OAKMONT, Pa. — The a hundred and twenty fifth version of the U.S. Open returns to the USGA’s favourite stomping grounds for the primary time in 9 years as Oakmont Nation Membership hosts the nationwide championship for the tenth time in event historical past. The important thing query everyone seems to be asking stays the identical throughout the golf world: Who’re you selecting to win the 2025 U.S. Open?
With a rare 156-man discipline that includes the very best golfers within the sport contending on the nation’s most tough course, the third main championship of the season ought to be an epic trip from Thursday’s first spherical by means of Sunday night. Take a look at Round 1 tee times so you already know precisely when to look at your favourite golfers at Oakmont.
Whereas the U.S. Open field is stacked, what was as soon as a three-headed monster on the prime of the game — Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau — has rapidly misplaced one in every of its noggins. McIlroy’s fall from grace since claiming his first Masters and finishing the profession grand slam has been exceptional and disappointing given many observers believed he would possibly go on a major-winning barrage after getting the monkey off his again.
As an alternative, Rory has been silent each on and off the course since that victory with Scheffler utterly turning round his season with three wins in 4 begins and the primary PGA Championship of his profession. After which there’s DeChambeau, the reigning U.S. Open champion on the lookout for his third victory at this main. Although Oakmont presents the hardest check he is confronted but on this event, the pedigree for fulfillment is clearly on the big-swinging proper hander’s resume.
Jon Rahm’s resurgence on the PGA forces us to show consideration again the best way of the Spaniard, whereas the likes of Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and Jordan Spieth symbolize a trio of Individuals hoping for a breakthrough victory to finish quite a lot of latest struggles.
So, what will occur at Oakmont this week? There are storylines aplenty to follow, and the trends certainly point us in a particular direction. Let’s check out a full set of predictions and picks from our CBS Sports activities consultants, together with the nine golfers most likely to conquer Oakmont, as we try to mission who will win — and what is going to go down — on the third main championship of the season.
2025 U.S. Open skilled picks, predictions
Odds through Caesars Sportsbook
Patrick McDonald, golf author
Winner — Scottie Scheffler (11/4): He is been the choose for this event at this venue for greater than a yr, and the scary half is the arrogance has solely grown. For the primary time in his profession, the three-time main champion can say he’s essentially the most full participant on the earth as there’s not one single gap in his arsenal. No. 1 in nearly each significant class from bounce again proportion to bogey avoidance, Scheffler’s sport and psychological fortitude was made for this check.
Sleeper — Keegan Bradley (100-1): Make no mistake, not everybody is happy to play at Oakmont this week. Bradley is the other. The previous PGA Championship winner thrives when the going will get powerful, and his sport is rounding the nook on the actual proper time. Bradley arrives in Pittsburgh (a area of the nation the place he tends to play his greatest golf) with consecutive top-10 finishes on the PGA Championship and the Memorial. His brief sport has been sensational the final three months, and he will not again down from a struggle.
High 10 lock — Bryson DeChambeau: His driver provides him such a excessive flooring, particularly with the golf course taking up some early week rains. The reigning champion has been a fixture in U.S. based mostly main championships the previous couple of seasons, and that’s not stopping at Oakmont. I query whether or not the model of golf course — not essentially the tough however the required shot making — will hinder his probabilities at profitable, however even when so, a top-10 end appears secure.
Star who undoubtedly will not win — Justin Thomas: Appears like I’ve been selecting on him on this part (sorry!), however this week the identical rings true. Thomas is simply not ok as a driver to contend on main championship golf programs this season. Since his win on the 2022 PGA Championship, he has six missed cuts with 5 finishes exterior the highest 30 in his 12 main appearances. His worst finishes this season have come at Quail Hole, Augusta Nationwide, Bay Hill and Muirfield Village.
Scottie Scheffler vs. Rory McIlroy vs. Bryson DeChambeau: Wild how a lot can change in lower than one month as all three gamers entered the PGA Championship aspect by aspect with McIlroy plummeting to the underside. One thing is off with the Masters champion, and this may permit Scheffler and DeChambeau to probably duke it out for the title. Scheffler is the choose to win, DeChambeau is the choose to complete inside the highest 10, and McIlroy is the choose to do one thing weird.
Shock prediction — Just a few brief hitters contend: The U.S. Open has catered to bombers of the golf ball lately with the likes of DeChambeau, McIlroy, Wyndham Clark, Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka all discovering success. The final three U.S. Open winners at Oakmont have all completed inside the highest 5 when it comes to driving distance as properly, however all of that’s to say, I am not shopping for it. This can be a shotmaker’s paradise, and people gamers who might lack slightly pop off the tee will be capable to sustain with the large hitters because of their iron play. I am considering an Aaron Rai or a Corey Conners or presumably a Denny McCarthy sort of participant can have a say on this championship.
Lowest spherical: 66 (-4)
Successful rating: 278 (-2)
Winner’s Sunday rating: 71 (+1)
Robby Kalland, golf author
Winner — Bryson DeChambeau (15/2): We have seen Rory and Scottie win majors in 2025. This week we go 3 for 3 watching as the sport’s three largest stars declare a serious. DeChambeau’s sport matches a U.S. Open set-up not solely due to his size off the tee however as a result of he is develop into probably the greatest when it comes to consistency on and across the greens. His placing — and particularly his velocity management — goes to make the distinction in him profitable on the lightning quick greens at Oakmont.
Sleeper — Harris English (80-1): We noticed in 2016 that Oakmont is not only a bomber’s paradise, however that accuracy off the tee, ball-striking and a peaceful demeanor are equally as essential. English has these three qualities in abundance (he’s a Flusher), and whereas he is not all the time the very best at piling up birdies when a event turns into a shootout, the grind of this week goes to play to his strengths.
High 10 lock — Collin Morikawa: The actual reply right here is Scheffler, nevertheless it’s no enjoyable laying 1-4 odds on a prime 10 guess, so I am treating this query as if it is a “with out Scottie” market. I am going to take the man who’s No. 2 on the PGA Tour in driving accuracy to hold across the first web page of the leaderboard at Oakmont. He is received all the pieces a participant may have to win on this course, and I am extra bullish on his probabilities on the Oakmont greens than most. A few of his greatest placing rounds lately have come on the extraordinarily quick greens at Augusta Nationwide, and he tends to fare higher when the greens are quicker (partly as a result of fewer guys are pouring in lengthy putts). He is actually good with velocity management and three-putt avoidance, and that is big at an Oakmont U.S. Open.
Star who undoubtedly will not win — Rory McIlroy: I used to be skeptical of McIlroy’s probabilities at Oakmont every week in the past, however after his efficiency on the Canadian Open, I simply do not see how he turns it round in six days. He has completely no confidence within the drivers he is placing within the bag proper now, and that is simply not going to work at Oakmont. Even when he discovered one he appreciated on the vary in Florida this weekend, he isn’t going to belief it in competitors the best way he wants. On prime of all that, he appears to have taken a deep exhale after finishing the profession grand slam, and it could simply take awhile for him to determine what his motivation is to attempt to be at that super-elite degree once more.
Scottie Scheffler vs. Rory McIlroy vs. Bryson DeChambeau: DeChambeau is well on prime given I am selecting him to win. Rating the remainder, it is Scheffler neck-and-neck with Bryson with McIlroy a distant third given his aforementioned struggles of late.
Shock prediction — Nick Taylor finishes within the prime 20: Taylor’s been enjoying some nice golf of late and has these qualities I talked about above with English. He is not extremely valued on the chances sheet as a result of he is a shorter hitter, but when we take it again to 2016, Jim Furyk was lifeless final on the PGA Tour in driving distance that season and completed 2nd. Distance is just not as a lot a necessity at Oakmont as some say (it is useful, certain), so Taylor can maintain it rolling this week.
Lowest spherical: 66 (-4)
Successful rating: 277 (-3)
Winner’s Sunday rating: 70 (E)
Adam Silverstein, senior director of editorial
Winner — Jon Rahm (14-1): Rahm has discovered his groove after a wierd begin to his LIV Golf profession. Whereas he is not actively profitable, Rahm is frequently finishing prime 10 finishes on that tour, and he is improved in majors with three consecutive prime 15s. He is a top-three driver on this tournametn, which might be key to profitable at Oakmont, and he solely has one end exterior the highest 12 at a U.S. Open since 2018 (T23).
Sleeper — Ben Griffin (75-1): The person is on a heater. Exterior of an odd two-week stretch in early Might, Griffin has completed 1st, T8, 1st and 2nd at 4 of his final six begins. He has picked up the primary two wins of his PGA Tour profession and may’ve taken a 3rd on the Memorial if not for an extremely poor playof efficiency. Whether or not he matches the course is of little consequence. At odds this lengthy, I wish to trip with somebody who has confirmed he can degree as much as the hardest competitors on the earth actively this season.
High 10 lock — Scottie Scheffler: Why waste time enjoying round with another choice? Certain, DeChambeu has gained two of the final 5 U.S. Opens — with 5 top-six finishes in his final seven main begins — however at a course like Oakmont, it may go poorly for him in a flash. Scheffler is as regular as they arrive with 14 prime 10s over the past 19 majors, together with three wins and top-three finishes on the U.S. Open in 2022-23. Certain, his worst main look since 2022 got here ultimately yr’s nationwide championship, however that was a blip and hardly a trigger for long-term concern. One thing could be fairly fallacious if Scheffler is just not in rivalry come Sunday.
Star who undoubtedly will not win — Justin Thomas: Patrick nailed it selecting Thomas on this spot. He stays one of the vital gifted golfers on the PGA Tour, however he isn’t placing all of it collectively in majors, and his struggles with the driving force mainly make him a non-starter at Oakmont.
Scottie Scheffler vs. Rory McIlroy vs. Bryson DeChambeau: Whereas I might like to consider that McIlroy will all of the sudden flip a change and get again to being the participant he was earlier than profitable the Masters and finishing the profession grand slam, this has develop into an, “I am going to consider it once I see it” state of affairs. McIlroy will discover himself once more, however instantly after practically ending final within the discipline on the RBC Canadian Open? That is powerful to think about. Scheffler is my prime 10 lock, and DeChambeau is just not, so it is actually the McIlroy-DeChambeau battle that’s price following. I am going to take Rory over Bryson, principally simply to be completely different but in addition as a result of it is not as if McIlroy has utterly forgotten learn how to play golf.
Shock prediction — Phil Mickelson contends on the weekend: It might solely be briefly, and it may not imply a lot, however the 54-year-old Leftyis in his ultimate yr of qualification for the U.S. Open and acknowledged final week that it could really be his final try on the nationwide championship. A runner-up six occasions at this event, Mickelson won’t get the monkey off his again this week, however he’ll completely give it all the pieces he is received. Would not you?
Lowest spherical: 67 (-3)
Successful rating: 278 (-2)
Winner’s Sunday rating: 70 (E)
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