US Open 2025 expert picks: 5 names that could shine

The 125th edition of the 2025 US Open will be played from June 12 to 15. The Oakmont Country Club is set to play host to the third Major championship of the year.

The 156-player field features many of the world's top professional golfers, including amateur players taking on one of golf's biggest stages. While Scottie Scheffler is the popular pick for this week, several other players are also seeking to earn their maiden US Open title, just like the World No. 1 golfer.

Here's a look at five players to watch out for at the 2025 US Open:

#1. Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy, RBC Canadian Open (Image via Imagn)

Rory McIlroy heads into the 2025 US Open with odds of +1,100 according to the PGA Tour. He will make his 17th appearance on Thursday, June 12, and seeks to make his 12th cut.

The Northern Irishman has a great track record at the US Open. He has recorded top ten finishes in his last six event starts. He fell short of winning last year and settled for a second-place finish at Pinehurst while Bryson DeChambeau claimed the victory.

#2. Sam Burns

Sam Burns, RBC Canadian Open (Image via Imagn)

According to the PGA Tour, Sam Burns bears odds of +8,000 to win the 2025 US Open. He settled for a solo second-place finish last week at the RBC Canadian Open after losing to Ryan Fox in a playoff that lasted four holes.

The American golfer recorded his best finish at the Major championship last year. A total even par score earned him a top 10 finish at Pinehurst. As Burns made his US Open debut at Oakmont Country Club in 2016, he seeks to return stronger than ever.

Sam Burns leads the PGA Tour field in strokes gained in putting. This is sure to help him post more birdies this week on one of Pennsylvania's most challenging courses.

#3. Shane Lowry

Shane Lowry, RBC Canadian Open (Image via Imagn)

With odds of +4,000 to win this week, Shane Lowry is a solid bet. Heading into the opening round, he knows a thing or two about navigating the Oakmont Country Club's challenging layout.

The Irishman tied for second place in 2016 at the Pennsylvania-based golf course with a 1-under par score. In his last five starts on the PGA Tour, Lowry has recorded three top 25 finishes, including a tied-for-second-place finish at the Truist Championship.

#4. Keegan Bradley

Keegan Bradley, the Memorial Tournament (Image via Getty)

Keegan Bradley has his eyes set on winning his maiden US Open title this week. Making his 13th appearance, he posted his best finish in 2014, where he tied for fourth place at Pinehurst.

The Team USA Ryder Cup captain has recorded three top ten finishes this year, with two being posted consecutively in his last two starts. He is one of the PGA Tour's best iron players with +0.577 strokes gained in approaches this season. His ability to hunt tricky pin positions, combined with his driver accuracy, makes Keegan Bradley one to watch out for.

#5. Sepp Straka

Sepp Straka, the Memorial Tournament (Image via Getty)

Sepp Straka has odds of +5,000 to win the 2025 US Open according to the PGA Tour. He will make his fifth start in the Major championship after a best finish of 28th in 2019.

While the Austrian golfer has not had much luck at the US Open in the past, he has drawn a lot of attention to his name this year on the PGA Tour. In his last three starts, he has posted two top-three finishes, including a win at the Truist Championship.

Straka ranks third in the PGA Tour field in strokes gained in approaches and second in total strokes gained. Considered an all-rounder player, he is a good pick to haul the trophy this week.

About the author

Lathika is one of the newer additions to Sportskeeda’s budding golf journalism team and has brought plenty of in-game experience to the role. Having been a golfer for over 12 years now, some of her crowning achievements include winning titles on the Indian Golf Union Ladies tour and Junior Girls Amateur tour.

She currently competes in Division 1 golf in New York, and hopes to play in the U.S. Open and Chevron Championship one day. She is set to cover the 2025 Ryder Cup as well. She is currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration and Management, and holds a Sports Marketing certification from Northwestern University, which helped her learn to draft press releases and ultimately transition into journalism.

Lathika has thus developed a knowledge base that allows her to view golf from both player, spectator and media lenses, enabling her to bring statistics, insights and an understanding of fan emotion together in her copies. She only uses verified information from reliable sources like the PGA TOUR.

Her favorite golfers are Nelly Korda and Tiger Woods, both for their playing style as well as their mental strength. Much of her time away from work is spent playing golf, but she also enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and learning new hobbies or upskilling.

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Edited by Hitesh Nigam