The US Open is not just another major – it is golf’s ultimate examination. A tournament steeped in history, resilience, and the demand for perfection, it returns in 2025 to a venue that embodies all of those traits and more: the formidable Oakmont Country Club.
Nestled in the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania, Oakmont has long been a cathedral of championship golf.
Its diabolical greens, punishing rough, and exacting fairways have tested the legends of the game across generations.
As the third major of the year looms, the question is not just who can win – but who can endure?
Here, Sport Preview tips up four players to watch as they prepare to face one of golf’s most merciless challenges.
Bryson DeChambeau – 7/1 (8 places E/W)
When it comes to power and precision, few in the modern game boast the arsenal of Bryson DeChambeau.
A former US Open champion and now a marquee name on the LIV Golf circuit, DeChambeau arrives at Oakmont with both pedigree and form.
His muscular game, once considered unorthodox, may prove the perfect match for Oakmont’s demands – particularly if early-week rain softens the turf and brings his booming drives into play.
He thrives on demanding layouts, and his comfort on fast Bentgrass greens adds further appeal.
While all eyes may be on the ever-consistent Scottie Scheffler, DeChambeau offers the firepower – and fearlessness – to go head-to-head with the tournament favourite on golf’s grandest stage.
Joaquin Niemann – 25/1 (8 places EW)
Joaquin Niemann’s steady climb into the upper echelons of the sport may soon reach its crescendo.
His top-10 finish at Valhalla was the latest marker in his development, and with another LIV victory under his belt, the Chilean looks ready to make his presence felt at the game’s sternest test.
Niemann’s blend of length and accuracy off the tee, combined with a razor-sharp iron game, gives him the kind of balanced profile that Oakmont rewards.
At just 26, his trajectory continues upward, and this week could mark the moment he transitions from contender to major champion.
Sepp Straka – 28/1 (10 places EW)
Not every US Open demands brute force – sometimes it takes brains over brawn.
Sepp Straka’s calculated game has quietly built him a reputation as one of the steadiest performers on Tour.
Oakmont’s narrow corridors and penal rough place a premium on finding fairways, and Straka’s driving accuracy stands out.
Add to that his elite approach play and a tidy touch on the greens, and you have a player capable of navigating the course’s many pitfalls with a steady hand.
In a year where power may be blunted by punishing conditions, Straka’s all-round control could see him rise above the carnage.
Harris English – 50/1 (10 places EW)
Quietly, diligently, Harris English has assembled a season worthy of acclaim.
Already a winner in 2025 and a near-champion at the PGA, English has become a fixture in major leaderboards – and now arrives at Oakmont with both form and confidence.
He ranks highly in several key metrics suited to a US Open grind: accuracy, scrambling, and the ever-important bogey avoidance.
The 35-year-old’s game is tailor-made for survival on a course where double bogeys lurk at every turn.
If experience and resilience count for anything – and at Oakmont, they always do – English could be this year’s dark horse.
