Top five pairings for the 2024 U.S. Open

The 2024 United States Open begins on Thursday morning with television coverage starting bright and early at 4:30 AM MT. Here are five very intriguing pairings over the next 48 hours.

5) Will Zalatoris/Tiger Woods/Matthew Fitzpatrick

This group has Matthew Fitzpatrick of Sheffield, England, the 2022 United States Open champion, and Tiger Woods of Cypress, California, the 15-time major champion. He won the 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2019 Masters, the 1999, 2000, 2006 and 2007 PGA Championship, the 2000, 2002 and 2008 United States Open, and 2000, 2005 and 2006 British Open. The other player is world number 39 Will Zalatoris of San Francisco, California, who has finished third at three major titles.

4) Justin Rose/Gary Woodland/Webb Simpson

This group have each won one United States Open. Simpson of Raleigh, North Carolina won in 2012, Rose of London, England won in 2013, and Woodland of Topeka, Kansas, won in 2019.

3) Shane Lowry/Keegan Bradley/Martin Kaymer

This group of three are major champions from three different countries. Shane Lowry of Clara, Ireland won the 2019 British Open. Keegan Bradley of Woodstock, Vermont won the 2011 PGA Championship. Martin Kaymer of Dusseldorf, Germany won the 2010 PGA Championship and 2014 United States Open. The 2014 United States Open took place at Pinehurst, the last time the course held a major in men’s golf.

2) Justin Thomas/Collin Morikawa/Brooks Koepka

This trio contains three Americans who have won multiple major championships. Justin Thomas of Louisville, Kentucky won the 2017 and 2022 PGA Championship. Collin Morikawa of Los Angeles, California won the 2020 PGA Championship and 2021 British Open. Brooks Koepka of West Palm Beach, Florida won the 2017 and 2018 United States Open, and 2018, 2019, and 2023 PGA Championship. Of this group, Morikawa might have the most momentum, as he finished second to Scottie Scheffler at The Memorial this past weekend.

1) Xander Schauffele/Rory McIlroy/Scottie Scheffler

This group of three are the top three golfers in the world and our top three best bets to win the third major of the year. They are also major champions. Scottie Scheffler of Ridgewood, New Jersey, the world number one, won the 2022 and 2024 Masters. Xander Schauffele of San Diego, California, the world number two, won the 2024 PGA Championship. McIlroy, the world three from Holywood, Northern Ireland, won the 2011 United States Open, the 2012 and 2014 PGA Championship, and the 2014 British Open.