Scheffler Chases History As Shinnecock Promises Brutal U.S. Open Test

BusinessSportsMoneyScheffler Chases History As Shinnecock Promises Brutal U.S. Open TestByErik Matuszewski,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Erik Matuszewski's coverage spans golf businesses, news & destinationsFollow AuthorJun 16, 2026, 07:00pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.SummaryScottie Scheffler enters the U.S. Open as the +455 favorite, aiming for a historic win on his 30th birthday. No golfer has ever won a major on their birthday, and Scheffler could also achieve the career Grand Slam. Despite being the world No. 1 for 161 weeks, his 2026 season has been marked by slow starts, though he remains a consistent contender with three runner-up finishes. Scheffler, who has won three majors since 2024, downplays the Grand Slam pressure, focusing on execution at the challenging Shinnecock Hills. The course's fescue, wind, and greens demand patience, with only three players finishing under par in its modern U.S. Open history. Rory McIlroy is the second favorite, leading a strong European contingent, while Americans like Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka also contend.Show More Scottie Scheffler tees off during a practice round ahead of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)Getty ImagesNo golfer has ever won a major championship on his birthday.Scottie Scheffler could change that this Sunday, the day he turns 30, and earn an even more permanent spot in the sport’s history as just the seventh golfer to claim the career Grand Slam (all four men’s majors). Scheffler is the +455 favorite at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on New York’s Long Island, marking the 15th consecutive major he’s entered as the oddsmakers’ favorite or co-favorite to win. This stretch includes every major since the start of 2023, when he returned to Augusta Nat...