Which stars stick round on the U.S. Open? And which fade?

Test in to GOLF’s Tour Confidential each Sunday night time for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the most popular matters within the sport. This week, with the U.S. Open at Shinnecock, we’ll hit one key matter every night time.

A ton of stars are atop the leaderboard after at some point on the U.S. Open, though 50 gamers nonetheless have some holes remaining to finish their first spherical. Wyndham Clark leads at six below (via 16), whereas marquee names like Matt Fitzpatrick, Dustin Johnson, Gary Woodland and Jon Rahm are all two below, and Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg at one below. Who’re you most assured sticks round (amongst these gamers or others), and who do you assume doesn’t?

Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh Berhow): Matt Fitzpatrick began slowly however isn’t going wherever. He’s hit a bunch of greens to this point (12 of 16) and is placing properly, and he’s a man who’s favored below robust, U.S. Open circumstances. Alternatively, I don’t assume DJ will stick round. He made a messy double bogey on his final gap earlier than the horn blew, and he simply hasn’t contended in a serious shortly. It could make for a a lot better event if he had been within the combine, however current outcomes haven’t given me a lot optimism.

Sean Zak, senior author (@sean_zak): Individuals could not love to listen to it, however the final time Wyndham Clark’s type was this good was … the summer season of 2023, when he gained the U.S. Open. I believe he’ll ball-strike his means round Shinny and keep in competition. It’s only a matter of how sizzling that putter can keep when these inexperienced speeds improve throughout the weekend.

Nick Piastowski, senior editor (@nickpia): Clark. He’s discovered one thing — win final month on the Byron Nelson, third earlier this month on the Memorial, a tie for eleventh final week on the Canadian Open. Six-under right here is critically good golf, and I don’t see that disappearing. As for who fades, I think about everybody will say Ryder Cowan, the 21-year-old beginner — however I like dude’s persona, and I hope we see a bit extra.   

Josh Sens, senior author (@joshsens): I see all of these gamers sticking round apart from DJ, who will fade when he remembers that he’d moderately be sunbathing on his yacht. I like Henley to remain round as properly—straight hitter, nice putter — and it’s not going out on a limb to say that Scheffler will put himself within the combine.

Zephyr Melton, affiliate game-improvement editor (@zephyrmelton): As a lot as I’d like to see DJ stick round, I simply don’t see him sustaining this tempo over 4 rounds. He hasn’t top-10’d in a serious since 2023, and he hasn’t gained on LIV in over two years. As for who sticks round: I don’t assume Rory, Rahm or Fitz are going wherever. Even when the circumstances get robust, these guys are battle-tested sufficient to remain within the combine.