2026 U.S. Open Betting Preview: Scheffler Chases the Career Grand Slam at Shinnecock

The 126th U.S. Open tees off Thursday at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York, and the storylines are massive. The 7,440-yard, par-70 layout is famous for its punishing fescue rough and deep bunkers, making it one of the toughest tests in golf. The Favorite: Scottie Scheffler (+550) World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler arrives as the betting favorite, and for good reason. He is chasing history. A win this week would make him the seventh player to complete the career Grand Slam. Scheffler leads the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Total and Tee-to-Green, which is exactly the recipe needed to survive Shinnecock. He finished second at the Masters and T14 at the PGA Championship earlier this year. At +550, the number is short, but his ball-striking makes him impossible to ignore. The Contenders: McIlroy and Rahm Rory McIlroy (+1200) is the second choice on the board. He won the Masters in April and finished T7 at the PGA Championship. He missed the cut the last time the U.S. Open was at Shinnecock in 2018, but his current form is undeniable. Jon Rahm (+1300) is right behind him. The 2021 U.S. Open champion at Torrey Pines is coming off a T2 finish at the PGA Championship. His power off the tee will be an asset, but his ability to scramble around these massive greens will determine his fate. The Defending Champion and the Field J.J. Spaun (+5000) returns as the defending champion after his surprise victory in 2025. Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau (+3000), a two-time U.S. Open winner (2020, 2024), is seeing his odds drop as bettors look elsewhere after he missed the cut in the first two majors of the year. SBA Takeaway Shinnecock Hills demands patience and precision. You cannot overpower this golf course if you are missing fairways. Look closely at players who rank high in bogey avoidance and scrambling. Cameron Young (+2000) is an intriguing local angle. The New York native already has two wins this season and ranks sixth in bogey avoidance. --- Related reading: - Omaha Field Betting Test Shows Value in Underdogs - MLB Parity Creates June Pricing Opportunities