US Open 2026 Golf Schedule, Dates & Results

US Open Golf Event Overview

The third major championship of the 2026 PGA Tour season is upon us with the game’s best assembling in Southampton, New York for the 126th playing of the US Open. The field of 156 golfers is made up of players who gain entry through qualifying and those who are exempt from qualifying.

Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 ranked player in the world, leads the field as the PGA golf betting favorite and looks to become the second player in the last year to complete the career Grand Slam. Scheffler has finished among the top 7 four times in his last five US Opens with a pair of podiums.

Rory McIlroy became the sixth golfer to achieve the career Grand Slam with his 2025 triumph at the Masters. He’s positioned as the second favorite with a host of challengers vying for the open championship of golf in the United States.

What Makes the US Open One of Golf’s Biggest Events

One of golf’s marquee events, the US Open plays the best courses with notoriously difficult arrangements. And unlike other major championships, the US Open has a process that allows thousands of hopefuls a chance to qualify to play alongside the biggest names in the sport. In 2026 the field is expected to have a record number of amateurs competing.

The US Open is also the ultimate test of skill with venues transformed to test the patience and precision of the best players. Last year’s winner J.J. Spaun finished 1-under and won by two swings. Only twice in the last eight years did the winner finish 10-under or better and 2018 titlist Brooks Koepka was 1-over par.

And there are the privileges of being a major championship winner with a hefty payday and the perks that come with it. The US Open champ is automatically invited to play in the other majors for the next five years and is exempt from qualifying for the U.S. Open for 10 years.

A Major Championship With a Historic Legacy

The legacy of the US Open is rooted in nearly 130 years of intense competition. The tournament has evolved from a one-day, 36-hole event into one of the largest golf spectacles on the planet known for iconic moments.

Why the US Open Is Known for Tough Conditions

The United States Golf Association (USGA) deliberately designs the US Open to be golf’s ultimate challenge with even-par a competitive and sometimes winning score. The setup forces players to shift their strategy from a standard Tour event.

US Open 2026 Dates and Full Tournament Schedule

The 2026 US Open will be played over four days at historic Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York. First round tees off on Thursday, June 18 with final round play on Sunday, June 21. The U.S. Open schedule has the first group of players teeing off at 6:35 a.m. ET with the final threesome going off at 11:42 a.m. ET.

The field for the weekend will be limited to the lowest 60 scores and ties, which is a slight deviation from other majors that advance the top 70 and ties. Also, the U.S. Open does not use the 10-shot rule.

Practice Rounds, Opening Round and Final Round

The US Open schedule has designated official practice rounds for the 156-player field on Tuesday, June 16 and Wednesday, June 17. Check local listings for television coverage on Golf Channel.

The first round of the 2026 US Open is set to begin at 6:35 a.m. ET on June 18 with groups of three players starting at the first and 10th holes. The final two groups will tee off at 11:42 a.m. ET. The final round takes place on Sunday, June 21 with exact times and pairings to be determined at the conclusion of the third round.

Key Times Fans Should Watch

With expanded coverage available on several media outlets, fans can watch the 2026 US Open at just about any time. Sunday’s final round and the last several holes in particular are times to watch for those who don’t have an entire weekend to spend staring at the TV or computer screen.

How to Watch the US Open 2026 Live

Broadcast windows will produce nearly 50 hours of US Open live television coverage over the entirety of the tournament. NBC and USA Network will provide extensive television coverage of the 2026 US Open with seven hours dedicated by NBC to Sunday’s final round. As a bonus to viewers the final hour of Sunday’s competition will air commercial free on NBC.

TV Coverage and Streaming Options

Early first round action will air on USA Network with afternoon coverage on NBC Sports Network. NBCSN handles early second round play with NBC taking over the crucial late window to capture the intense Friday cut line drama.

Over the weekend USA Network provides early coverage until Noon ET with NBC taking over for the remainder of the day. Final round coverage is expected to last until 7 p.m. ET on NBC.

Peacock is the primary streaming home of the 2026 US Open and will carry all NBC and USA Network broadcasts in addition to some exclusive early morning coverage.

Live Updates, Leaderboards and Featured Groups

Featured groups and dedicated holes are available for streaming on digital platforms USOpen.com and the USGA app. NBC and USA broadcasts can be accessed using TV streaming platforms like YouTube TV, Hulu+ or fubo TV.

Follow live updates of the 2026 US Open at USOpen.com or through the official USGA app, which provides shot-by-shot data, real-time scoring and updated video highlights. Real time scoring and updated stats are provided through the PGA Tour leaderboard at PGATour.com.

Latest US Open Results and Tournament Highlights

Last year J.J. Spaun became the latest first time US Open winner topping the field by two swings as the only player to score under par. Spaun was the 18th first time winner in the last 21 tournaments with only Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods winning more than once in that span.

Koepka went back-to-back in 2017 and 2018 matching the lowest US Open-to-par score of 16-under in his first win. His second title was won with a score of 1-over par matching the highest winning score in the last nearly two decades.

With the sports best players competing against each other you might expect some close finishes. Four straight US Opens were decided by a single swing until Spaun ended the run last year. But there hasn’t been a playoff since Tiger Woods bested Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines 18 years ago.

Recent Champions and Winning Scores

• Spaun won his first major beating Robert McIntyre by two strokes in last year’s US Open. Six times in the last seven years a player earned his first major championship win at the US Open. The run started in 1999 with Gary Woodland and continued with DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick and Wyndham Clark in succession before Bryson won again in 2024. Spaun continued the streak of first time major winners last year.

• Woodlands 13-under 271 at Pebble Beach in 1999 is the lowest winning score since Koepka matched the record two years earlier. Clark in 2023 was the only other player to finish at 10-under or better with his 270.

• Four times in the last six years the winning to-par score was exactly 6-under. The aggregate changed with different pars at different venues.

• Shinnecock Hills will host for the sixth time and first since 2018 when no player finished with a score below par. Koepka won his second straight US Open that year beating Tommy Fleetwood by one shot at 1-over 281.

Biggest Moments From Recent US Open Tournaments

Trailing by four shots at the turn, Spaun rallied to birdie the final two holes in last year’s US Open at Oakmont to win his first major.

It came in a losing effort but Tommy Fleetwood put on a show in the final round of the 2018 US Open at Shinnecock hills matching a then tournament scoring record with a 63. He ended one shot off the lead and the score has been topped twice since, though it remains the lowest at the venue.

Players to Watch at the US Open 2026

It’s hard not to like Scheffler in any tournament and he’s due since his last win was in January. He has finished among the top four in more than half of his 11 starts since elevating to No. 1 in the world rankings. He’s also finished T7 twice with two podiums in his last five US Open starts.

It took McIlroy 11 years to win his career Grand Slam and I don’t think Scheffler wants to wait that long. He has a great chance as the betting favorite to get that out of the way in a hurry.

There are a lot of things pointing in the direction of Tommy Fleetwood. He’s looking for his first major triumph and we’ve discussed first time winners previously. Fleetwood also scorched the course for a tournament venue record 63 the last time the US Open was played at Shinnecock Hills. He also has two top 5s in his last four starts.

Favorites Entering the Tournament

Scheffler is a big US Open betting favorite at +550 to win and secure his career Grand Slam. He was also the PGA Tour betting favorite in each of the last three US Opens and had a best finish of T3 in 2023 three shots off the lead.

As has been the case in nearly every event they’ve played, McIlroy is the second favorite behind Scheffler priced around +1250. He leads a deep group of second tier favorites joined by Xander Schauffele, Jon Rahm and Matt Fitzpatrick.

Dark Horses and Breakout Candidates

• Cameron Young is a projected breakout candidate. Young is still searching for his first major title and enters the week in fine form after winning THE PLAYERS Championship and Cadillac Open earlier this season.

• David Puig also has breakout metrics with a strong season in LIV Golf. An elite ball striker with an efficient short game gives him the tools to succeed at Shinnecock Hills.

• There are players who stand out as dark horse candidates led by former Open Champion Cam Smith. Another player with a tactical game that suits the venue, Smith is searching for the result that gets him back in the headlines. He’s also accustomed to windy conditions that are famous at Shinnecock Hills.

• Russell Henley is a dark horse to win it all despite having shorter odds than one might expect. He leads the Tour in driving accuracy, which will save a lot of strokes on this course.

Past Champions Returning to the Field

The nine winners of the past 11 US Open tournaments and 12 total former winners are scheduled to peg it up this week. The earliest winner among the group is 2010 champ Graeme McDowell, who won at Pebble Beach. Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose are the other golfers who have not won in the past decade plus.

Course Preview and Event Conditions

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club is viewed as one of the strictest tests in major championship history. The course stretches to 7,440 yards at par 70 and routinely sees wind gusts reach up to 40 mph. The USGA is taking a different approach this year. Instead of tightening fairways the width has been expanded.

There are a number of obstacles players must deal with including the wind, hard greens and little to no fringe rough. Golfers have to be precise with their shots while navigating intense wind conditions.

Course Layout and Signature Holes

The course will look similar to what players dealt with in 2018 with only minor differences. On average fairways will be a few feet wider and the tee box at No. 16 has been altered. Players still have to work with the wind and fast greens.

One of the shorter holes on the layout, the 187-yard 7th features an aggressively sloped green that requires pinpoint accuracy. Missing long or short sends the ball off track leaving a nearly impossible up-and-down.

Weather, Rough and Greens to Watch

Situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Peconic Bay and exposed due to a lack of trees, the course is a wind tunnel with strong gusts. There is also very little fringe rough around the greens leaving wayward shots exposed to contoured edges and steep embankments.

Getting on the greens is just half the battle. Once there, strategy has to change dealing with hard, fast surfaces. And there aren’t many flat greens with most sloped in all directions. There is a reason why the last tournament at Shinnecock Hills saw the winning score over par.

US Open 2026 Bet Tips and Fan Interest

Each tournament and golf course offers its own unique set of challenges. Because Shinnecock Hills features windy conditions that resemble a links course and overall firm conditions, targeting accuracy off the tee and strong iron play are US Open bet tips to consider.

Tommy Fleetwood famously shot a course record 63 at Shinnecock Hills in 2018 finishing one swing away from his first win in a major championship. A links veteran, Fleetwood has to be considered in betting markets.

Why Betting Interest Increases During Majors

Marquee events in any sport draw increased interest and that’s the case in the golf world. Majors attract the strongest fields and the most attention with sportsbooks enlarging their betting menus for the increased traffic.

What Fans Usually Track Before the Event

In order to increase the chances of cashing a winning ticket certain variables have to be tracked and analyzed before the US Open begins. The setup of the US Open is intentionally designed to be a grueling test and unlike other events the host venue plays a large role.

Study the course set up and turf conditions to determine what players are a good fit. Weather also plays a role with some players able to navigate windy conditions better than others. Course stats aren’t a major factor since the US Open rotates venues, but current form and recent momentum are things to consider.

Final Thoughts on the US Open 2026

The US Open has been a prime tournament for first time major winners and the one player that stands out is Tommy Fleetwood. He’s in good form, a solid links player and that 63 from a few years ago is hard to ignore. He didn’t do much the rest of the tournament, but that alone is quite an accomplishment.

And Scottie Scheffler eyeing the career Grand Slam has to be considered in his first start at a testy Shinnecock Hills layout.