The hype is exceptionally high this week, all thanks to the upcoming major at Pinehurst No. 2. The 2024 U.S. Open is all set to kick off on June 13. And when it does, the community can expect a scintillating display of golf as the various professionals from the two circuits, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, duke it out on the field. But only one person can lift the trophy.

The tournament, being a major championship, will award 100 points to whoever ends up winning the event. This will surely push the professionals to dish out their top performance to beat their counterparts in the Saudi-backed league and clinch the title of champion from right under their noses!

Top PGA Tour contenders for the 2024 U.S. Open

The upcoming major will consist of a total of 156 athletes, as per the official field, of which 13 are LIV Golf Pros. The rest of the line-up includes previous champs, the top 60 in the OWGR, as well as winners of various events on the Jay Monahan-led circuit. However, the golf world is sure to have some favorites among the many professionals.

1. Wyndham Clark: The 30-year-old had managed to emerge victorious at the 2023 edition of the tournament with a score of 10-under 270. In 2024, he boasts a total of four top-10 finishes from 13 starts, which includes a win at the signature event, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He also had a T3 finish at the RBC Heritage, along with a T2 finish at the PLAYERS, and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Although the American missed the cut at the two major championships of the year, he is not a figure to be underestimated, lest the pro snatch the cup right in front of their eyes.

2: Scottie Scheffler: Undoubtedly the most successful golfer on Tour at the moment. The 2-time major champ won the 2024 Masters, not to mention the other four victories he raked in this season at the PLAYERS Championship, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the RBC Heritage, and the recently ended Memorial Tournament. That’s not all. He has been so dominant on the greens that the golfer was able to dish out a total of 12 top-10 finishes, including these triumphs from 13 starts. The 27-year-old is the one to be wary of this time.

3. Xander Schauffele: The 30-year-old is tailing closely behind the Texas native with 10 top-10 placements from 13 starts. Although the pro faced a bit of misfortune through most of the events in 2024, he was able to overcome it with a dominating performance at the recently concluded PGA Championship. The 1-time major champ was able to, thus, climb to the No. 2 spot while overtaking the Northern Irishman on the world rankings. A consistent player on the greens, he is sure to be a threat to many of the golfers.

4. Rory McIlroy: Even though the 35-year-old faced a lot of hurdles in his personal life (remember his divorce announcement? ), the athlete was able to push through to finish a T4 at the recently ended RBC Canadian Open. Moreover, the 4-time major champ would look to replicate the success that he found at the Wells Fargo Championship as well as the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the latter of which he won with fellow Irishman Shane Lowry, at the upcoming event. The golfer would thus surely look to increase his tally of wins to 27 on the Monahan-led circuit, all the while raking in another major victory.

5. Ludvig Aberg: The young athlete has proved his talent many times on the greens, especially at the 2024 Masters Tournament, where he clinched the runner-up position. What’s more, he has also finished a total of five times in the top-10 from 13 starts, including his recent T5 placement at the Memorial Tournament. Despite him not garnering any triumphs this season, the 2023 RSM Classic champ isn’t someone to be looked over, especially since he seems to have continued with his momentum and form at Muirfield Village. The Swede would surely hope for an even better finish at Pinehurst No. 2.

A huge test is in place for the PGA Tour pros at Pinehurst

Designed by Donald Ross, the No. 2 at Pinehurst has witnessed a lot more championships being played out at the course than any other American grounds. And for the fourth time in a quarter of a century, the U.S. Open will take place at the par-70 7550-yard layout over four days to crown the next champion of the event.

Even the defending champ of the tournament was convinced of the challenge the course will pose over the next few days, as he said, “They are extremely fast. If they get any firmer and faster, the greens—I mean, they’d be borderline. They already are borderline.” Well, it appears as if the field comprising the various PGA Tour professionals is in for a challenging weekend. Who are you rooting for at the 2024 U.S. Open?