Top DFS Fantasy Golf Picks for the U.S. Open
The PGA TOUR heads to one of golf's ultimate survival tests as the U.S. Open returns to historic Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. With a 156-player field, a brutal top-60-and-ties cut line, and conditions designed to punish even the smallest mistake, simply reaching the weekend will be an accomplishment.
Shinnecock's wide fairways may look inviting, but thick rough, firm greens, relentless winds, and demanding long-iron approaches quickly separate contenders from pretenders. With stars like Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele leading the charge, these are the top DFS fantasy golf picks for the 2026 U.S. Open.
This article reveals my favorite target at each price level on DraftKings. DraftKings does not sponsor this content.
Xander Schauffele ($10,100)
Schauffele treats the U.S. Open like it's his personal playground - if that playground happened to feature ankle-high rough and widespread emotional damage. The resume is ridiculous: nine starts, nine made cuts, seven top-10 finishes and nothing worse than T14. He's also already proven he can handle Shinnecock Hills with a T6 back in 2018. Add in recent major results that include a top 10 at the Masters and another at the PGA Championship, and it's hard not to love him for DFS. When golf gets brutally difficult, Schauffele tends to make it look surprisingly easy.
Tommy Fleetwood ($9,700)
Fleetwood has spent so much time hanging around major championship leaderboards that it almost feels rude he doesn't already own one. Shinnecock Hills might be his best chance yet. This is the place where he fired a legendary final-round 63 in 2018, nearly stealing the U.S. Open trophy in the process. He arrives with two top-five finishes and a T11 in his last four starts, and his all-around game is built for U.S. Open survival. If this turns into another grinding, stressful week of golf, Fleetwood should feel right at home.
Matthew Fitzpatrick ($8,900)
Fitzpatrick arrives at Shinnecock Hills looking a lot like the guy who already owns a U.S. Open trophy. The Englishman just surged to a runner-up finish in Canada with a closing 64 and has spent most of the season collecting podium finishes like they're loyalty points. He's already won multiple times this year, climbed back to the top of the FedExCup standings and continues to thrive when golf gets difficult. Fitzpatrick also posted a T12 at Shinnecock in 2018, so there's plenty of positive history here. When the U.S. Open starts handing out bogeys like party favors, few players are better equipped to survive - and contend.
Patrick Reed ($7,900)
Reed has quietly turned major championships into his own little reunion tour. He barely plays compared to most of the field, then shows up at the biggest events and starts climbing leaderboards anyway. Reed has already posted a T12 at the Masters and a T10 at the PGA Championship this season, and now he returns to Shinnecock Hills, where he finished fourth in 2018. His short game remains pure sorcery, which is exactly the kind of skill that keeps players alive during a U.S. Open. Add in a rowdy New York crowd, and Reed feels like the type of DFS play who could make things very interesting.
Patrick Cantlay ($7,300)
Cantlay feels like the golfer who secretly enjoys watching everyone else suffer at a U.S. Open. While some players panic when par becomes a good score, Cantlay settles in and starts collecting them like baseball cards. He's posted top-15 finishes in four straight U.S. Opens from 2021-24 and arrives with five top-20 results in his last six starts. The putter hasn't exactly been throwing parties lately, but the rest of his game is in excellent shape. If Shinnecock turns into the survival test everyone expects, Cantlay's steady, mistake-free style could make him one of the safest DFS plays in the field.
Cameron Smith ($6,900)
Smith feels like the DFS play that could have everyone asking, "How did we forget about him?" The Aussie finally looks like himself again after a T7 at the PGA Championship, and this type of U.S. Open setup is right in his wheelhouse. Smith's short game is basically a cheat code, his putter can get nuclear without warning, and he thrives when conditions get windy, messy and slightly unfair. The prettier the golf course, the less interested he seems. Give him firm fairways, nasty rough, and a survival test, and suddenly he becomes a very dangerous name to see climbing the leaderboard.
Alex Smalley ($6,800)
Smalley keeps looking like the DFS bargain everyone notices one week too late. The Duke product has been quietly piling up results, including a runner-up at the PGA Championship where he held the lead through three rounds, followed by a T3 at Colonial. Not bad for a guy still flying under the radar. Smalley's iron play has been dialed in all season, and he's shown he can handle strong fields and difficult setups. At his price, you're getting a player with legitimate upside and far less risk than most golfers in his range.
Ryan Fox ($6,300)
Fox feels like the DFS value play that quietly does all the dirty work while everyone chases bigger names. The Kiwi has made 11 of his last 13 cuts in majors, including three straight U.S. Opens, and arrives with momentum after a T8 in Canada. His combination of power, solid ball-striking, and a knack for grinding through tough conditions makes him a sneaky fit for Shinnecock. He may not dominate headlines, but he's the kind of player who can quietly cash lineups while others are searching for their golf ball in the rough.
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This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 5:30 AM.