World number one Scheffler, who won last week’s Memorial Tournament to collect his fifth title of the year, is understandably the hot favourite. He won the PGA Tour’s flagship Players Championship in March and followed that with his second Masters in April.

In his past eight events, the 27-year-old’s worst finish has been joint eighth at the US PGA Championship – and that came after he was arrested outside Valhalla before the second round. The charges have since been dropped.

The fairytale ending will be to see the new dad win his national title on Father’s Day.

World number three McIlroy continues his quest to win a fifth major. The Northern Irishman arrives with top-10 finishes in each of his previous five US Open appearances – including last year’s second-place finish, one shot behind Clark.

He will hope to translate his strong form on the PGA Tour, where he has already won twice in 2024.

He ended up tied for 22nd and 12th in the first two majors of 2024.

World number two Xander Schauffele is also highly fancied after breaking his duck in record fashion with the lowest 72-hole score in a major in winning the US PGA last month.

Meanwhile, an out-of-sorts Clark has the opportunity to become just the fourth player this century to win back-to-back editions of the same major.

Scotland’s Bob MacIntyre will hope his recent Canadian Open success is the launchpad to winning a first major, while Tommy Fleetwood has had three top-10 finishes in his past four majors as he also looks to emulate fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick, who sensationally won this title in 2022.

Rising European stars Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg also have the game to impress at Pinehurst.