US Open returns to Shinnecock Hills as Spaun defends and Scheffler eyes career Grand Slam

The 126th US Open arrives this week at Shinnecock Hills, the historic Long Island links that has produced some of the championship's most demanding examinations, and the build-up has been dominated by the question of whether anyone can stop Scottie Scheffler completing a career Grand Slam.

Defending champion J.J. Spaun returns to a major he won in dramatic fashion last year, when he holed an astonishing 64-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole at Oakmont to seize his first major title by two strokes. Repeating that feat on the firm, breezy turf of Shinnecock would cement his status among the game's elite.

With the United States Golf Association renowned for setting up its flagship event as the sternest test in golf, players are bracing for fast greens, punishing rough and the kind of capricious coastal wind that has humbled champions here before.

Scheffler's date with history

World number one Scheffler arrives as the overwhelming favourite, his relentless consistency making him the man every rival must beat. Victory at Shinnecock would give him the only major missing from his collection and complete the career Grand Slam, a milestone achieved by only a handful of players in the sport's history.

Shinnecock's premium on precise iron play and disciplined course management suits Scheffler's game perfectly, and few would bet against him handling the pressure that comes with chasing such a landmark.

Yet history offers a cautionary note. The US Open has a habit of resisting even the most dominant favourites, and the championship's brutal set-up has denied many a great player at the last. Scheffler will know that par golf and patience, rather than spectacular birdie streaks, are usually what wins on a course of this severity.

“You can't force a US Open. You have to accept that par is a good score, stay patient and let the golf course do the work to everybody else. That's the mindset every week, but especially here.”

— A leading contender, speaking in his pre-tournament press conference

McIlroy seeks redemption

For Rory McIlroy, the US Open remains a source of both glory and frustration. The Northern Irishman has endured a series of near-misses and painful late stumbles at recent majors, and he comes to Shinnecock determined to convert his undoubted talent into another major title.

McIlroy's blend of power and improving short game makes him a natural contender, but the mental scars of recent disappointments add an extra layer of intrigue to his campaign. A links-style test could play to his strengths if he can keep his driver under control.

Much will hinge on his composure over the closing stretch, where his recent major near-misses have so often unravelled. If he can stay patient and trust his iron play, a course that rewards shot-makers could finally provide the redemptive week he craves on American soil.

The contenders and the dark horses

Beyond the headline names, a deep and dangerous field is assembling, with several players capable of thriving on a course that rewards creativity and punishes the impatient.

• Scottie Scheffler — world number one chasing the career Grand Slam
• Rory McIlroy — hunting redemption after a string of major heartbreaks
• J.J. Spaun — defending champion after his miracle finish at Oakmont
• A clutch of in-form contenders and links specialists capable of springing a surprise on a course that favours patience

History suggests Shinnecock will throw up at least one unexpected name, and the players who can stay calm when the wind gets up on the weekend will give themselves the best chance.

Background

Shinnecock Hills is one of the founding clubs of American golf and has hosted the US Open several times across more than a century, each renewal remembered for the brutal challenge it poses. Its exposed, undulating layout offers little respite, and previous editions have been defined by survival as much as brilliance.

Spaun's victory last year was one of the great modern major finishes, a reminder that the championship can crown an unheralded name on its biggest day. He returns this week eager to prove it was no fluke.

What happens next

The opening rounds will quickly separate those who can tame Shinnecock from those it overwhelms, and by the weekend the leaderboard is likely to feature a familiar blend of stars and surprises. Whether Scheffler completes his Grand Slam, McIlroy banishes his demons or Spaun mounts a stirring defence, the stage is set for another absorbing chapter in the US Open's long and unforgiving history.