One-and-Done Golf Picks for the U.S. Open

Below, I’ve outlined three players worth a look for OAD pools this week at the U.S. Open.

For those unfamiliar, OAD pools closely mirror an NFL survivor contest. Players select a golfer each week and earn their prize money at the conclusion of the event.

The catch? Contestants can only use a player once. Additionally, not all prize pools are created equally, which further adds to the game theory.

Golf odds are reflective at the time of writing and are subject to movement.

3 Best U.S. Open One-and-Done Picks

Scottie Scheffler (+550)

Scheffler will always present an option to players at the majors. This championship offers extra significance as Scheffler can complete the career grand slam with a win.

It’s a bit surprising Scheffler hasn’t won the U.S. Open yet. Off the tee, it caters to his long-and-straight approach, which he has repeated this season.

Scheffler leads the PGA Tour in total driving (distance + accuracy). He’s one of only two players inside the top-10 for that stat 35th or better in both categories, along with Jordan Smith.

Shinnecock also mirrors Augusta National’s greens in that they’re large, but with small iron targets. It’s why greens in regulation take on less importance this week.

Pair that with his elite short-game metrics this year, and he offers a very high floor in a difficult setup.

Xander Schauffele (+2000)

Schauffele owns one of the, if not the best U.S. Open records in the field.

In nine U.S. Open starts, he never missed the cut with nine top-20s and seven top-10s. Notably, his form has “dipped” recently. Here are his last five finishes: 7-14-10-7-12.

He’ll begin the 2026 tournament riding strong driving metrics. Over his last five starts, Schauffele gained off the tee in all five starts with four successes over +0.6 per event.

The concern is that his iron play dipped recently, with Schauffele losing strokes on approach in two of his last three.

But we’ve seen his spike potential at the Masters, Valspar and Players Championship.

Additionally, Schauffele improved his ARG play in his last two starts, culminating in a +0.72 average at Muirfield Village.

Those factors leave me interested in Schauffele, another high-floor candidate at a difficult setup.

Chris Gotterup (+4500)

Are you someone who is chasing in your pool? Gotterup may offer the highest ceiling for making up some ground.

Key to his success this week is hitting fairways at a high rate. This year, he ranks fourth in driving distance and 145th in driving accuracy.

The good news for him is that hitting fairways at Shinnecock is relatively easy. I equate it to the Open Championship off-the-tee strategy, where Gotterup recorded his best major finish.

Gotterup has also begun to show spike approach potential and put together solid rounds at Oakmont last year.

He cleared three strokes gained on approach in two of his last eight rounds. Over his last 12 rounds, he cleared +1.6 SG: APP four times.

Last year, he finished T-23rd at Oakmont. But, he cleared +3.6 SG: TOT in the second and third rounds. At a similar setup, he offers a good candidacy for Shinnecock.