This year will be the 126th edition of the U.S. Open. It takes place in June and will be held at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. Golf has four major annual events, and this is the third one. It consists of four rounds on an 18-hole course. The event is known to push the best golf players in the world to their limits.
Even among the majors, measuring the winner’s final score against par shows how difficult it is. The goal of the organizer is for the winning score to be between even par and a few under.
Who participates?
To enter an open qualifier, an amateur golfer must have a USGA handicap index of 0.4 or better. In 2026, over 10,200 professional and amateur golfers applied. The USGA (United States Golf Association) has exemption categories for players, and so almost half of the 156 players on the field earn their way directly to the championship. The other players must go through the qualifying events, and only two of these players have ever won.
In the past, British and American golfers tended to win the event. However, since 1965, winners have come from as far afield as South Africa, Argentina, and Australia. Jon Rahm was the first Spanish winner.
This year’s field is already shaping up to be a strong one. And golf fans who want to bet from Pennsylvania and other states where sports betting is legal are already likely to be speculating about who will win the event, and Scottie Schauffler is a favorite. Last year, J.J. Spaun won his first major title.
The venue
The U.S. Open is a serious test for golfers, and every year the USGA must choose a course. These courses typically favor long but highly accurate drives. The course at Pebble Beach is a favorite of many golfers, and the 2027 U.S. Open will be held there.
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club is an appropriate venue for one of the major golf events of the year, as it is one of the oldest clubs. It is also one of five clubs founded by the USGA and has already hosted the event five times. The layout of the course on Long Island makes use of the natural terrain and wind sweeping off the Atlantic Ocean. It has angles and shots even the best golfers find challenging.
The course consistently produces dramatic leaderboards as power alone is never enough. Strategy and discipline can neutralize pure power. It isn’t enough for players to overpower the course – they must think their way around it. A single mistake can quickly lead to a double or triple bogey.
Recovery shots aren’t easy, and players often must scramble just to make par. Brooks Koepka was one player who had brutal conditions under which to defend his title in 2018.
The format and media coverage
The practice rounds are on Monday to Wednesday of the championship week. From Thursday to Sunday are the actual tournament days. Following the completion of 36 holes, the field is cut to the low 60 scores and ties. If two or more players tie after 72 holes, they have a 2-hole aggregate playoff on Sunday evening.
NBC will air the primary weekend coverage and late-round action, while the USA Network will cover the early round action and early weekend coverage. Live sports streaming options are also available. Peacock provides exclusive ‘all access’ coverage, early round coverage, featured groups and multi-view streaming. The USGA also offers digital features 24/7, such as ‘featured hole’ streams.
Fan attendance
It takes courage to win the U.S. Open, and the event captures fans year after year. This year, there are expected to be more than 150,000 fans attending the event. There’s palpable excitement throughout eastern Long Island during the week of the event.
The winner of this event isn’t just the player who makes the most birdies. It is a golfer who can handle adversity over four exhausting days on one of the sport’s most testing stages. When golfers win the U.S. Open, their capabilities are undeniable.
