European golfers eye US Open hat-trick at Shinnecock
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- Rory McIlroy successfully defended his Masters title before Aaron Rai claimed a shock PGA Championship victory — marking the first time in the modern era European golfers have won the first two majors of a calendar year
- Scottie Scheffler enters as pre-tournament favourite at Shinnecock Hills, where a win would complete the career Grand Slam at the first time of asking and on his 30th birthday, per Brandel Chamblee
- Jon Rahm chases a third major title after winning twice on LIV Golf this season and finishing tied-second behind Rai at the PGA Championship, with Sky Sports' Andrew Coltart saying "it would be nice to see Jon break through again"
- Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, arrives off a runner-up finish at last week's RBC Canadian Open and has won three times on the PGA Tour this season, with Laurie Canter calling him "underrated"
- Tommy Fleetwood equalled the Shinnecock course record with a final-round 63 in 2018, finishing runner-up to Brooks Koepka, while 2013 champion Justin Rose won the Farmers Insurance Open and challenged McIlroy at the Masters
- JJ Spaun returns as defending champion after a two-shot victory last year, with Brooks Koepka also chasing a third US Open title
- The last four US Open champions have come from outside the world's top 10, undercutting the favourite tag for world No 1 Scheffler
Why it matters: A third consecutive European major win would mark an unprecedented sweep in the modern era — McIlroy's Masters-Rai's PGA Championship run is already the first such opening for European golfers, per the source. McIlroy also has a shot at completing the third leg of the "double Grand Slam," while Scheffler's chase for a career Grand Slam on his 30th birthday adds a once-in-a-generation individual storyline.
