The season’s third major is here, with the U.S. Open starting Thursday at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Long Island. Scottie Scheffler is the favorite, according to user picks on PrizePicks, and would become just the seventh player to complete the career Grand Slam with a win.
Bryson DeChambeau (2020, 2024), Jon Rahm (2021), Matt Fitzpatrick (2022), and Rory McIlroy (2011) are among the other favorites trying to add another U.S. Open title to their resume, while stars like Xander Schauffele and Tommy Fleetwood angle for their first.
However, when watching and golfers, you can pick a lot more than just players to win the event. Other options on PrizePicks Team Picks include top-10 finishes, top-20 finishes, first-round leaders, top placers in each round, and much more.
With that in mind, let's break down our top U.S. Open sleeper picks and top-10 predictions for Shinnecock Hills this week. On PrizePicks Team Picks, you can earn money if you're right by picking golfers to win, finish top five, top 10, and more.
Make 2026 U.S. Open picks and predictions on PrizePicks today.
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2026 U.S. Open Sleepers, Picks for Top-10 Finish
Shinnecock Hills is among the hardest of the U.S. Open courses. A whopping 654 players have teed it up the five previous times it has hosted the U.S. Open. Only three have finished the week under par.
With angled fairways and slick, undulating greens, it takes good irons and an exceptional short game to survive the course.
Here are three golfers to consider for your U.S. Open top-10 picks on PrizePicks Team Picks.
Sam Burns U.S. Open Prediction
- Two players in the field have top-10 finishes in the last two U.S. Opens: Russell Henley and Sam Burns. Burns finished ninth at Pinehurst and followed it up with a seventh-place finish last year at Oakmont.
- He also finished fourth two weeks ago at the Memorial, seventh at the Masters, 13th at The Players, and 26th at the PGA Championship — consistently showing up at big-time events.
- The LSU product is right there with the favorites at 23rd in total shots gained but has better putting numbers than all of them, coming in at sixth.
- Burns has gained strokes overall in nine straight events dating back to The Players. He's gained off the tee in eight of the last 10, on approach in eight of nine, around the greens in four straight, and with the putter in nine straight.
Sam Burns Top-10 Payout: Yes 4.16x | No 1.2x
Sam Burns Winner Payout: 33.33x
Pick Sam Burns for the U.S. Open on PrizePicks HERE!
Jon Rahm U.S. Open Prediction
- Jon Rahm has 11 top-10s in the last 21 majors, including a pair of wins.
- The 2021 champ also has finished third, seventh, 10th and 12th over his last six U.S. Open appearances, with T-23 being the other.
- Rahm made a big run to get runner-up at last month’s PGA Championship and may have won if not for the Aaron Rai career day.
- The Spaniard has gained strokes overall and off the tee in every event he's played this season on LIV or in majors. He finished runner-up in Spain's LIV event earlier this month, gaining +2.19 strokes on approach and .98 strokes around the greens.
Jon Rahm Top-10 Finish Payout: Yes 2.56x | No 1.47x
Jon Rahm Winner Payout: 12.5x | 1.02x
Pick Jon Rahm for the U.S. Open on PrizePicks HERE!
Matt Fitzpatrick U.S. Open Prediction
- Fitzpatrick already has three wins on his card this year and, after a few down weeks, rallied for a runner-up finish last week in Canada with a final-round 64.
- He won the 2022 U.S. Open and finished T-12 at Shinnecock in 2018.
- Fitz excels in windy conditions with his low ball flight and has the strong game needed for this course, ranking sixth in shots gained around the green and 18th in scrambling.
- In addition to an outstanding short game, he's second tee-to-green, fourth on approach, and fourth in greens hit.
Matt Fitzpatrick Top-10 Finish Payout: Yes 2.85x | No 1.38x
Matt Fitzpatrick Winner Payout: 16.66x | 1.02x
Pick Matt Fitzpatrick for the U.S. Open on PrizePicks HERE!
2026 U.S. Open Sleeper Pick
Everyone loves a long shot, even if they don’t come in that often. While the U.S. Open ranks third of the four majors in terms of average odds to win over the last 20 years, it has seen its share of longshot winners.
Two of the last three winners of the national championship were listed outside the top 50 golfers to win the event, including today’s pick.
Here is one sleeper to consider for this week’s U.S. Open.
J.J. Spaun U.S. Open Prediction
- Spaun won his first U.S. Open title last year, beating the field at a very difficult Oakmont course.
- Last year’s champion also prevailed at the Valero Texas Open this year, which was impacted by wind, which is expected to happen this week at Shinnecock.
- Since winning at Valero, Spaun has added five top-15 finishes in his last eight starts.
- Spaun ranks first in shots gained approach, fourth in ball striking, and ninth tee-to-green over his last 36 rounds.
J.J Spaun Top-20 Finish Payout: Yes 2.77x | No 1.4x
J.J. Spaun Winner Payout: 33.33x
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Make 2026 U.S. Open Picks on PrizePicks
Can Jon Rahm record his 11th top-10 in a major? Will former U.S. Open Champion Matt Fitzpatrick record another top finish? Will the U.S. Open see another sleeper win?
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