US Open value: Extra room off the tee should serve Scottie Scheffler

Three worth a flutter at Shinnecock Hills

SURE THING: Scottie Scheffler watches his tee shot on the 14th hole during a practice round for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. Pic: AP Photo/David J. Phillip.

1. Sure Thing

Despite not winning since January, Scottie Scheffler is about as solid as one gets these days. Yes, he’s had some struggles at times, has not always been the 'cert' of past seasons when he won three of his four major titles, including last year’s Open at Royal Portrush.

But Scheffler has set such a high standard. On the PGA Tour, he is first in total driving, first in greens in regulation, second in scrambling and 28th in total putting. That latter number is still excellent, but perhaps the reason the wins have not been as frequent in 2026.

The extra room off the tee should serve Scheffler well, he remains an elite iron player, and doesn’t have to be a birdie machine to win at Shinnecock. A victory all means the career Grand Slam.

2. Hot Streak

Wyndham Clark comes into the US Open playing some of his best golf since winning the title at Los Angeles Country Club three years ago. His victory last month at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson was epic as he shot a back-nine 28 and a final-round 60 to win for the first time in nearly two years.

USA's Wyndham Clark 

That put a lot of doubts to rest, and he followed with a third-place finish at the Memorial and a tie for 11th at the Canadian Open, where he went low on Saturday.

Confidence can’t hurt, nor can a previous US Open win in the memory banks. Those wider fairways might also be a benefit for a player who hits it plenty far.

3. Outside Shot

Patrick Reed has been quiet these days. Not because he hasn’t played good golf. More because, well, he hasn’t played. Reed, who built his early career around playing all the time, has not played since a tie for 10th at the PGA Championship. Before that? A tie for 12th at the Masters.

Reed, the 2018 US Open champion, surprisingly jumped from LIV Golf in January and immediately used his DP World Tour membership to win twice in the Middle East sandwiched around a playoff loss. He leads the Race to Dubai standings and is on his way to regaining his full PGA Tour privileges next year.

The US Open has not been Reed’s best major, but he did finish fourth at Shinnecock Hills in 2018.