Joe Champion
Show Bio
Only 9 golfers have finished ahead of Scottie Scheffler across all the tournaments he has played since the start of March and the world’s best golfer is once again likely to be tough to beat at the US Open at iconic Pinehurst No.2. Scheffler held his nerve down the stretch at the Memorial Tournament on Sunday evening, taking his form figures from the Arnold Palmer Invitational onwards to 1-1-2-1-1-8-2-1 — a run of results not seen since Tiger Woods was at his best — and his odds are as low as +300 to win his first US Open.
Last week’s tough Muirfield Village test, in which only 11 players finished under par for the tournament, should serve as ideal preparation for Pinehurst, a Donald Ross-designed gem that last hosted the US Open in 2014 when Martin Kaymer eased to the title. While Kaymer reached -9 a decade ago, only Eric Compton and Rickie Fowler joined him in red numbers, both finishing at -1 as the German roared to an 8-shot victory 3 months after winning the Players Championship.
In addition to winning the Masters, Scheffler also won the Players earlier this season and were it not for the actions of some overzealous Kentucky police officers, he might well have been teeing it up in North Carolina with the 3rd leg of a calendar Grand Slam in his sights. As it happens, that’s not the case but his odds illustrate his dominance. The question is, how low can they go before it’s worth looking elsewhere? Scheffler had bigger odds for the Masters at a course where he’d already won, in a field featuring 67 fewer players, many of whom had little to no chance of contending, but bettors will still be considering the short odds available on the favorite.
Pinehurst tests all facets of the game but, ultimately, it’s a true test of tee-to-green brilliance which puts pressure on the driver and long irons, so there is every chance it plays into the hands of Scheffler. Without wishing to doubt him, the Texas-based star did show some vulnerability at Muirfield Village on Sunday and while a brave five-foot putt on the last was enough to secure another victory, preference at Pinehurst is for the man who pushed him all the way in Ohio.
2024 US Open golf picks and predictions
Collin Morikawa to win the US Open (+1400)
Odds generally available at time of publishing.
Collin Morikawa has already won the PGA Championship and British Open Championship in previous years and the Californian looks to have all the tools required to tame this fearsome course and land the 3rd leg of his own career Grand Slam. The 27-year-old found form when 3rd at the Masters at Augusta National, a course bearing some similarities to Pinehurst if only in the premium it puts on approach play, then he finished 9th at the RBC Heritage, 16th at the Wells Fargo, 4th at both the PGA Championship and the Charles Schwab Challenge and was runner-up to Scheffler last week, beaten only a shot.
He’s been understandably supported by bettors this week but, at more than 5 times Scheffler’s odds, he still looks decent value to give the world number one all he can handle. Morikawa at his most brilliant was the best iron-player in the sport, ranking in the top 3 for strokes-gained approaching the green in the last 4 completed PGA Tour seasons before that area of his game dropped off at the beginning of this season. However, his iron-play has been getting better and better in recent weeks and he’s growing in confidence with the driver in hand as well, striking the ball with the accuracy required to win a US Open.
While he’s not blessed with the length of some of his peers, that shouldn’t be a huge issue at Pinehurst, where precision has generally been equally if not more important, and that’s an area where Morikawa is typically reliable.
We recommend betting on our Collin Morikawa pick with Bet365, which has the best odds available. If you’re new to Bet365, then you can take advantage of this amazing sign-up offer where you can make a first wager of just $5, and regardless of whether it wins or loses, you’ll INSTANTLY receive $150 in bonus bets! All you need to do is click here to join Bet365.
Viktor Hovland to win the US Open (+1600)
Odds generally available at time of publishing.
An emphasis on iron-play could mean that Rory McIlroy’s Major wait goes on while it’s a big ask for Xander Schauffele to win back-to-back on the biggest stage, so it could be the turn of Viktor Hovland to claim that elusive first top-tier title. The Norwegian struggled on and around the Memorial greens and that remains his biggest weakness. However, Pinehurst is so tough that it’s likely to be a leveler when it comes to short-game and Hovland’s elite long-game is a serious positive.
The 26-year-old Oslo native has turned a corner since he started working with coach Joe Mayo again, finishing 3rd behind Schauffele at the PGA Championship, and he’s shown a liking for Ross courses having won last season’s Tour Championship at East Lake 3 months after pushing Brooks Koepka all the way in the Oak Hill PGA.
Now find out our golf expert’s best US Open player prop bets, with 4 picks on the nationality markets!
Hideki Matsuyama to win the US Open (+5000)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Hideki Matsuyama’s fitness must always be taken on trust but the Japanese warmed up with a top-10 finish at the Memorial and Pinehurst looks an ideal fit for his measured style. A winner of the 2021 Masters, Matsuyama has underwhelmed in Majors this season but he possesses the tee-to-green class and scrambling ability to excel this week.
Sungjae Im to win the US Open (+9000)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Sungjae Im has found form and confidence again, finishing in the top 12 in 4 of his last 5 PGA Tour events as well as winning on his native Korean Tour. He could be someone who outperforms his huge odds.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout to win the US Open (+12500)
Odds available at Bet365 at time of publishing.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout also appeals at 125-1 odds. He is the sort of dogged performer who will relish the challenge of Pinehurst and the South African has finished outside the top 30 just once in his last 9 starts. He was 4th at the Memorial last week and can carry that solid form into the US Open.
