With the U.S. Open, the third major golf championship of the year, just a week away, many leading players from both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf are focused on refining their skills. They are preparing for the challenge awaiting them next week at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh.
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy is scheduled to compete in the PGA Tour`s RBC Canadian Open. Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau, the reigning U.S. Open champion, will be playing in the LIV Golf League event held in Gainesville, Virginia.
“We are all striving to achieve feats not seen in a long time, and winning consecutively would be fantastic,” DeChambeau remarked. “Winning three in a row would be an even greater accomplishment, so that goal is definitely on my mind.”
Upcoming on the PGA Tour
- Event: RBC Canadian Open
- Dates: Thursday-Sunday
- Location: TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course), Caledon, Ontario
- Defending Champion: Robert MacIntyre
- Prize Purse: $9.8 million
Rory McIlroy Returns
After taking a break and missing last week`s Memorial Tournament (a signature event), McIlroy is back in action in Canada. Having previously won the Canadian Open in 2019 and 2022, he aims to join an elite group of three-time champions, including Tommy Armour, Sam Snead, and Lee Trevino.
McIlroy expressed his satisfaction with the PGA Tour`s decision to move the Canadian Open earlier in the schedule.
“I genuinely appreciate the change in date,” McIlroy stated. “I find it beneficial that it`s scheduled the week before the U.S. Open. I`ve mentioned this before, but prior to playing this event in 2016, 2017, and 2018, I missed the cut three consecutive times at the U.S. Open. Since I started playing the Canadian Open the week prior, I`ve achieved six consecutive top-10 finishes in the U.S. Open. There`s clearly something positive about this timing.”
Following his Masters victory, which completed his career Grand Slam, McIlroy admitted that “spending three or four hours on the range daily might be a bit more challenging than it used to be.”
“When you achieve a significant life goal that you`ve worked towards, it can sometimes be difficult to regain the motivation and continue pushing forward,” McIlroy commented. “I believe the last two weeks have been beneficial for me, serving as a reset to reassess my mental state, my goals, and where I want to play. It was good to reset my objectives.”
Scheffler Secures Ryder Cup Spot
Although the Ryder Cup is still over three months away, World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler is the first player to officially secure a place on the U.S. team for the event against Europe at Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York, from September 26-28.
The PGA of America announced that Scheffler has accumulated enough Ryder Cup points, totaling 25,918.25, which is more than double the points of the next highest player, Xander Schauffele (11,905.84).
U.S. team captain Keegan Bradley praised Scheffler, saying, “Scottie consistently demonstrates why he is the world`s top player, showing remarkable consistency and dominance week after week. He embodies the ultimate team player, and I am confident he will be ready and motivated in September. I couldn`t be more pleased to have him on the U.S. Team.”
The top six eligible golfers in the Ryder Cup points standings after the BMW Championship on August 17, 2025, will automatically qualify. Captain Bradley will then select an additional six players.
This will mark Scheffler`s third appearance in the Ryder Cup. He had a 0-2-2 record in the U.S. team`s 16½-11½ loss at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club near Rome in 2023. As a rookie in 2021 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, he contributed significantly with a 2-0-1 record in a dominant 19-9 victory.
Scheffler commented on his selection, “Representing the United States in the Ryder Cup is among the greatest honors of my career, and I eagerly anticipate doing so for the third time this September. I am committed to doing whatever it takes to help our team reclaim the Cup and I look forward to competing in front of the enthusiastic New York fans at Bethpage Black.”
Promising Amateurs Turn Professional
Three golfers are making their professional debuts at the RBC Canadian Open this week: Luke Clanton, Gordon Sargent, and David Ford.
High expectations surround Clanton, a former standout at Florida State. He had two runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour as an amateur last year, tying for second at the John Deere Classic and the RSM Classic. He was the first amateur since Jack Nicklaus in 1961 to record three or more top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour in a single season.
This year, Clanton tied for 15th at the Farmers Insurance Open and 18th at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.
“It`s been amazing,” Clanton told reporters in Canada. “It`s something you always dream about, constantly. To finally be here and call myself a professional feels a bit — honestly, a little strange initially because I`ve always been an amateur.”
“It`s fantastic. I`m simply excited to come out here and compete. It`s not about the money or the fame. It`s about competing against these players on tour. It`s something I`ve pursued my entire life, and especially with my family`s support.”
Clanton was ranked the No. 1 amateur globally before turning pro this week. He recently received the Ben Hogan Award as the top collegiate golfer after winning four times for FSU this spring.
Clanton is grouped with Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Åberg for the first two rounds.
On Tuesday, Clanton expressed gratitude to his mother, Rhonda, who recently retired after over four decades as a Delta flight attendant, and his father, David, who ran two businesses to support his son`s private education and golf career.
“What they did, not just for me, but also for my two older sisters, to help us through everything, was truly remarkable,” Clanton said. “Again, my mom and dad are incredibly hard-working individuals, and they will never claim credit for it, which sometimes frustrates me because they gave absolutely everything they could.”
Clanton is known for hitting the ball a long way off the tee (his average of 312.4 yards would place him 14th on tour if he had played enough rounds to qualify). He considers his “strong mentality” one of his greatest assets.
When asked if he had been approached by the LIV Golf League, Clanton stated, “I want to play on the PGA Tour, it`s that simple. I want to compete against the best players, participate in majors, and that`s my focus. It`s straightforward.”
Gordon Sargent, the 2022 NCAA individual champion as a freshman at Vanderbilt, was the low amateur at the 2023 U.S. Open. He earned his PGA Tour card through the PGA Tour University Accelerated pathway in October 2023 but chose to defer turning professional to complete his time at Vanderbilt.
David Ford, who won five events for North Carolina this past season, finished first in the PGA Tour University Rankings, also securing his card. He was awarded the Jack Nicklaus Award and Fred Haskins Awards this spring.
All three players are guaranteed PGA Tour status through the 2026 season.
Upcoming in the LIV Golf League
- Event: LIV Golf Virginia
- Dates: Friday-Sunday
- Location: Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Gainesville, Virginia
- Defending Champion: Harold Varner III
- Prize Purse: $25 million
Bryson DeChambeau`s Packed Schedule
Beyond tying for second at the PGA Championship, defending U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau has recently been seen hitting drives in various unusual locations, including Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a mountain range, the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, and even the White House.
This reflects just another typical month for professional golf`s “content king,” who boasts over 2 million subscribers on his YouTube channel.
“How do I manage to sleep? I actually sleep quite well,” DeChambeau explained. “It requires a lot of planning. We strategize, prepare, and then execute according to our plans, coordinating with others` schedules.”
DeChambeau mentioned riding along for some 180 mph laps at the famous Indianapolis oval and noted he is now using salt sourced from Utah in his meals.
DeChambeau initially hesitated about hitting golf balls on the White House lawn until encouraged by President Donald Trump.
“I never imagined I would ever have the chance to do that,” DeChambeau said, “but the President himself told me, `Just go out there and hit some shots.` So I replied, `Okay, yes, sir.` It was quite an experience. The distance was 105 yards, and I hit some good shots that landed within a couple of feet, nearly making a few of them.”
The current U.S. Open champion emphasized that his main objective remains winning golf tournaments.
“Do I want to win every event I enter? Absolutely, 100 percent,” DeChambeau stated. “From my perspective, I will always be the most determined competitor out there. However, my various activities also allow me to pursue other meaningful ventures.”
“I`ve always wanted to create my YouTube channel after seeing what creators like MrBeast and Dude Perfect accomplished in the mid-2010s,” he added. “I thought, `Why can`t I do something similar?` I believe there`s potential to be as influential as I am now, and this feels like just the beginning. I think there`s much more to come.”
Joaquín Niemann`s Progress
Torque GC captain Joaquín Niemann hopes his tied-for-eighth finish at the PGA Championship signals a positive turn, as it was his first top-10 result in 24 starts in golf`s four major championships. His final score of 4-under 143 placed him seven strokes behind winner Scottie Scheffler.
“I didn`t feel like I played my best golf,” Niemann commented. “I felt I had the potential to play much better at the time and achieve a significantly better result. But I believe we can focus on the positives and progress step by step. This is my first top-10 finish in a major, so that`s a positive step.”
Winning on the LIV Golf League circuit has not been an issue for Niemann, who has claimed victory five times since February 2024, including three wins this season. His success on the Saudi Arabian-funded tour prompted Phil Mickelson to controversially call him the best golfer in the world.
“Because LIV is relatively new, people may not fully grasp the field strength and the caliber of players you are competing against—the same top players repeatedly,” Mickelson explained. “Joaquin is winning while playing against Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, and similar high-level competitors every single week. It can be challenging to fully appreciate just how impressive that is when the tour is still new.”
Preparing for Oakmont
Phil Mickelson, Joaquín Niemann, and other LIV Golf players believe the course setup this week at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, which has hosted four Presidents Cups and the 2024 Solheim Cup, provides an excellent test in preparation for the U.S. Open next week.
“We have greens rolling at 14 to 15 on the stimpmeter, which is exactly what we`ll see next week,” Mickelson noted. “The course features contours and undulations similar to what we`ll face. Short game, touch, chipping around the greens, managing the rough, putting speed, lag drills, and overall touch on the greens are all crucial here, just as they will be next week. It`s an ideal location for getting ready.”
The last time the U.S. Open was held at Oakmont in 2016, Dustin Johnson won with a score of 4-under 276. Only four players finished the tournament under par.
“It`s going to be tough,” Niemann predicted. “I know it will be a significant challenge. The greens will be extremely fast, so I don`t anticipate many five or six-foot putts for birdie. It will likely be more about positioning your ball to have uphill putts, which are easier to manage.”
“They aim for a winning score over par,” he added, “so ultimately, it`s less about who makes the most birdies and more about who makes the fewest bogeys and mistakes.”
Benedict Kingsley