The US Open is golf’s toughest test, a tournament defined by narrow fairways, punishing fairways, and courses designed to make even the best players in the world look flawless.
With US Open odds is already taking shape ahead of the 2026 renewal at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, from June 18-21, here’s a look back at five players who have lifted the trophy recently and what their victories tell us about what it takes to win golf’s toughest game.
JJ Spawn: 2025
JJ Spaun’s victory at Oakmont Country Club in 2025 was one of the greatest stories in recent major tournament history. The American, who had spent years on the fringes of the PGA Tour without threatening at the top level, produced the week of his life when it mattered most. Oakmont’s brutal and lightning-fast greens upset many favorites, and Spaun’s accuracy on the tee and exceptional course handling proved the difference. It was a reminder that the US Open, more than any other major, has a habit of producing champions who arrive without fans.
Bryson DeChambeau: 2024
Bryson DeChambeau’s second US Open title, following his 2020 Winged Foot victory, produced one of the most impressive finishes in recent memory. DeChambeau took three shots on the final day at Pinehurst No. 2 but found himself two behind when McIlroy birdied four of the five holes around the turn, with the Northern Irishman seemingly on course to end a decade-long wait for a fifth major.
McIlroy then fell over the closing hole, bogeying his final three holes, including a missed putt from within four feet at the last. DeChambeau, meanwhile, produced what he called the best shot of his life, holing in from 55 yards out of the bunker on the 18th for a one-up. It was a final that encapsulated everything the US Open is about: emotion, drama, and career-defining moments on both sides.
Wyndham Clark: 2023
Wyndham Clark announced himself to the world at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023, and held McIlroy down to claim his first title. Clark was considered an outsider in terms of many before the week started, but his bold and attacking play suited the structure of the park, and he did not dare to back down when the pressure was too intense. It was the kind of match performance the US Open has always been able to produce.
Matt Fitzpatrick: 2022
Matt Fitzpatrick’s victory at The Country Club in Brookline was a headline that had a storybook quality to it. The Englishman had won the US Amateur at the same venue in 2013, and returning to claim the professional title completed one of the sport’s greatest moments. Fitzpatrick’s precise iron game and strong swing were perfectly suited to the course which punishes mistakes harshly, and his final round of 68 under US Open conditions showed poise beyond his years.
Jon Rahm: 2021
Jon Rahm’s victory at Torrey Pines was among the most emotional in US Open history. The Spaniard birdied the final hole to win by one stroke, completing a career-long feat despite withdrawing from the Memorial Championship last month after testing positive for Covid-19.
Rahm had been the best in the world entering the week and played like the rest. His win confirmed his status as one of the defining players of his generation, too golf betting Markets had him as one of the favorites all week. It remains one of the best US Open wins of the modern era.
