US Open '25: Players to watch at Oakmont for the US Open
This combo of file photos show golfers, from top left, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson, bottom row from left, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, Sepp Straka and Justin Thomas. (AP Photo/File)
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — Players to watch at the 125th U.S. Open, to be played June 12-15 at Oakmont Country Club:
Scottie Scheffler
Age: 29
Country: United States
World ranking: 1
Worldwide wins: 19
Majors: Masters (2022, 2024), PGA Championship (2025)
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U.S. Open appearances: 7
Best finish: Runner-up in 2022 at The Country Club
Backspin: The dominant player in golf the last three years, Scheffler has won three of his last four tournaments by a combined 17 shots. A victory would send him to the British Open with a shot at the career Grand Slam.
BetMGM Sportsbook odds: 3-1
Xander Schauffele
Age: 31
Country: United States
World ranking: 3
Worldwide wins: 12
Majors: PGA Championship (2024), British Open (2024)
U.S. Open appearances: 8
Best finish: Tie for third in 2019 at Pebble Beach
Backspin: Schauffele has played the U.S. Open more consistently better than the other three majors. The only time he has finished out of the top 10 was a tie for 14th in 2022. He is starting to find his form after missing two months with a rib injury.
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BetMGM Sportsbook odds: 16-1
Jon Rahm
Age: 30
Country: Spain
World ranking: 76
Worldwide wins: 22
Majors: Masters (2023), U.S. Open (2021)
U.S. Open appearances: 8
Best finish: Won at Torrey Pines in 2021
Backspin: Rahm pushed Scheffler down the stretch at the PGA Championship, his first time seriously contending in a major since joining LIV Golf. He has yet to win on LIV Golf this year. Rahm was low amateur at Oakmont in the 2016 U.S. Open.
BetMGM Sportsbook odds: 11-1
Rory McIlroy
Age: 36
Country: Northern Ireland
World ranking: 2
Worldwide wins: 40
Majors: Masters (2025), PGA Championship (2012, 2014), U.S. Open (2011), British Open (2014)
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U.S. Open appearances: 16
Best finish: Won at Congressional in 2011
Backspin: McIlroy achieved a lifetime dream by winning the Masters in April to complete the career Grand Slam. He was never a factor in the PGA Championship and gained more attention for declining to speak to the media after all four rounds. Driving is key. He missed the cut at Oakmont in 2016.
BetMGM Sportsbook odds: 7-1
Bryson DeChambeau
Age: 31
Country: United States
World ranking: 10
Worldwide wins: 13
Majors: U.S. Open (2020, 2024)
U.S. Open appearances: 10
Best finish: Won at Winged Foot in 2020 and Pinehurst No. 2 in 2024
Backspin: DeChambeau has become golf's best entertainer and LIV's biggest threat in the majors. He has finished in the top 5 in four of his last five majors. He tied for 15th at Oakmont in 2016 in his first U.S. Open as a pro.
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BetMGM Sportsbook odds: 8-1
Justin Thomas
Age: 32
Country: United States
World ranking: 5
Worldwide wins: 16
Majors: PGA Championship (2017, 2022)
U.S. Open appearances: 10
Best finish: Tie for eighth in 2020 at Winged Foot
Backspin: He won the RBC Heritage to end three years without a victory but already was showing he was back to his old form. Thomas has not finished in the top 10 in his last four majors.
BetMGM Sportsbook odds: 25-1
Brooks Koepka
Age: 35
Country: United States
World ranking: 404
Worldwide wins: 17
Majors: U.S. Open (2017, 2018), PGA Championship (2018, 2019, 2023)
U.S. Open appearances: 11
Best finish: Won at Erin Hills in 2017 and at Shinnecock Hills in 2018
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Backspin: Each major brings more attention on Koepka, who has not finished one in the top 10 since he won the PGA Championship in 2023. He has missed the cut in both majors this year.
BetMGM Sportsbook odds: 40-1
Sepp Straka
Age: 32
Country: Austria
World ranking: 7
Worldwide wins: 4
Majors: None
U.S. Open appearances: 4
Best finish: Tie for 28th at Pebble Beach in 2019
Backspin: He quietly has become one of the biggest threats in golf with his ball striking. Straka joins Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy as the only multiple winners on the PGA Tour. The majors are the next frontier. He has missed the cut in both of them this year.
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BetMGM Sportsbook odds: 40-1
Dustin Johnson
Age: 40
Country: United States
World ranking: 854
Worldwide wins: 29
Majors: Masters (2020), U.S. Open (2016)
U.S. Open appearances: 17
Best finish: Won at Oakmont in 2016
Backspin: Johnson returns to the site of his first major championship at somewhat of a crossroads. He feels his game is close. The results suggest otherwise. He is going on 16 months without a win anywhere. He has missed the cut in five of his last seven majors.
BetMGM Sportsbook odds: 125-1
Phil Mickelson
Age: 54
Country: United States
World ranking: 1,162
Worldwide wins: 47
Majors: Masters (2004, 2006, 2010), PGA Championship (2005, 2021), British Open (2013)
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U.S. Open appearances: 33
Best finish: Runner-up a record six times, most recently in 2013 at Merion
Backspin: This will be Mickelson's 34th U.S. Open and possibly his last. His exemption from winning the PGA Championship runs out this year. Mickelson already received one special exemption in 2021 (that he didn't need when he won the PGA). He has missed the cut in five of his last eight U.S. Opens.
BetMGM Sportsbook odds: 300-1
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
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