European Golfers Seek Historic Third Straight Major at US Open

A historic run of European success in men's golf faces its next test this week at the 2026 US Open, where a strong contingent from the continent will try to secure a third consecutive major title. The tournament, being held at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York, comes after Rory McIlroy successfully defended his Masters title and Aaron Rai claimed a surprise victory at the PGA Championship, marking the first time in the modern era that European players have won the first two majors of a calendar year.

The US Open, the third major of the season, offers several European contenders the chance to continue this unprecedented streak. Key figures include Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, Jon Rahm, who has won two LIV Golf events in 2026, and Tommy Fleetwood, who memorably shot a course-record 63 on the final day to finish runner-up at Shinnecock Hills in 2018. McIlroy, a former US Open champion who won his first major title at the event in 2011, expressed confidence about the challenge ahead.

"I think over time we [Europeans] have got a lot more comfortable with the style of golf that you need to play and the set-ups around here," McIlroy said in his pre-tournament press conference. "I would say this is more a UK or European style of test than certainly the first two majors at Augusta and Aronimink, so it certainly wouldn't surprise me to see a few players from Europe and the UK in contention."

Shinnecock Hills, set up at 7,440 yards as a par-70, is hosting the US Open for the sixth time, with its demanding rough and tight fairways often favouring a controlled, strategic style of play. The course is regarded as one of the hardest in the world. The world No. 1, American Scottie Scheffler, is also a major focus as he attempts to complete the career Grand Slam after winning The Open Championship last year. The final round of the tournament falls on Scheffler's 30th birthday.

Defending champion JJ Spaun is also in the field, along with other LIV Golf players such as Bryson DeChambeau. In the UK and Ireland, all four rounds of the tournament are being broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf, with extended coverage from Tuesday's practice days through to Sunday's final round.