Ricky Dimon
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It’s the best time of year on the links, with four majors all in the span of four months. The Masters took center stage in April, the PGA Championship has assumed its relatively new May spot on the calendar, and now the U.S. Open in June will precede next month’s Open Championship. Who will join Hideki Matsuyama and Phil Mickelson as a major champion in 2021? What else could be in store for the third major of the season?
With the U.S. Open beginning on Thursday, it’s time to take a look at some of the best prop bets for this year’s festivities at Torrey Pines.
Top American: Collin Morikawa (+1600)
Morikawa is a major winner, having triumphed at the PGA Championship in 2020 soon after golf restarted following a Covid-19 pause. The 24-year-old has been in outstanding form in 2021, too, with six top-10 finishes since the turn of the calendar—including a runner-up performance at the Memorial last week. In his only previous start at Torrey Pines, Morikawa was T21 at the Farmers Insurance Open last February.
Top European: Viktor Hovland (+900)
Jon Rahm is the favorite (both for top European and overall), but it remains to be seen how he will bounce back from his forced withdrawal from the Memorial because of a positive coronavirus test. Hovland is playing incredibly consistent golf, having made 18 of his last 19 cuts. This stretch includes one victory and two runner-up performances. Most importantly, one of those runner-ups came at none other than Torrey Pines.
Top lefty: Garrick Higgo (+275)
Making just his second-ever start on the PGA Tour, Higgo won last week’s Palmetto Championship. The 22-year-old South African has been lighting up the European Tour this season, so it’s not like success has come out of nowhere. Higgo is a +275 co-favorite along with Brian Harman to be the top lefty. Recent PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson is a +300 third choice. Can lightning strike twice for Phil? Probably not.
Marc Leishman to finish in the Top 30 (+163)
Leishman always seems to step up his game at majors, and he placed fifth at the Masters two months ago. A return to Torrey Pines should only help the Australian, who won the Farmers Insurance Open in 2020 and finished T18 this earlier this year.
Patrick Reed to finish in the Top 20 (+100)
Reed’s last five major results are 13th, 13th, 10th, eighth, and 17th. Needless to say, getting him at plus money to be in the Top 20 this week represents great value. The 2018 Masters champion won at Torrey Pines in February and was T6 there last year. It’s obvious he loves this course.
Xander Schauffele to finish in the Top 10 (+163)
Schauffele is tied as a +1500 second choice to win the tournament. Obviously a Top 10 finish isn’t too much to ask of the 27-year-old American. He has placed in the Top 14 in five of his last 10 starts, including a T3 performance at the Masters. Also encouraging is the fact that Schauffele was part of a five-way tie for second behind Reed at Torrey Pines.
Brooks Koepka to beat Bryson DeChambeau (+110 odds boost at DraftKings)
Golf fans are up in arms about the USGA failing to partner DeChambeau and Koepka together for the first two rounds. So they will just have to go head-to-head virtually, which DraftKings is offering. DeChambeau has cooled off since winning the 2020 U.S. Open and it is never a good idea to bet against Koepka at majors.
No hole in one in the tournament (-110)
This is pretty much a 50-50 bet, but pin positions at Torrey Pines are generally tough—tougher than on 16 at Augusta National, for example. No par 3 at this event is easy, so I feel better a play on no aces to be had. Yes is a slight -125 favorite.
Be sure to check out our outright picks and predictions for who wins the 2021 U.S. Open!
Pickswise is the home of free expert Golf Picks and Predictions. Our outright PGA expert picks go live every Tuesday, so be sure check out our golf picks, best bets, and analysis for the U.S. Open when they are published. We will also have our 2021 U.S. Open 3-ball picks and our best golf prop bets for each round of the 2021 U.S. Open.
