2024 U.S. Open: 10 big names to watch during the third major championship

Scottie Scheffler, 2024 U.S. Open — Credit: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Sports

The 124^th U.S. Open is filled with stars both past and present as every single player in the 156-man field tries to be the one to hoist the trophy on Sunday at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina

From U.S. Open Champions and major champions to those making their first appearance in America’s National Championship, it will be a week to remember. Playing a U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 has shown that anyone can win.

In 2014, Martin Kaymer went wire-to-wire to shoot 9-under par and win the eight strokes over Rickie Fowler and Erik Compton that was fueled by a 65-65 start over the first two days.

In 2005, Michael Campbell was victorious at even par and won by two strokes over Tiger Woods.

During the first U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in 1999, it was Payne Stewart’s historic win nailing an 18-foot putt to save par and defeat Phil Mickelson to be the only player to shoot under par at 1-under par that week.

In a week where the pressure and the adrenaline can be at an all-time high, that is where the strongest prevail, both physically and mentally.

With all of the game’s best on hand, here are 10 players to watch this week at the U.S. Open.

Martin Kaymer

When Martin Kaymer was victorious at Pinehurst No. 2 10 years ago, it marked the eighth time (by seven players) that a competitor has gone wire-to-wire to win the U.S. Open. In addition, since Kaymer, no player has been able to win a U.S. Open in wire-to-wire fashion. This championship is also Kaymer’s last year of eligibility for a U.S. Open through the past 10 winners.

Adam Scott

In each of the last 23 years, Adam Scott has played in every major championship. You have to go to all the way back to the 2001 U.S. Open to not see Adam Scott on a major championship leaderboard. This week is going to mark Scott’s 92^nd consecutive major championship, which is the longest active streak. However, if Scott wants to break the number for most records, he needs to reach 146 straight majors, which is a record currently held by Jack Nicklaus when he did not miss a major from 1962 to 1998.

Also read: Where Jack Nicklaus sits on the all-time major wins list

Ludvig Aberg

One of the youngest stars in today’s game is Ludvig Aberg. At 24 years old, he is getting set to make his U.S. Open debut as he is coming off a runner-up finish at the Masters and a top five finish at the Memorial last week. Aberg has been an exciting player to watch having been one of game’s amateurs before earning his PGA Tour card through PGA Tour University, which gives a college player the chance to compete on the PGA Tour coming out of school.

3-time U.S. Open Champion Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods, U.S. Open — Credit: Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK

Even despite his injuries over the last 10-plus years Tiger Woods continues to have the presence of being the best player in the world. He has continued to grow the game both on and off the course. Woods has won the U.S. Open three times in 2000, 2002 and 2008 and is always a gallery-filler wherever he is on the course. It is no different this week for the living legend at 48 years old.

Also read: U.S. Open: TV schedule, tee times and more: When Ludvig Aberg will tee off for the first two rounds

Wyndham Clark

Wyndham Clark, who is the reigning U.S. Open champion after being victorious last year in Los Angeles, is looking to rekindle his magic from earlier in the season when he won at Pebble Beach and was the runner-up in back-to-weeks to Scottie Scheffler at Bay Hill and at the Players Championship. Clark has the making to do so, in a tournament environment where he has success.

Rory McIlroy

For Rory McIlroy, could his time be running to win major championships? He has not won a major in 10 years but has been close. He was the runner-up at last year’s U.S. Open and finished inside the top 10 at all four majors in 2022. McIlroy is looking for his second U.S. Open title and first since 2011. If McIlroy wins this week, it would be the longest span in between U.S Open victories at 13 years, which would surpass Julius Boros (1952-63) and Hale Irwin (1979-1990) at 11 years.

Bryson DeChambeau

PGA: U.S. Open - Practice Round — Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

During the PGA Championship, Bryson DeChambeau celebrated his made putts from off the green in jubilance. It brought the crowds to follow him around and give him some momentum to even be atop the leaderboard during the final round before Xander Schauffele prevailed. For how challenging the greens are expected to be this week, it will be interesting to see his reactions if putts fall.

Collin Morikawa

Like DeChambeau, Collin Morikawa has momentum from the first two majors of 2024 with a T3 at the Masters and a T4 at the PGA Championship. Morikawa, the two-time major champion, also has a fourth-place finish and a runner-up in his two starts after being in the final group with Schauffele at the PGA Championship last month. With a win, Morikawa has the opportunity to be a green jacket away from achieving the career grand slam and first since winning the 2021 Open Championship.

Xander Schauffele

Now that Xander Schauffele has the monkey off his back of not winning a major championship after coming so close numerous times, the next thing is if he can capitalize and add on to his trophy case, which also includes an Olympic Gold Medal. Schauffele’s worst two finishes at a U.S. Open have come in the last two years when he was T10 last year and T14 in 2022 before four straight top six finishes. Also, with another made cut, he will reach 49 consecutive cuts since not playing the weekend at the 2022 Masters.

Also read: Who are the experts picking to win the 124^th U.S. Open Championship

Scottie Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler has had a historic start to the 2024 season becoming the first player since Arnold Palmer to have five wins before arriving at the U.S. Open. The five victories, which includes putting on the green jacket in April, are the most in a PGA Tour season since Justin Thomas in 2016-17. Scheffler has been the No. 1 player in the world for 56 consecutive weeks and is nowhere close to giving up by showing that with his footwork off the tee, his iron play and his action around the green.