X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

U.S. Open Player Power Rankings: Top 10 Players To Watch

TourPicks ranks his top-10 Players to watch for at the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. His insights on the top-10 golfers for the week and reasons why they are primed to win.

Its professional golf's ultimate examination of skill, patience, and perseverance. Welcome to U.S. Open week, my personal favorite tournament of the year, and Oakmont Country Club is ready to push players to their breaking point. It's one of the most iconic venues on American soil, and I set out to find the ten players who are best positioned for success. Who's got what it takes to tackle Oakmont?

In this article, given the historical context and data, I'll break down my Top 10 Power Rankings for players based on recent form and specific player profiles that I believe are the best data-driven fits for Oakmont Country Club. It's not only a question of who will survive, but also a question of who is built to thrive when put to the ultimate test in golf.

Let’s get right into my Top 10 Power Rankings for the 2025 U.S. Open:

Featured Promo: Get any DFS Premium Bundle for for 50% off using code SUMMER! Win more with expert advice from proven winners and exclusive DFS tools. Get instant access to RotoBaller's Lineup Optimizers, Research Stations, daily picks and VIP chat rooms across 10 sports! Go Premium, Win More!

No. 10 - Shane Lowry

  • Hard to ignore the extraordinary Ballstriking run that Shane Lowry is currently on. He's playing the best in his career from tee to green.

  • One of the most accurate players in the field off the tee, and Lowry takes advantage often on courses that demand precision. He ranks 2nd best in the field in strokes gained Approach on courses with a high missed fairway penalty, like Oakmont.
  • Will he exercise the demons from 2016, when he led the U.S. Open thru 54 holes at Oakmont Country Club? Lowry shot +6 on Sunday.

 

No. 9 - Sepp Straka

  • When it comes to elite play with their irons, the only player better than Sepp Straka at the moment is Scottie Scheffler.

  • Ranked 2nd in SG: Approach over the past 36 rounds played. Straka has two wins this season and just finished 3rd at the Memorial.
  • He's getting better in Majors, and while he hasn't truly threatened contention, Straka has elevated his game on courses with tough scoring conditions of late.

 

No. 8 - Patrick Cantlay

  • He's the type of strategic technician that you want to back at a U.S. Open. He can play with unwavering focus and has a veteran caddie in Joe Lacava carrying his bag, who understands the assignment.

  • Over the past 30 rounds, Cantlay ranks 21st in SG: OTT and 5th best in SG: APP. You have to be in good control of your golf ball around Oakmont, and this should bring Cantlay confidence.
  • He's been inconsistent with his putter this season, but Cantlay often excels on lightning-fast greens. Oakmont has stated they will aim to get their greens rolling at a 14!!

 

No. 7 - Collin Morikawa

  • Morikawa remains highly accurate off the tee. I don't expect Oakmont to reward power with the Driver disproportionally, but rather an advantage to playing from the fairways and avoiding the five-inch rough.

  • Ranks 3rd best in the field in strokes gained total on hard golf courses. Oakmont will be the hardest course that they play all season.
  • Quite frankly, it's been way too long for a player of the caliber of Collin Morikwa to go winless. I don't think he ends the drought this week, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him on the first page.

No. 6 - Xander Schauffele

  • Schauffele is a proven commodity in Major Championships. Now fully healthy, it's time for him to return to contention.

  • His iron play is improving and showing signs. He's gained strokes on approach in five of his last six tournaments, including +4.3 at the Memorial Tournament.
  • Which Schauffele will get OTT? He ranks a measly 79th OTT over his past 36 rounds, but he 4th best in the field over the past 36 rounds at Majors only.

 

No. 5 - Joaquin Niemann

  • There are too many quality players who haven't tasted the feeling of a win in a long time. Niemann isn't him. He just racked up another victory at LIV Virginia.

  • Niemann has the power and accuracy with his Driver to possess an extreme advantage OTT in tournaments like U.S. Open's.
  • He may have finally cracked the code for the Major at Quail Hollow. It feels like he's now primed to be a regular on Championship Sundays.

 

No. 4 - Jon Rahm

  • Rahm respawned back into the Major Championship scene at the PGA Championship. He finished T8, but was tied for the lead on the back nine on Sunday.
  • Underrated short game with proven ability around the greens on courses with thick greenside rough. He's got great hands and an arsenal of shots he can play.
  • With wet conditions expected, Rahm has the sheer power to carry it about as long as any player in the field. The former U.S. Open Champion is ready to win again.

 

No. 3 - Rory McIlroy

  • When you zoom in, McIlroy is in a weird place heading into this Major. Media drama, his schedule under a microscope, and driver questions make it hard to garner confidence.

  • Zooming out a bit, he won the Masters, the Players, and the Pebble Beach Signature Event in the last four months!
  • He's got the perfect skill attributes to take on a course with the difficulty of Oakmont. McIlroy will be playing the Driver-Wedge combo a lot.

No. 2 - Bryson DeChambeau

  • DeChambeau is the best value proposition on the odds board to win. It's Bryson, Scheffler, and then the rest of the field as far as I'm concerned, and DeChambeau if 3x the odds.

  • Ranks #1 in SG: OTT in the following categories: last 30 rounds total, last 30 rounds in Majors, last 30 rounds on courses with long rough.
  • Vastly underrated short game, DeChambeau is averaging +5.4 strokes gained with his short game in the past six Major Championships.

 

No. 1 - Scottie Scheffler

  • What's really left to say. He's on a generational run that will go down as one of the best in the history of golf.
  • I'm holding out hope of a small chance that he becomes frustrated by the course conditions, because Scottie is the only thing that can stop Scottie at this point.
  • A surgeon off the tee, an artist with the irons, and a wizard around the greens. All that said, it's his course management and strategy that make him the best in the world. Oakmont will demand patience and strategy, and no player is better suited for the challenge.

Enjoy the U.S. Canadian Open, and thanks for reading! Good luck, RotoBaller family!

  Win More With RotoBaller

Win more with expert tools and advice from proven winners! RotoBaller's PGA Premium Packages feature several savvy analysts and proven winners for DFS and betting.

Our very own Joe Nicely took down a big DraftKings DFS tournament for the Travelers Championship. And as an encore, RotoBaller subscriber @tenndolly2 won $100K on FanDuel with the help of Joe and the rest of our Premium PGA team: Between all the incredible Premium PGA DFS and Betting content and tools we put out each week, and our Premium Slack Community where we chat with our subscribers before lineups lock, RotoBaller PGA subscribers are armed with the tools, analysis, and advice to win more.

More PGA Analysis and DFS Lineup Picks

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Los Angeles Chargers

Elijah Ellis Signs with Chargers
Jashaun Corbin

Heading to Atlanta
Kyren Williams

Rams Progressing Toward Extension
Jaxson Dart

Showing Well Early
Max Scherzer

Could Rejoin Blue Jays Next Week
John Klingberg

Rejoins Oilers Lineup Tuesday
Tylor Megill

Placed on 15-Day Injured List, Out 4-5 Weeks With Elbow Sprain
Kasperi Kapanen

Returns to Oilers Lineup for Game 6
Stuart Skinner

Back in Oilers Crease Tuesday
Gabriel Moreno

Scratched on Tuesday With Sore Hand
Rory McIlroy

a Good Course Horse at TPC River Highlands
Scottie Scheffler

Looks to Defend Title at Travelers Championship
Viktor Hovland

a Strong Play at Travelers Championship
Deebo Samuel Sr.

Dan Quinn Says Deebo Samuel Sr. Still Has Plenty of Speed
Sam Burns

' Near Miss at Oakmont May Not Mean Big Things at Travelers
Jalen Coker

Not a Roster Lock?
Ludvig Aberg

Looks to Rebound at Travelers Championship
Ryan Fitzgerald

Favored to Win Panthers Kicking Job?
Efton Chism III

Mixing in with First-Team Offense
Jurickson Profar

Starting Rehab Assignment on Tuesday
Derion Kendrick

Rams Bring Back Derion Kendrick
Jalin Hyatt

Leaves Tuesday's Practice Early with Leg Injury
Will Vest

Likely to Avoid Injured List
Travis Kelce

Expected to Attend Mandatory Minicamp
Travis Hunter

Jaguars Think Travis Hunter Can Play Both Ways in Full Games
Rafael Devers

Expected to Make Giants Debut on Tuesday
Aaron Rodgers

a Perfect Fit for Steelers?
Sam Howell

Could be Front-Runner for No. 2 QB Job
J.J. McCarthy

has Shown Plenty of Arm Strength
Chet Holmgren

Has Tough Shooting Night in Game 5 Against Pacers
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Outstanding at Both Ends Monday
Jalen Williams

Erupts for 40 Points in Game 5 Win
Pascal Siakam

Has Best Game of Finals Monday
Tyrese Haliburton

Determined to Battle Through Calf Injury
LeBron James

Progressing Well From Knee Injury
Lucas Giolito

Strikes Out Season-High 10 in Monday's Win
Logan Gilbert

Fans 10 in Return on Monday
Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers, DeShon Elliott Agree to Two-Year Extension
Ryan Pepiot

Strikes Out 11 in Win
Hunter Goodman

Homers Twice, Drives in Three
Stephen Curry

"Not Even Close" to Retirement
Jonathan Kuminga

Linked to Bulls, Heat
Kevin Durant

Has "No Desire" to be Traded to Minnesota
Isaac Paredes

Returns as DH on Monday
New York Giants

Mike Kafka Expected to Reclaim Play-Calling Duties
Jon Runyan

Limited During Minicamp
Saquon Barkley

Feels Great Physically
Justin Simmons

Panthers Have Talked With Justin Simmons
Jordan Addison

Trial Date Set for July 15
Jarace Walker

Remains Sidelined for Game 5
Justin Verlander

Returning to the Rotation on Wednesday
Tony Finau

Finishes Tied For 38th at U.S. Open
Bud Cauley

Misses The Cut at U.S. Open
Cameron Young

Finishes Tied For Fourth at U.S. Open
J.J. Spaun

Wins U.S. Open
Xander Schauffele

Finishes Tied For 12th at U.S. Open
Robert MacIntyre

Finishes Second at U.S. Open
Si Woo Kim

Finishes Tied For 42nd at U.S. Open
Luke Clanton

Misses The Cut at RBC Canadian Open
Giancarlo Stanton

to Make Season Debut on Monday
Kamaru Usman

Gets Back In The Win Column
Joaquin Buckley

Winning Streak Comes To An End
Miranda Maverick

Drops Decision At UFC Atlanta
Rose Namajunas

Wins Decision At UFC Atlanta
Andre Petroski

Suffers Unanimous-Decision Loss
Edmen Shahbazyan

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Raoni Barcelos

Wins Third Fight In A Row
Chase Elliott

Ends Mexico City with A Great Finish of Third
Christopher Bell

has A Strong Runner-Up Performance At Mexico City
Chase Briscoe

Wild Day Ends with A Top-10 Finish
Michael McDowell

Leaves Mexico City with A Top-Five Finish
Cody Garbrandt

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Cody Brundage

Defeated After Accidental Clash Of Heads
Cody Brundage

Mansur Abdul-Malik Defeats Cody Brundage By Technical Decision
Oumar Sy

Suffers His First Loss
Alonzo Menifield

Scores Upset Win
Alex Bowman

Delivers Bravura Performance After Michigan Injury
Tyler Reddick

Inexplicably Mediocre on his Once-Best Track Type
John Hunter Nemechek

Canny Strategy Gives John Hunter Nemechek Best Career Road-Course Finish
Cole Custer

Earns Best Finish Since Cup-Series Comeback at Mexico City
Grant Holmes

Punches Out 15 in Loss
Elly De La Cruz

Goes Yard in Fourth Straight Game
Will Vest

Dealing With Finger Injury
Jackson Merrill

Placed on Seven-Day Concussion Injured List
Shohei Ohtani

Will Be Dodgers' Starting Pitcher Monday
Roki Sasaki

Shut Down From Throwing
Jordan Hicks

Headed to Boston
Kyle Harrison

Traded to Red Sox
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

on the Move to Memphis
Cole Anthony

Dealt to the Grizzlies
Desmond Bane

Traded to Orlando
Steven Adams

Rockets Agree to Three-Year Contract Extension
Ty Dillon

Is a Respectable Cap Flexiblity-Focused DFS Option For Mexico City
Corey Perry

Produces 10th Postseason Goal
Connor McDavid

Scores First Finals Goal
John Hunter Nemechek

Is John Hunter Nemechek Worth Rostering In Mexico City DFS Lineups?
Sam Bennett

Nets Another Road Goal in Game 5 Win
Eetu Luostarinen

Earns Two Points Saturday
Brad Marchand

Pots Two Goals in Game 5 Victory
Sergei Bobrovsky

Ties NHL Record with 10th Road Win
Ross Chastain

Trackhouse Racing's Mexico Focus Makes Ross Chastain a Leading Contender for the Win
Kyle Busch

One of Two Past Mexico City Winners in the Field
Ryan Preece

Earns Surprising Front-Row Start
Austin Cindric

Not as Strong of a Road Racer as People Think
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Stronger on Infield Road Courses Than Purpose-Built Ones
Joey Logano

Seemingly Alternating Between Good and Mediocre Races
Brad Keselowski

One of the Few Drivers with Mexico City Experience
Denny Hamlin

Ryan Truex Makes First Cup Series Start Since 2014
Erik Jones

Mexico City Will Likely be a Struggle for Erik Jones
Noah Gragson

Front Row Motorsports' Speed May Make Noah Gragson a Decent DFS Option
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Road Courses Are Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s Worst Track Type
Evander Kane

Drops to Fourth Line Saturday
Kasperi Kapanen

Won't Play on Saturday
Calvin Pickard

Starts Game 5 for Oilers
Tyrese Haliburton

Struggles in Friday's Loss to OKC
Chet Holmgren

Dominates the Glass in Game 4
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Leads the Way in Game 4
Jalen Williams

Has a Quality Showing on Friday Night
Russell Westbrook

to Decline Player Option
Kevin Durant

Trade Could Happen in the "Next Few Days"
Joaquin Buckley

Set For Main Event
Kamaru Usman

An Underdog At UFC Atlanta
Miranda Maverick

Set For Co-Main Event
Rose Namajunas

Looks To Bounce Back
Andre Petroski

Looks To Extend His Win Streak To Four
Edmen Shahbazyan

A Favorite At UFC Atlanta
Raoni Barcelos

Set To Take On Former Champion
Cody Garbrandt

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Mansur Abdul-Malik

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Connor Hellebuyck

Wins Vezina And Hart Trophies
Aleksander Barkov

Records Two Power-Play Assists Thursday
Sam Reinhart

Collects Three Points in Thursday's Loss
Matthew Tkachuk

Notches Three Points in Losing Effort
Calvin Pickard

Joins Exclusive List with Thursday's Win
Mattias Ekholm

Logs Two Assists in Comeback Victory
Leon Draisaitl

Delivers Victory in Overtime Thursday
Myles Turner

Playing Through Illness
Anze Kopitar

Wins Third Lady Byng Trophy
Sergei Bobrovsky

Heading Out for Win No. 15
Matt McCarty

Comes Off Season-Best Showing at RBC Canadian Open
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF