It is incredibly difficult to look past Scottie Scheffler when it comes to the player best placed to win the US Open, with the world number one in sublime form heading into Oakmont.
Scottie Scheffler has won on three of his last four starts, including at the PGA Championship. The smallest margin of victory in that run was four shots.
Oakmont is about as thorough an examination as there is. The rough is brutally thick, while the greens are about as unforgiving as it gets. With that, Scheffler’s ability to remain calm and hit the correct shot time and time again appears to make him the overwhelming favourite.
But Scheffler is surely due an off-week at some stage in the coming months. And if it comes this week, there are a number of outstanding players who will have their eyes on the prize.
The players backed to win the US Open if Scottie Scheffler does not triumph
Bryson DeChambeau is the defending champion this week following his victory at Pinehurst last year. The LIV Golf star has found a way to seemingly peak during the majors.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy has a point to prove after a disappointing few weeks. And he has an outstanding record in the US Open, having finished in the top 10 six years running.
It is a similar story for Xander Schauffele, who has never finished lower than 14th at the US Open. But speaking on Dan on Golf, Alan Shipnuck and Dan Rapaport opted for two other names as their picks.
“Beware of Jon Rahm. I think he is peaking and I think what happened in Charlotte really wounded him. He is a man of immense pride and game. He would be my choice B,” Shipnuck said.
“My choice B is Collin Morikawa. I think as I have seen the golf course more and more this week it’s less about length and more about hitting it straight and Collin has been very good at hitting it straight,” Rapaport responded.
How Collin Morikawa and Jon Rahm have performed in the US Open during their careers
Morikawa could move a Masters win away from completing the career grand slam this week. He has not finished outside the top 14 in the last four US Opens.
Meanwhile, Rahm won the event in 2021 at Torrey Pines. He also managed to finish third in 2019 at Pebble Beach.
The Spaniard did miss last year’s event at Pinehurst due to injury. But he has not had a poor finish in the US Open since 2018 when he missed the cut.
And given how he was able to draw level with Scheffler at the PGA Championship last month, it would be no surprise at all to see him in the mix again this week.
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