Another huge week coming up in the golfing world as we head to the famous Pinehurst Golf Resort for the 2024 U.S. Open. Check out our full preview and betting tips for the 3rd major of the year below.
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2024 U.S. Open Betting Tips
Pinehurst No.2, North Carolina, Thursday 13th - Sunday 16th June
Scottie Scheffler won his fifth tournament of the year at the Memorial on the weekend and will start as unprecedented favourite to win his 2nd major of the year when players tee it up on Thursday night (AEST) from Pinehurst. He leads a stacked field which includes golfers from the PGA Tour and the best from LIV, with a notable exception.
The Field
Scottie Scheffler has already had one of the more dominant seasons in PGA Tour history but still has another two majors as well as another elevated event and the FedEx Cup playoffs to really cement his legacy. At as low as $3.50 to win the tournament, it’s the shortest price we have seen for a player to win a major since Tiger was in the prime of his career.
Joining Scheffler on the top few lines of the outright markets are Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Ludvig Aberg and the only man to really go toe to toe with Scheffler and win this year, Xander Schauffele.
Past winners of the U.S. Open who will be looking to add another trophy to the case include Wyndham Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick, DeChambeau, Gary Woodland, Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, McIlroy and of course Tiger Woods.
Spaniard and No.8 ranked player in the world, Jon Rahm, was a late withdrawal from the tournament with a foot infection.
The Course
Pinehurst No. 2, a lengthy 7,543-yard par-70, was originally designed by Donald Ross in 1907. It underwent restoration by Rees Jones in 1999 and, more recently, by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw from 2009 to 2011.
In 2014, the course transitioned from bentgrass to Champion ultradwarf bermudagrass after hosting both the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women’s Open in consecutive weeks.
The greens at Pinehurst No. 2 exhibit distinctive domed shapes, often likened to turtlebacks or inverted saucers. Despite their size, imprecise approach shots tend to deflect away from the green’s center, effectively making them play smaller. As a result, precise approach play will be crucial this week.
Betting Tips
Collin Morikawa ($15/Top 10 $2.80)
As we mentioned above in the course preview, I think approach play will be the key statistic when trying to determine who will play Pinehurst well this week. The greens demand precise 2nd shots and arguably no one on tour (outside of Scheffler) is a better iron player than Morikawa.
The No.7 ranked player in the world has been lights out lately without breaking through for a win, finishing T4 at the PGA Championship, 4th at the Charles Schwab and 2nd at the Memorial in his last three starts.
Sepp Straka ($81/Top 40 $2.05)
For a bit more value this week, I like the look of Sepp Straka. The Austrian has been rounding into some nice form of late and I think he is ready to put in a strong performance at a major Championship. Has finished in the top 10 in four of his last five starts including some elevated events with strong fields at the RBC, Wells Fargo and the Memorial.
