British and Irish golfers head into the upcoming US Open at Shinnecock Hills with significant momentum, having already captured the first two major championships of the 2026 season.

Rory McIlroy successfully defended his Masters title in April, while Aaron Rai secured his breakthrough major at the PGA Championship in May.

According to a tournament preview by Golf365, this historic run has positioned regional players at the forefront of the sport, fueling speculation about whether they can maintain their current dominance over golf’s premier events.

Fleetwood and Fitzpatrick lead the English contingent

Tommy Fleetwood enters the week in solid form, looking to build on a successful stretch that included winning the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship in late 2025 and contending at the Memorial Tournament earlier this month.

Read also: Zlatan Ibrahimovic leaves Thierry Henry speechless with brutal live TV putdown

The Englishman has historically excelled at Shinnecock Hills, where he carded a spectacular final-round 63 to finish as the runner-up during the 2018 US Open.

He is joined by fellow countryman Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, who has already secured three PGA Tour victories this season, the Valspar Championship, the Zurich Classic, and the RBC Heritage, alongside highly competitive top-20 finishes at both majors earlier this year.

Hatton, Rose, and Lowry bolster regional hopes

Tyrrell Hatton arrives fresh off his second career LIV Golf victory in Spain last week, bringing a consistent major record that includes a tie for sixth at Shinnecock Hills in 2018 and a top-five finish at last year’s US Open.

Former champion Justin Rose also remains a formidable threat, having recently secured top-ten finishes at the PGA Championship and the Masters, despite a spotty cut-making record at this specific event in recent seasons.

Read also: Justin Gaethje stuns Ilia Topuria at historic White House UFC event

Meanwhile, Ireland’s 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry looks to rediscover his peak form on a course where he previously finished as a runner-up in 2016, aiming to reverse a string of recent major finishes outside the top 30.

Read also: Ballon d'Or 2026 power rankings: The World Cup could change everything