Last Updated on August 24, 2026 by Maurya
The 2026 U.S. Open Golf Championship delivered exactly what bettors expect from America’s national championship: a demanding course, unpredictable scoring, elite players under pressure and enough leaderboard movement to punish anyone who simply backed the shortest-priced favorite.
The 126th U.S. Open was played from June 18-21, 2026 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, with a 156-player field. Shinnecock was hosting the championship for the sixth time and remains the only venue to have staged the U.S. Open in three different centuries.
Before the tournament, Scottie Scheffler was the +550 betting favorite, followed by Rory McIlroy at +1200 and Jon Rahm at +1300 in FanDuel’s pre-tournament market. Wyndham Clark, meanwhile, could be backed at approximately +5000.
That price became one of the stories of the championship.
Clark went wire-to-wire and captured his second U.S. Open title, finishing at 4-under-par 276 and beating Sam Burns by one stroke.
2026 US Open Betting Odds
Here were some of the leading outright prices listed by FanDuel immediately before the championship began on June 18.
| Golfer | Pre-Tournament Odds |
| Scottie Scheffler | +550 |
| Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
| Jon Rahm | +1300 |
| Xander Schauffele | +1600 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | +1800 |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | +2000 |
| Cameron Young | +2200 |
| Ludvig Åberg | +2500 |
| Russell Henley | +3300 |
| Si Woo Kim | +3500 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | +3500 |
| Collin Morikawa | +4000 |
| Chris Gotterup | +4000 |
| Patrick Reed | +4000 |
| Sam Burns | +4000 |
| Tyrrell Hatton | +4000 |
| Brooks Koepka | +4500 |
| Wyndham Clark | +5000 |
| Viktor Hovland | +5000 |
| Justin Thomas | +5000 |
| Justin Rose | +5000 |
| J.J. Spaun | +6000 |
| Aaron Rai | +6500 |
| Jordan Spieth | +7000 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | +7000 |
| Joaquin Niemann | +7000 |
These odds show how top-heavy the market appeared before the opening round. Scheffler was priced significantly shorter than everyone else, while accomplished major winners and proven U.S. Open performers could be found at 30/1, 40/1 and beyond.
For bettors, that is an important distinction. Picking the player most likely to win is not necessarily the same thing as finding the best bet. Price matters.
Who Was the Favorite to Win the 2026 US Open?
Scottie Scheffler: +550
Scheffler entered tournament week as the clear favorite at +550. The reasoning was easy to understand: his elite tee-to-green game, consistency and ability to avoid the catastrophic mistakes that can quickly end a player’s U.S. Open chances made him a natural fit for Shinnecock.
The concern was valuation.
At +550, the bettor was paying a premium for Scheffler’s consistency. A U.S. Open field includes 156 golfers, difficult weather conditions and a course designed to expose even minor errors. Taking a golfer at such a short number therefore requires more than believing he is the best player in the field.
Scheffler nevertheless demonstrated why bookmakers respected him. He entered Sunday’s final round in the last pairing alongside Clark and ultimately finished at even-par 280, four shots behind the champion.
Betting verdict: Scheffler deserved favorite status, but +550 offered limited outright value compared with several golfers farther down the board.
Rory McIlroy: +1200
McIlroy was the second choice in the FanDuel market at approximately +1200.
His appeal at a U.S. Open is obvious. Few players combine McIlroy’s driving distance, high-end ball striking and major-championship experience. On a layout where position off the tee and the ability to hit quality approaches in wind matter enormously, his ceiling was high.
The challenge was determining whether +1200 provided sufficient compensation for the volatility of Shinnecock.
McIlroy remained among the championship’s headline names but could not mount the decisive Sunday charge required to catch Clark. After the tournament, he acknowledged that Shinnecock had ultimately won the battle after a costly back nine during the weekend.
Betting verdict: A legitimate contender, although not an obvious value play at a relatively short outright price.
Jon Rahm: +1300
Jon Rahm was available around +1300 in the final pre-tournament market, making him the third favorite behind Scheffler and McIlroy.
Rahm’s profile has traditionally suited difficult major-championship golf. Power, strong approach play and the ability to compete when par becomes a good score are exactly the qualities handicappers should prioritize at a U.S. Open.
However, at +1300, bettors still needed Rahm to outperform a deep group of elite players while navigating one of the toughest venues on the schedule.
This is where betting discipline matters. A recognizable name and strong course fit are not enough on their own. The question must always be whether the probability you assign a golfer is greater than the probability implied by the available odds.
Xander Schauffele: +1600
Schauffele offered one of the strongest statistical profiles among the leading contenders.
His U.S. Open consistency is remarkable. After the 2026 tournament, the USGA noted that Schauffele had recorded a top-15 finish in each of his first 10 U.S. Open appearances, a championship record. He finished T11 at Shinnecock in 2026.
That level of consistency makes Schauffele particularly interesting in placement markets.
Rather than relying entirely on an outright win ticket at +1600, bettors could reasonably have considered markets such as top 10, top 20 or matchup betting. Sportsbook Review listed Schauffele around +200 in one of its top-10 markets during tournament coverage.
Betting verdict: One of the most dependable U.S. Open profiles and potentially better suited to placement bets than an outright-only strategy.
Best US Open Bets and Picks for 2026
Because the championship is complete, the following selections are best viewed as an evaluation of the pre-tournament betting market, rather than claims about currently available wagers.
Analyzing which profiles were correctly or incorrectly priced can also provide useful lessons for future U.S. Opens.
Best Outright Value: Wyndham Clark +5000
If one price stands above the rest when reviewing the 2026 market, it is Wyndham Clark at +5000.
Clark was hardly an unknown longshot. He had already won the 2023 U.S. Open and therefore had demonstrated that he possessed the power, short game and temperament needed to survive major-championship pressure.
Sportsbook Review specifically highlighted Clark at +5000 as an intriguing value selection before his victory, pointing to his previous U.S. Open success, driving ability and encouraging recent form.
Clark then produced one of the championship’s defining performances.
He became only the ninth wire-to-wire winner in U.S. Open history and the first since Martin Kaymer in 2014. His final-round 73 gave him a 4-under total of 276, one ahead of Burns. The score also matched Retief Goosen’s 2004 total as the lowest 72-hole score in a U.S. Open held at Shinnecock Hills.
Clark’s success also illustrates an important golf betting principle: previous major-winning experience should not automatically be discounted because a player’s recent public perception is weaker than that of the market leaders.
At +5000, the payoff implied that Clark was a considerably less likely winner than Scheffler, McIlroy or Rahm. Yet his proven U.S. Open pedigree made him far more interesting than an ordinary 50/1 outsider.
2026 rating: 5/5
Best Mid-Range Pick: Sam Burns +4000
Sam Burns was another outstanding pre-tournament value candidate at approximately +4000.
His price sat in an attractive area of the board: long enough to offer meaningful upside but short enough to reflect genuine winning potential.
Burns eventually showed exactly why that range deserved attention.
Starting Sunday seven shots behind Clark, Burns produced a 3-under-par 67 and reduced the lead dramatically. He had an opportunity to apply even more pressure over the closing holes before ultimately finishing one stroke short.
That result reinforces why bettors should not focus exclusively on the top five names in a golf market.
The difference in actual winning probability between a +1600 player and a +4000 player may sometimes be smaller than the odds suggest—especially at a major where difficult conditions increase variance.
2026 rating: 4.5/5
Best Favorite: Scottie Scheffler +550
Scheffler was not our preferred value selection at +550, but among the favorites he had the strongest overall profile.
He remained in contention through Sunday and played in the final pairing with Clark. Scheffler eventually finished four strokes behind at even par.
The result shows the distinction between a good prediction and a good bet.
Identifying Scheffler as the player most likely to win was reasonable. Betting him at +550 required a much stronger conclusion—that his actual chances justified such a short number relative to an enormous field.
For bettors who strongly favored Scheffler, placement bets or head-to-head markets could have provided an alternative to committing exclusively to his outright price.
2026 rating: 3.5/5 at +550
Longshot to Consider: Joaquin Niemann +7000
Joaquin Niemann was available around +7000, placing him well outside the first tier of favorites.
His week demonstrated just how volatile U.S. Open betting can become.
Niemann opened with a 78 that included a disastrous 11 on the sixth hole, yet recovered with a second-round 65 and final-round 66. He ultimately finished tied seventh at 1-over 281.
That recovery is exactly why golfers with elite scoring upside can be attractive at large prices.
A 70/1 outright ticket does not require a golfer to be the most consistent player in the field. It requires enough upside for the offered price to underestimate the player’s realistic winning ceiling.
2026 rating: 4/5 as a longshot profile
Why Shinnecock Hills Was So Important for Betting
Shinnecock Hills is not a course where bettors should simply look at birdie averages and choose the player with the lowest scoring average.
The 2026 setup was approximately 7,440 yards and par 70, with Poa annua putting surfaces.
More importantly, the exposed layout allows weather—especially wind—to change the difficulty dramatically.
During the third round, the USGA reported wind gusts reaching approximately 35 mph, helping keep scoring difficult and preventing much leaderboard movement.
For handicapping purposes, Shinnecock placed a premium on several qualities:
- Elite approach play
- Driving control as well as distance
- Strong scrambling
- Lag putting from long range
- Comfort playing in wind
- Patience after bogeys
- Experience on firm major-championship setups
- The ability to avoid double bogeys and worse
Clark’s winning performance is a perfect example.
The USGA reported that he successfully scrambled on 16 of 24 opportunities during the championship and repeatedly saved par after missing greens. His putter was equally important, including a crucial 25-foot birdie at the par-5 16th during Sunday’s final round.
This is why U.S. Open handicapping should never be based on driving distance alone.
Outright Betting vs. Top-10 and Top-20 Markets
Outright winner bets receive the most attention, but they are not always the most efficient way to bet golf.
A player priced at +2000 may have a legitimate chance to contend while still being unlikely to finish first among 156 competitors.
That makes placement markets valuable alternatives.
For example, pre-tournament and tournament-week markets featured top-10 prices on players such as Tommy Fleetwood, Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, Russell Henley and Rory McIlroy.
A practical betting strategy can therefore combine several market types instead of placing five or six outright bets.
An example structure might be:
One favorite: A high-confidence player such as Scheffler.
Two mid-range selections: Golfers priced roughly between +2000 and +5000.
One longshot: A high-upside player at +6000 or greater.
Placement bets: Top-10 or top-20 wagers on consistent major performers.
That approach provides exposure to a potential large outright payout without requiring every golfer you like to actually win the championship.
How to Find Value in US Open Golf Odds
Successful golf betting starts with the price rather than the player’s name.
Suppose one sportsbook lists a golfer at +3500 while another offers +4200. Your opinion about that player’s chances has not changed—but the expected value of the wager has.
That is why line shopping matters significantly in outright golf markets.
Prices can vary substantially between sportsbooks because of liability, customer betting patterns and different assessments of the field.
Bettors should therefore compare odds before placing an outright wager instead of automatically using one sportsbook.
You should also distinguish between likelihood and value.
Scheffler may genuinely have been the golfer most likely to win the 2026 U.S. Open, while Clark at +5000 may simultaneously have represented the more attractive betting proposition.
Those two conclusions are not contradictory.
What Bettors Can Learn From the 2026 US Open
The final leaderboard supplied several useful lessons for future major-championship betting.
First, do not automatically dismiss former champions trading at large prices. Clark entered at roughly 50/1 despite already owning a U.S. Open trophy, then became only the 24th player to win the championship multiple times.
Second, difficult courses create opportunities farther down the board. Sam Burns began the week around +4000 and nearly erased a seven-shot Sunday deficit.
Third, elite players can still be useful without winning. Scheffler finished tied fourth, while Schauffele extended his remarkable run of top-15 U.S. Open finishes.
Finally, course fit involves far more than raw distance. Scrambling, putting, wind play and avoiding disastrous holes become increasingly important when the USGA creates a setup where par is valuable.
2026 US Open Final Result
Wyndham Clark ultimately completed the championship at 4-under 276, defeating Sam Burns by one shot. Tom Kim finished alone in third, while Scottie Scheffler, Keith Mitchell and J.T. Poston tied for fourth.
Clark’s victory was his second U.S. Open title, following his breakthrough triumph at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023. He also became the third consecutive Shinnecock Hills champion to win his second U.S. Open, following Retief Goosen in 2004 and Brooks Koepka in 2018.
For bettors who secured the widely available +5000 range before the tournament, his victory represented a substantial return relative to the market leaders.
FAQs
Who was the favorite to win the 2026 US Open?
Scottie Scheffler was the pre-tournament favorite. FanDuel listed Scheffler at approximately +550, ahead of Rory McIlroy (+1200) and Jon Rahm (+1300).
Who won the 2026 US Open?
Wyndham Clark won the 2026 U.S. Open, finishing at 4-under-par 276 and defeating Sam Burns by one stroke at Shinnecock Hills.
What were Wyndham Clark’s US Open odds?
Clark was available at approximately +5000 immediately before the tournament according to archived FanDuel odds. Sportsbook Review also highlighted Clark at +5000 as a potential value play during its championship betting coverage.
Where was the 2026 US Open played?
The tournament was held at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, from June 18 through June 21, 2026. It was the sixth U.S. Open staged at Shinnecock Hills.
What is the best way to bet on the US Open?
Outright winner markets offer the largest potential payouts, but bettors can also consider top-5, top-10, top-20, first-round leader and head-to-head matchup markets. The best option depends on the available odds and your assessment of each golfer rather than simply choosing the biggest-name player.
Are US Open golf odds the same at every sportsbook?
No. Outright golf prices can differ between sportsbooks and change as money enters the market. Comparing multiple legal sportsbooks before betting can therefore produce a better price.
Final Verdict
The 2026 U.S. Open provided a textbook example of why value matters more than simply backing the favorite.
Scottie Scheffler deserved to lead the market and remained in contention deep into Sunday, but his +550 price offered considerably less upside. Wyndham Clark, by comparison, possessed previous U.S. Open-winning experience yet was available around +5000. He converted that opportunity into his second national championship.
Sam Burns at +4000 was another excellent example of the depth available beyond the favorites, ultimately finishing just one stroke behind Clark.
For future U.S. Open betting, the lesson is straightforward: evaluate the course, recent form, major record, short game, approach performance and price together.
Do not automatically back the player most likely to win.
Back players when the sportsbook is offering odds that appear greater than their realistic probability of winning.
At Shinnecock Hills in 2026, the market’s most important number was not Scheffler at +550.
It was Wyndham Clark at +5000
