Japan in October 2023. That winless streak is bound to end soon. He is remarkably accurate off the tee (72.9%) and is a world-class ball striker (67.6% greens in regulation).

Jon Rahm

The LIV Golf League star briefly challenged Scheffler on the back nine of the PGA Championship final round but faltered late. Rahm, the 2021 U.S. Open winner at Torrey Pines, has finished tied for 12th or better in four of his last five appearances in this tournament. He was highly inaccurate off the tee at Quail Hollow, which would be detrimental this week.

Russell Henley

Henley secured his fifth PGA Tour win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and followed it with a tie for eighth at the RBC Heritage and fifth at the Memorial. He tied for seventh in the 2024 U.S. Open at 1 under. Henley ranks 16th on tour in strokes gained: approach (.538) and 11th around the green (.393). He`s also tied for 12th in driving accuracy (67.7%), which will be advantageous at Oakmont.

Sepp Straka

Straka is one of the tour`s more underrated golfers, with two wins already this season at the American Express and Truist Championship. He also has five top-10s and 11 top-25s in 13 starts, nearly guaranteeing his spot on the European Ryder Cup team. He`ll seek a better performance this week after missing cuts at the Masters and PGA Championship. He is accurate off the tee (68.5% fairways hit), leads the tour in greens in regulation (71.4%), and ranks 17th in strokes gained: putting (.427).

Xander Schauffele

Schauffele`s putting appears to be improving, which was perhaps his only weakness since recovering from a rib injury. He could capture the third leg of a career Grand Slam after winning the PGA Championship and Open Championship last year. Notably, he has finished in the top 10 in seven of his eight U.S. Open starts, including a tie for seventh last year.

Ludvig Åberg

Inconsistency is perhaps the only barrier preventing Åberg from being at the very top of the sport. The 25-year-old Swedish golfer won the Genesis Invitational and finished solo seventh at the Masters. Surprisingly, he ranks 77th in strokes gained: total (.214), 109th in approach (-.025), and 129th in putting (-.144). Despite this, his game seems well-suited for a U.S. Open victory.

Hideki Matsuyama

The 2019 Masters champion missed the cut at the PGA Championship, ending his streak of playing the weekend in 19 consecutive majors. He has finished in the top 10 in two of the last three U.S. Opens, although his driving accuracy (55.3%) could be a concern at Oakmont.

Justin Thomas

JT`s hot start to the season, featuring a playoff win at the RBC Heritage and three runner-up finishes, has cooled somewhat. He missed the cut at the PGA Championship and tied for 31st at the Memorial, hindered by an opening-round 80, though he played much better over the weekend.

Shane Lowry

Excluding a missed cut at the PGA Championship, the Irishman has played consistently as he prepares for his return in July to Royal Portrush, site of his last individual PGA Tour win at the 2019 Open Championship. He was a runner-up at the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont, finishing three shots behind winner Dustin Johnson after holding a 4-shot lead entering the final round.

Harris English

The 35-year-old won his fifth tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January and then tied for second at the PGA Championship, his best major finish. If he sharpens his iron play and short game, his putting is strong enough to put him in contention again.

Patrick Cantlay

It`s been over 2½ years since Cantlay`s last victory, but he was in contention on the back nine of the final round at Pinehurst, where he tied for third at 4 under. He ranks in the top 10 in strokes gained: total (1.124) and approach (.628).

Justin Rose

The 2013 U.S. Open champion was runner-up at the 2024 Open Championship and lost in a playoff to McIlroy at the Masters in April, indicating he`s still capable of contending. However, he has missed the cut in four of his last five U.S. Open starts.

Tommy Fleetwood

Fleetwood has consistently finished in the top 25 this season, doing so in all but two of his 12 tour starts. He tied for fourth at the Charles Schwab Challenge and 16th at the Memorial. He is still seeking his first elusive PGA Tour victory.

Viktor Hovland

Hovland`s ongoing struggles with his swing continue, but he seemed more comfortable recently. He remains an excellent iron player and hits enough fairways, but his short game and putting on Oakmont`s difficult greens will be critical.

Aaron Rai

If hitting fairways is key at Oakmont, no one on tour does it better than Rai, who leads in driving accuracy (73.4%). He will need a better performance on the greens as well.

Tyrrell Hatton

USGA course setups don`t typically suit Hatton`s style. He has only one top-10 finish, tying for sixth in 2018 at Shinnecock Hills. However, he has been playing like one of the world`s best golfers for some time now.

Corey Conners

The Canadian golfer hits most fairways (68.8%) and greens (70%) and has improved his putting this season. He tied for ninth at Pinehurst last season.

Ben Griffin

It`s remarkable to think the former North Carolina star was working as a mortgage loan officer just four years ago and almost quit golf. Griffin won the team event in New Orleans with Andrew Novak and then secured his first individual title at the Charles Schwab Challenge. He was runner-up at last week`s Memorial Tournament and appears to be in excellent form, even in his first U.S. Open appearance.

Joaquín Niemann

A four-time winner on the LIV Golf League this year, Niemann finally achieved a top-10 finish in a major, tying for eighth at the PGA Championship. This could be the breakthrough he needed to become a factor in the major championships.

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Tier III: If Everything Goes Right

These are potential sleeper candidates who could lift the U.S. Open trophy on Sunday. This tier includes past major champions, emerging talents, and other players whose games have been developing this season. Can everything align for them at Oakmont?

Tony Finau

Finau seems to have found form with top-20 finishes at the Truist Championship and PGA Championship. He tied for third last year after a final round 3-under 67.

Brian Harman

Harman won the 2023 Open Championship in challenging conditions and has made the cut in his last five U.S. Open appearances, tying for 21st at Pinehurst. He won the Valero Texas Open in April and tied for third at the RBC Heritage.

Cameron Smith

Smith`s renowned putting ability seems well-suited for Oakmont. However, he has missed the cut in his last three majors, leading some to question if his LIV Golf schedule provides sufficient preparation to contend consistently.

Matt Fitzpatrick

Fitzpatrick`s tie for eighth at the PGA Championship suggests his game is returning to form. He won the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club in difficult conditions.

Jordan Spieth

Since becoming the youngest U.S. Open winner since Bobby Jones (at Chambers Bay in 2015), Spieth has recorded only one top-20 finish in nine starts, tying for 19th four years ago.

Brooks Koepka

The two-time U.S. Open champion used to arrive at majors with supreme confidence. He hasn`t had a top-10 finish in a major since winning his third PGA Championship title in 2023 and missed the cut in the first two majors this year.

Min Woo Lee

`Dr. Chipinski` has three consecutive strong finishes in the U.S. Open, including a tie for fifth at Los Angeles Country Club two years ago. His form has been inconsistent since the Masters.

Sam Burns

After struggling heading into the Masters, Burns has played better golf in recent months. He seems to have made a breakthrough in majors with a tie for ninth in the 2024 U.S. Open, and he leads the PGA Tour in strokes gained: putting, which will be a significant asset on Oakmont`s intimidating greens.

Ryan Fox

The New Zealander earned an exemption by defeating Burns in a playoff at the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday. This was Fox`s second win in four starts; he also won the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic.

Andrew Novak

Novak has been one of the season`s biggest surprises, winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with Griffin and losing to Thomas in a playoff at the RBC Heritage. This is only his second U.S. Open appearance.

Patrick Reed

Reed frequently appears on the leaderboard on Sundays at Augusta National but hasn`t achieved similar success in the other three majors. His only U.S. Open top-10 was solo fourth in 2018.

Robert MacIntyre

The Scottish golfer won two national championships last year: the Canadian Open and Scottish Open. He would like to add a U.S. Open title and described Oakmont as “absolute carnage on a simulator, never mind the actual event.”

Daniel Berger

Berger has a couple of U.S. Open top-10 finishes in his career and was playing well before back-to-back missed cuts at the Charles Schwab Challenge and the Memorial.

Davis Riley

Riley had a breakthrough at the PGA Championship, tying for second at 6 under, his best finish in a major.

Tom Kim

Kim has three consecutive finishes of 26th or better in the U.S. Open, including a tie for eighth in 2023. He has struggled over the past two months on tour.

Maverick McNealy

This is McNealy`s first U.S. Open start since he qualified as an 18-year-old amateur at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2014.

Akshay Bhatia

After a dip in form in April and early May, Bhatia has played better recently. He tied for 16th in the 2024 U.S. Open and possesses the shots needed to contend, particularly on the greens.

Thomas Detry

Detry isn`t particularly accurate off the tee (56.6%) and has struggled with his irons, but he is an excellent putter and tied for 14th at Pinehurst No. 2 last year.

Si Woo Kim

What other remarkable feats does Kim have in store after recording the longest ace in major championship history on the 252-yard, par-3 sixth hole at Quail Hollow Club during the PGA Championship?

Keegan Bradley

The U.S. Ryder Cup team captain has missed the cut at the U.S. Open in four of his last six starts. He tied for seventh in 2022.

Jason Day

Day tied for eighth at 2 over the last time the U.S. Open was held at Oakmont. He hasn`t competed on tour since missing the cut at the PGA Championship due to a wrist injury sustained while moving a bike.

J.T. Poston

Poston tied for fifth at the PGA Championship, his best major finish, and his form was trending well before a missed cut at the Memorial.

Denny McCarthy

McCarthy has three consecutive solid U.S. Open finishes, tying for seventh in 2022, and his putting gives him a chance to make some noise.

Michael Kim

Kim`s hot streak from the spring, which included five consecutive top-15 finishes, has cooled off. This is only his third U.S. Open start; he was low amateur and tied for 17th in 2013.

Davis Thompson

Thompson tied for ninth at Pinehurst No. 2 last year, his best major finish. The 26-year-old is highly talented but still working on consistency.

Dustin Johnson

DJ overcame a scoring controversy in the final round to win the last U.S. Open played at Oakmont. He has not been a factor in majors over the past two seasons.

Wyndham Clark

Clark`s form has been declining for weeks, and his inaccuracy off the tee (56.5%) and struggling iron play (63.8%) are likely not conducive to success at Oakmont.

Sungjae Im

He is another golfer who keeps his tee shots relatively straight (68.7%), although he has missed the cut in his last three starts in this tournament.

J.J. Spaun

Spaun has been a runner-up twice on tour this season, losing to McIlroy in a playoff at the Players. He missed the cut in his only previous U.S. Open start in 2021.

Jacob Bridgeman

The former Clemson star could be a dark horse contender this week. He is one of the best putters on tour, has four top-10 finishes, and performed well at Oakmont during the 2021 U.S. Amateur.

Rasmus Højgaard

Højgaard is a five-time winner on the DP World Tour. He missed the cut in his only previous U.S. Open start in 2020.

Joe Highsmith

Highsmith has been a breakout player this season, winning the Cognizant Classic and tying for eighth at the PGA Championship.

Ryan Gerard

Gerard will look to build on his surprising tie for eighth at the PGA Championship.

Lucas Glover

Glover`s putting has cooled again, which has limited his contention this season. He played in two previous U.S. Opens at Oakmont, in 2007 and 2016, missing the cut in both.

Matthieu Pavon

Pavon became the first French golfer to win on the PGA Tour in January 2024 with a victory at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, a U.S. Open course. He finished solo fifth at Pinehurst No. 2 last year.

Nick Taylor

The Canadian golfer has five PGA Tour wins but is still seeking major championship success.

Taylor Pendrith

Another Canadian golfer, Pendrith, has finished in the top 20 in two of his last three majors, tying for 16th at the 2024 U.S. Open and fifth at last month`s PGA Championship.

Adam Scott

The 2013 Masters champion`s peak years are likely behind him. He has only one top-10 finish in a major since tying for seventh at the 2019 U.S. Open.

Cameron Young

Young, once ranked 13th in the world, had to go through final qualifying to make the field. He has played better recently.

Bud Cauley

After missing over three seasons due to injuries from a 2018 car accident, Cauley returns to the U.S. Open for the first time in eight years.

Stephan Jager

Jäger, from Germany, tied for 21st in the 2024 U.S. Open. He started strong at the PGA Championship before fading on the weekend.

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Tier IV: Hey, Miracles Happen

These are the long shots. This tier includes a few older former major champions and PGA Tour regulars who would need an exceptional week.

Could Vegas replicate his performance at the PGA Championship, where he held the 18- and 36-hole leads and tied for fifth at 5 under? He has never finished in the top 40 in the U.S. Open.

Woodland won the 2019 U.S. Open, Kirk is a six-time tour winner, and Leishman has won 14 times globally, including once in the LIV Golf League. They are certainly capable of putting together four solid rounds if their game peaks.

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Tier V: Happy to Make the Cut

These players are not generally expected to contend unless something unusual occurs.

Mickelson, a six-time major champion, recently acknowledged this might be his final opportunity to complete the career Grand Slam. This is the last year of his five-year exemption from winning the 2021 PGA Championship, where he became the oldest major winner. Mickelson, 54, has been a U.S. Open runner-up six times, most recently in 2013. He has missed the cut in four of his last five starts in the event and hasn`t finished in the top 40 since tying for 28th in 2014.

Dunlap won twice on tour last season, once as an amateur and again as a rookie after turning pro. However, he has struggled significantly since then, missing the cut in six of his last nine starts and failing to make the weekend in any of his five major appearances over the past two seasons.

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Tier VI: The Qualifiers

This group includes the remaining players among the 65 qualifiers who are not PGA Tour regulars and not listed in the tiers above or below. They secured their spots through local and final qualifying. Lucas Glover in 2009 was the last qualifier to win the U.S. Open.

Nicholas, from New York, played football for one season at Yale and was on their golf team for four. His grandfather, Dr. James A. Nicholas, was an orthopedic surgeon who operated on Jets quarterback Joe Namath`s knee four times. Nicholas was the Ivy League Player of the Year in 2019.

Hicks, 50, remarkably shared the first-round lead at 3 under in the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, where Tiger Woods defeated Rocco Mediate. Hicks, now a golf instructor in Florida, tied for 74th at 17 over in that event.

Haefner, a Wayne State University alumnus, had one of the most dramatic finishes during qualifying, sinking a 60-foot putt on the 36th hole to be the medalist at Springfield Country Club in Ohio.

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Tier VII: The Amateurs

These amateur players will compete, aiming to follow in the footsteps of stars like Cantlay, Mickelson, Rahm, and Spieth who earned low amateur honors at the U.S. Open before turning professional.

There are a substantial 15 amateurs in the field, with nine advancing through final qualifying, many of whom have compelling backstories.

Vogt, 34, grew up in Pittsburgh and was previously a caddie at Oakmont. He played at Butler University and now works as a dentist in Indianapolis. He was the medalist in qualifying in Washington, wearing a ribbon on his hat in tribute to his recently deceased father, who used to follow his scores on his phone.

Howell, 17, is a rising high school senior from Georgia. He shot 18 under without a bogey over two rounds during qualifying on June 2 and is committed to the University of Georgia for 2026.

La Sasso, an Ole Miss junior, qualified by winning last month`s NCAA Division I individual national championship. The All-American set the program`s lowest scoring average (69.48) and won three times last season. Tankersley, his Ole Miss teammate, made the field through open qualifying.

Gutschewski recently graduated from Westside High School in Nebraska and is heading to the University of Florida. His father, Scott, is a three-time Korn Ferry Tour winner, and his older brother, Luke, played at Iowa State. Gutschewski earned his U.S. Open spot by winning the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur.