Sleeper picks to win 2026 US Open include 125/1 debutant and an unlucky American 

The stars of the golfing world will head to the iconic Shinnecock Hills Golf Club for the 2026 US Open.

Following Rory McIlroy’s repeat Masters win and Aaron Rai claiming PGA Championship glory, the third major of the summer is already upon us.

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As usual, the likes of McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm are among the favourites to win the 126th edition of the famous tournament.

But there are plenty of players in form further down the bookies’ lists that are looking to claim victory too.

Shinnecock is one of the toughest venues in major golf and will provide a wicked test for the 156 players in the field.

Here’s talkSPORT.com’s picks for who could win one of the greatest events in the game…

Tyrrell Hatton 33/1

Hatton won LIV Golf Andalucia in stunning style last time out, beating Jon Rahm by two strokes.

He has been in promising form all year and his victory in Spain should give him plenty of confidence to excel in another major.

Hatton came third at The Masters in April and was also fourth at the US Open last year.

While he was poor at the PGA Championship last month, the Englishman has been knocking on the door of major glory for several years.

In another good omen, Hatton was also brilliant in the 2018 US Open which was held at Shinnecock, finishing T6.

Justin Thomas 35/1

JT was battling injury at the start of the season but is now fully fit again and will be eyeing his third major crown.

He has performed well in his last five events without being at his very best but there have been signs that his top form is returning.

He was fourth at the PGA Championship last month, shooting a stunning final round 65 to put himself in contention for a third Wanamaker Trophy.

While he has become something of a PGA Championship specialist, Thomas has struggled at the US Open, missing the cut in his last three events.

But he has the perfect creative game to deal with the difficulties of Shinnecock and should be a factor in New York.

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Sam Burns 45/1

Burns’ display at the US Open last year will go down as one of golf’s most unlucky final rounds.

Burns looked set for glory at Oakmont before an untimely weather delay and some dodgy rulings against him saw him drop six shots in his last eight holes to fall out of contention.

But the 29-year-old is in fine form again heading to Shinnecock.

He was fourth at Memorial last time out and has also performed well at Pebble Beach, The Players and The Masters this year.

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Wyndham Clark 50/1

Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka have both won two US Open titles in the last nine years and now Clark will hope to continue that trend.

Clark won his US Open by holding off McIlroy at LA Country Club in 2023.

And the 32-year-old is looking good heading to Long Island.

In his last two starts, Clark has won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and finished third at Memorial.

While he missed the cut at Aronimink, he did also play some nice golf at The Masters last month and came fourth at The Open last summer.

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Alex Fitzpatrick 125/1

Fitzpatrick has enjoyed a storybook year so far.

After winning the Hero Indian Open in March, Fitzy then linked up with his brother Matt to claim glory in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

That team event victory granted the younger Fitzpatrick sibling a two-and-a-half-year PGA Tour exemption and he has been superb in America since.

In his three starts since joining the tour, Fitzpatrick has finished T9 at the Cadillac, fourth at the Truist and T6 last time out at Memorial.

He will now be making his US Open debut and will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Matt again, who won the major at The Country Club in 2022.