The U.S. Open field is taking shape, with recent tournament victors such as Kristoffer Reitan and Alex Fitzpatrick securing their places. However, for some prominent names, the route to Shinnecock Hills remains uncertain.
Limited Opportunities to Qualify
The Charles Schwab Challenge presents one of the few remaining opportunities for players to qualify for the U.S. Open. The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield and the RBC Canadian Open also offer pathways.
Players Under Pressure
Several players at the Charles Schwab Challenge are under pressure to perform. Mitchell and Thorbjornsen are among the favourites to win, while Greyserman and Hojgaard are seen as having a fair chance in a field without the world’s top eight players. Greyserman’s recent form includes top-40 finishes in his last four events, but he still needs a strong showing to improve his ranking.
A top 10 finish at TPC Craig Ranch moved him up just one spot in the OWGR and he is not exempt to play at the Memorial. If he performs well in Texas, his ranking should improve, but there are no guarantees. A missed cut could put him in a difficult position. The situation is clear: perform well in Texas or Canada, succeed in Final Qualifying, or risk being the highest-ranked player absent from the U.S. Open.
Ryder Cup Player’s Qualification at Risk
Højgaard is the only player from the 2025 Ryder Cup not currently exempt to play at Shinnecock. He started the season inside the top 40 in the OWGR. However, he has struggled with consistency, recording only one top-20 finish at the Cognizant Classic this season.
Finau and Homa’s Uncertain Path
Tour mainstays Finau and Homa also face uncertainty. Finau failed to qualify for the Masters, ending a streak of seven consecutive appearances at Augusta. He is now at risk of missing the U.S. Open, a tournament he has played in seven times consecutively. Notably, he was in the final grouping in 2018 when Shinnecock last hosted the tournament. Finau bogeyed three of his first four holes and finished in a tie for fifth.
Homa’s situation is also precarious, having been knocked out of U.S. Open contention in a playoff at final qualifying last year. Despite moments of good form this year, including a T-9 finish at Augusta, his current ranking leaves him with no clear path to Shinnecock other than an outright win or another attempt at qualifying.
With limited opportunities remaining, these players face a critical period to secure their places at Shinnecock Hills.