Photo by Benny Hassum on Unsplash The PGA Championship is the second major of the calendar year, typically played in May. Organized by the PGA of America (distinct from the PGA Tour), it carries full major championship weight and a rich history that includes some of the sport's most dramatic finishes. Here's a complete guide to what the PGA Championship rewards, who historically performs best, and what to expect in upcoming editions. The PGA Championship's Unique Identity Among the four major championships, the PGA Championship is sometimes unfairly dismissed as the "fourth" major — the one that follows the Masters, US Open, and Open Championship in prestige. This is an undeserved reputation. The PGA Championship has produced some of the sport's greatest moments and is played at world-class venues on a rotating basis. What makes it distinct is its field composition: unlike the other majors, the PGA Championship traditionally includes the top 20 players from t...
The US Open is the toughest test in major championship golf. Where the Masters rewards precision and the Open Championship rewards creativity, the US Open demands pure survival ability. Thick rough, narrow fairways, lightning-fast greens, and relentless setup pressure from the USGA combine to create scoring conditions that push even the world's best players to double bogey on what would be routine holes at any other venue. Here's everything you need to know about the 2025 US Open.
What Makes the US Open Unique
The USGA deliberately sets up US Open conditions to make par feel like an achievement. Their philosophy: even par should be a respectable score, and the winning total may be above par in difficult conditions. This is different from virtually every other Tour event, where 20-under is common and winning requires birdie-making ability.
The implications are significant. US Open winners aren't always the best birdie-makers on Tour. They're often the players who make the fewest mistakes — who grind out pars, avoid the rough, manage their way around the course, and capitalize on the rare opportunities that present themselves.
Key Skills for US Open Success
Driving accuracy: Missing fairways in US Open rough is expensive. A ball in 4-inch rough costs a half to full club of distance and makes spin control nearly impossible
Iron play under pressure: Many US Open approach shots are from difficult lies to protected, fast greens. Precision from 150–200 yards separates contenders from the field
Short game from around greens: Getting up and down from US Open rough and tight lies is technically demanding. Players who chip well save strokes others donate
Putting on fast, firm greens: USGA typically firms and speeds greens through the week. Managing 3-putt risk on greens running 13–14 on the stimpmeter is critical
Patience and mental resilience: The US Open rewards players who accept bogeys gracefully rather than compounding them with aggressive recovery attempts
Top Contenders: Player Profiles
Scottie Scheffler
Scheffler's ball-striking accuracy and consistency make him the natural favorite for any US Open regardless of course. He rarely makes double bogeys, he hits fairways at rates well above Tour average, and he brings the mental steadiness US Open conditions demand. His one relative weakness — making birdies in bursts — matters less here than at typical Tour events.
Rory McIlroy
McIlroy has proven US Open pedigree, winning at Congressional in 2011 with a record-breaking performance. He's a superior driver of the ball who finds fairways consistently, and his iron accuracy from fairways (when not in rough) is elite. The question is always putting — when his putter is on, he's nearly unbeatable at major venues.
Collin Morikawa
Morikawa's legendary iron precision makes him a perennial US Open threat. His approach play statistics consistently rank among the Tour's best, and approach play wins US Opens more reliably than any other skill. He doesn't make many mistakes and rarely loses his head when conditions get difficult.
Xander Schauffele
Schauffele has historically been unlucky in majors, but talent has never been the issue. His all-around game — driving distance with reasonable accuracy, excellent approach play, solid putting — profiles perfectly for US Open conditions. He's due for a breakout major performance.
Course Setup Considerations
US Open courses are typically among the most challenging on the USGA's rotation: Pinehurst No. 2, Torrey Pines, Winged Foot, Pebble Beach, Oakmont, and Shinnecock Hills are the famous names. Each presents different challenges but shares the USGA's commitment to making par difficult. Weather at the chosen venue — wind, heat, afternoon rain — can dramatically change scoring conditions between rounds.
The Scoring Reality
Expect the US Open scoring to look unusual if you're accustomed to watching regular Tour events. Positive-to-even scoring after round one is common. Leaders at five-under are frequently holding comfortable advantages. And the Sunday leaderboard often features names that finished the front nine at even par — because that's what the back nine's difficulty demands from even the best players.
How to Watch
The US Open is broadcast on NBC and Peacock in the United States, with extensive coverage available on the US Open app and USGA streaming platforms. Check USGA.org for the official broadcast schedule and supplemental coverage options.
Final Thoughts
The US Open is the one major where drama is virtually guaranteed. The difficulty of the setup ensures that late-round leaders will stumble, that players the leaderboard forgot will surge, and that something unexpected will happen on every back nine Sunday. It's the most honest test in professional golf. Whatever happens in 2025 or 2026, it will be worth watching closely.
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