Deadspin | Take 5: Most most probably first-time main winners at U.S. Open

The previous six main championships were ruled via the similar 4 faces: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau.

Not simplest have they mixed to win the ones six titles, they have dotted the highest 10 on each and every leaderboard, contending and pushing one any other.

All 4 of the ones stars personal more than one majors, and the game hasn’t had a first-time winner since Brian Harman on the 2023 Open Championship. We may well be past due for a newcomer because the USGA units up Oakmont Country Club for the U.S. Open this week.

Here are 5 golfers at the precipice in their main championship leap forward — and why there may be explanation why to consider they might be within the combine on Sunday in Pennsylvania.

–Tommy Fleetwood

I stay satisfied Fleetwood will win a big earlier than his time is up.

He top-10’d at each and every main between 2022 and 2024 as his sport turns out to recover with age. Fleetwood ranks 7th at the PGA Tour in general strokes won this season, and he is not missing in anybody house. In specific, he is stable off the tee, and correct riding is bound to be one of the vital keys at Oakmont with its thick tough.

In the previous 4 U.S. Opens, 70 % of avid gamers’ strokes won off the tee got here from accuracy, simplest 30 % from distance.

–Sepp Straka

Nobody, now not even within the easiest ranks of golfing cognoscenti, noticed Straka coming. His personal brother was once extra extremely recruited to play school golfing.

Now the Austria native-turned-Alabama resident is one in all the most up to date avid gamers on this planet, with wins on the American Express and the Truist Championship to turn for it.

Some of those ratings are wild: Second in general strokes won! First in birdie moderate and vegetables in law proportion! He’s additionally 11th in riding accuracy, and on the U.S. Open final 12 months at Pinehurst No. 2, Straka led the sphere in fairways in law. Don’t be shocked if he is out in entrance at any level this week.

–Marc Leishman

This spot will have long gone to Joaquin Niemann, coming off a victory Sunday at LIV Golf Virginia, however his main historical past hasn’t lived as much as the lofty expectancies round him. Niemann mentioned himself that he thinks he is nonetheless a long way off from profitable a big.

I’m eyeing Leishman, the veteran Australian who sits 8th within the LIV desk this 12 months, with a win at Doral and a top-10 Sunday. He tied for 14th on the 2024 U.S. Open and tied for 18th the final time it was once held at Oakmont (2016).

Most particularly, Leishman certified for the U.S. Open the old fashioned approach whilst a majority of LIV contributors dropped out, appearing he is assured in his sport.

–Patrick Cantlay

The ultimate spherical at Pinehurst was once so ate up via DeChambeau vs. McIlroy that Cantlay’s highest appearing at a big turned into an afterthought. Thanks to a gap 65 and no main blunders, he was once within the height 3 on the finish of each and every spherical and completed simplest two pictures again.

The U.S. Open could also be the main he is highest fitted to win. He has 4 directly top-15 finishes, and he ranked 14th in hanging final 12 months, 9th in 2023 and fourth in 2022. Listen, I do know the bloom is off the rose with this man, however I have not forgotten the snatch putts Cantlay made within the 2021 FedEx Cup playoffs.

–Sam Burns

Speaking of Americans who generally tend to get misplaced within the shuffle, all 5 of Burns’ PGA Tour wins got here between May 2021 and March 2023 earlier than he fell off for some time.

He’s hardly carried out smartly within the majors, however his highest appearing in order that came about to be a T9 on the 2024 U.S. Open.

Now he is construction on the proper time, as a number of top-20s culminated in his breakout weekend on the RBC Canadian Open. Statistically, Burns may be the most efficient putter on excursion this 12 months. Now, did that assist him win a playoff in opposition to Ryan Fox on Sunday? No, however it’s going to stay him sane this week if the USGA makes a decision to trick out the Oakmont vegetables.

–Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media