U.S. Open Power Rankings: Fleetwood’s Moment?

The U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills isn’t here to hand out birdies, it’s here to expose weakness, punish impatience and make even elite players wonder why they ever aimed at a flag in the first place.

That’s why this week feels tailor-made for Tommy Fleetwood.

READ MORE: Scottie Scheffler Faces His Ultimate U.S. Open Test

Fleetwood enters as the top name in the U.S. Open power rankings, and it’s not hard to see why.

The Englishman nearly stole the show at Shinnecock Hills in 2018 with a final-round 63 that left him one shot behind Brooks Koepka.

Now he returns with sharp form, including two top-five finishes and a T11 in his last four starts.

If there’s a major built for his patience, precision and scar tissue, this is it.

But the chase behind him is loaded.

Matt Fitzpatrick sits right there after surging to runner-up at the RBC Canadian Open with a closing 64.

The 2022 U.S. Open champion has already proven he can win this style of grinder, and his five podium finishes this season explain why he’s back near the top of the FedExCup race.

Then there’s Scottie Scheffler, who brings the biggest storyline in golf to Long Island.

A win would complete the career Grand Slam, putting him in historic company.

Still, Shinnecock Hills won’t care about legacy. Its 7,440-yard, par-70 setup demands elite approach play, and any wobble with irons can turn into bogeys in a hurry.

Rory McIlroy also has plenty at stake. He missed the cut here in 2018, but his recent run - win, T19, T7 and T12 since the Masters - says he’s still dangerous.

Jon Rahm, meanwhile, has been rock-solid in U.S. Opens since that same 2018 stumble, going 6-for-6 with a win.

The real monster, though, is the course.

Shinnecock’s wide fairways can trick players into getting greedy, but the trouble begins after the tee shot.

In 2018, the field scoring average was 74.650, and only the two par 5s played under par.

READ MORE: Matt Fitzpatrick Storms Toward U.S. Open

The greens are massive, nasty and full of false fronts, runoffs and uncomfortable lag putts. Add wind gusts that could flirt with 40 mph, and survival becomes the strategy.

That’s the beauty of this U.S. Open. Nobody is stealing it. Someone will have to outlast it.

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