Currently Exempt Players for 126th U.S. Open

The field for the 126th U.S. Open Championship, to be played June 18-21 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, in Southampton, N.Y., is starting to take shape. Several competitors, including defending champion J.J. Spaun, are already exempt from qualifying. Others will earn their spot in the 156-player field via Final Qualifying. 

The following is a list of the exemptions as established by the USGA and which players fall into those categories:

Bold: First time a player is listed; (a)-amateur

F-1. Winners of the U.S. Open Championship the last 10 years (2016-25)

J.J. Spaun (2025)
Bryson DeChambeau (2024)
Wyndham Clark (2023)
Matt Fitzpatrick (2022)
Jon Rahm (2021)
Bryson DeChambeau (2020)
Gary Woodland (2019)
Brooks Koepka (2018)
Brooks Koepka (2017)
Dustin Johnson (2016)

F-2. From the 2025 U.S. Open Championship, the 10 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 10th place

J.J. Spaun
Robert MacIntyre
Viktor Hovland
Cameron Young
Tyrrell Hatton
Carlos Ortiz
Jon Rahm
Scottie Scheffler
Sam Burns
Ben Griffin
Russell Henley

F-3. Winner of the 2025 U.S. Senior Open Championship

Padraig Harrington

F-4. Winner of the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship

Mason Howell (a)

F-5. Winners of the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships, and the 2025 U.S. Amateur runner-up (must be an amateur)

Hamilton Coleman (a)  (U.S. Junior Amateur champion)
Brandon Holtz (a) (U.S. Mid-Amateur champion)
Jackson Herrington (a) (U.S. Amateur runner-up)

F-6. Winners of the Masters Tournament from 2022-2026

2026 (TBD in April)
Rory McIlroy (2025)
Scottie Scheffler (2024)
Jon Rahm (2023)
Scottie Scheffler (2022)

F-7. Winners of the PGA of America Championship from 2022-2026

2026 (TBD in May)
Scottie Scheffler (2025)
Xander Schauffele (2024)
Brooks Koepka (2023)
Justin Thomas (2022)

F-8. Winners of The Open Championship from 2021-2025

Scottie Scheffler (2025)
Xander Schauffele (2024)
Brian Harman (2023)
Cameron Smith (2022)
Collin Morikawa (2021)

F-9. Winners of The Players Championship from 2024-2026

2026 (TBD in May)
Rory McIlroy (2025)
Scottie Scheffler (2024)

F-10. Winner of the 2025 DP World Tour BMW PGA Championship

Alex Noren

F-11. Those players who qualified and were eligible for the season-ending 2025 Tour Championship

Ludvig Aberg
Akshay Bhatia
Keegan Bradley
Jacob Bridgeman
Sam Burns
Patrick Cantlay
Corey Conners
Harris English
Tommy Fleetwood
Chris Gotterup
Ben Griffin
Harry Hall
Brian Harman
Russell Henley
Viktor Hovland
Sungjae Im
Shane Lowry
Robert MacIntyre
Hideki Matsuyama
Rory McIlroy
Maverick McNealy
Collin Morikawa
Andrew Novak
Justin Rose
Scottie Scheffler
J.J. Spaun
Sepp Straka
Nick Taylor
Justin Thomas
Cameron Young

F-12. Multiple winners of PGA Tour events that award full-point allocation for the FedEx Cup, from the conclusion of the 2025 U.S. Open to the initiation of the 2026 U.S. Open:

Scottie Scheffler
Chris Gotterup
Justin Rose

F-13. The Top 5 players in the 2026 FedExCup standings as of May 18, 2026 who are not otherwise exempt. (Note: Blank entries will be filed by the USGA for players who become exempt after close of entries.): 

TBD

F-14. The points leader from the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour season using combined points earned on the Official Korn Ferry Tour Regular Season Points Standings and points earned in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals

Johnny Keefer

F-15. The top two players from the final 2025 Race to Dubai Rankings who are not otherwise exempt as of May 18, 2026. (Note: Blank entries will be filed by the USGA for players who become exempt after close of entries.):

TBD

F-16. The top player on the 2026 Race to Dubai Rankings as of May 18, 2026 who is not otherwise exempt. (Note: Blank entries will be filed by the USGA for players who become exempt after close of entries.):

TBD

F-17. Winner of 2025 The Amateur Championship conducted by The R&A (must be an amateur)

Ethan Fang (a)

F-18. Winner of the 2025 Mark H. McCormack Medal (Men's World Amateur Golf Ranking; must be an amateur)

Jackson Koivun (a)

F-19. Winner of the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Individual Golf Championship (must be an amateur)

TBD

F-20. Winner of the 2026 Latin America Amateur Championship (must be an amateur)

Mateo Pulcini (a)

F-21. From the current Official World Golf Ranking, the top 60 points leaders and ties as of May 18, 2026. Players must select a qualifying site at the time of entry. (NOTE: Blank entries will be filed by the USGA for players who become exempt after the close of entries.)

TBD 

F-22. From the current Official World Golf Ranking, the top 60 points leaders and ties as of June 15, 2026 (if not previously exempt). Players must select a qualifying site at the time of entry. (NOTE: Blank entries will be filed by the USGA for players who become exempt after the close of entries.)

TBD

F-23. The top player who is not otherwise exempt and in the top 3 of the final 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings as of May 18, 2026

TBD

F-24. The top player who is not otherwise exempt and in the top 3 of the 2026 LIV Golf Individual Standings as of May 18, 2026

TBD

F-25. Special exemptions as selected by the USGA. Players must select a qualifying site at the time of entry. Must have filed an entry by April 8, 2026. Deadline for submission of request: May 10, 2026.

TBD