U.S. Open Golf Betting Preview & Best Bets

U.S. Open Golf Betting Preview & Best Bets

Barry Devoe
2 years ago
4 min read
Jon Rahm hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during Round 3 of the Memorial Tournament in Columbus, Ohio

The third major of the golf season is officially upon us. This week, the 2022 U.S. Open will tee off at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. And there is no shortage of talking points.

While the U.S. Open won’t have Tiger Woods, it will have several of the big-name golfers fans know and love. That includes some of the golfers like Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, who spurned the PGA Tour in pursuit of the controversial LIV Golf superleague.

Here’s what you need to know about the course, past winners, and who has the best odds to hoist the U.S. Open trophy on Sunday evening.

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The Country Club Information

History will be on full display in Massachusetts this week. The Country Club is one of the oldest country clubs in the United States and one of the five charter courses established by the USGA. But the course that was established all the way in 1882 will look far different in 2022.

The Main Course, played by members of The Country Club, measures out at just over 7,000 yards. However, the USGA is using three-and-a-half holes from the nine-hole executive course on-site to lengthen the tournament course by around 300 yards.

Still, there is lots of charm about this old course. And it will feature all of the challenges we’re used to seeing at a U.S. Open — particularly thick, rough, and tiny greens that rival the notoriously small putting surfaces of Pebble Beach.

Even with the course lengthened out, this isn’t a place where distance outweighs accuracy. There are just two Par 5s on the entire course, although one of them (the 619-yard 14th hole) should be quite the challenge for golf’s best.

Previous Winners

While there hasn’t been a U.S. Open in Brookline since Custis Strange’s victory in 1988, the concept is the same year after year. Scoring is difficult, so accuracy — particularly off the tee — is a must.

The last four winners all won by conquering the “Open rough,” tight fairways, and undulating greens. Brooks Koepka did it in 2017 and ‘18, the latter of which with a final score of +1 at the infamous Shinnecock Hills tournament. Gary Woodland shot an impressive -13 at Pebble Beach in 2019, while Bryson DeChambeau (-6) was the only player under par in 2020.

Last year, Jon Rahm birdied his last two holes to win the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. Rahm finished at -6, one stroke ahead of Louis Oosthuizen and three ahead of third-place finisher Harris English.

Koepka’s -16 in 2017 is tied for the best winning score in U.S. Open history. However, there have been plenty of over-par victors, including three +1 winners in the last ten years (Koepka in 2018, Justin Rose in 2013, and Webb Simpson in 2012). 

Best Bets to Win

Jon Rahm (+1400)

Last year’s U.S. Open champ is routinely in contention for golf’s biggest prizes. Now, he’ll have a chance to be the first back-to-back winner since Koepka.

Rahm is the Tour’s leader in SG: off-the-tee, which is crucial for U.S. Open success. He’s made the cut in every event in 2022, has five top-10 finishes, and has seemingly corrected the short game issues that plagued him in the early going. If his putter gets hot, he’ll be heavily in the mix.

Matthew Fitzpatrick (+2200)

Nine years ago, The Country Club hosted the U.S. Amateur Championship. There, an 18-year-old Matthew Fitzpatrick secured a victory that now gives him a distinct edge over the field.

Fitzpatrick is one of the only players in this tournament with real competitive experience at Brookline. Luckily, he also enters the week ranked fifth in SG: tee-to-green and second in total strokes gained. He’s also one of the game’s best scramblers, which could help him secure his first major victory if things bounce his way.

Will Zalatoris (+2800)

It’s still very early in his career, but the 25-year-old Will Zalatoris is quickly proving that he’s one of golf’s best major competitors.

Last month, Zalatoris lost a three-hole playoff to Justin Thomas for the PGA Championship. He also has a runner-up finish at the Masters in 2021 and a T6 finish at the 2020 U.S. Open. Z’s major record should help him compete this week, as should his second-best SG: tee-to-green.

Joaquin Niemann (+3300)

Considering the strength of this field, it might be a surprise to see Joaquin Niemann capture the victory. However, his stats make for a solid case.

It’s hard to believe Niemann is still just 23 years old. But the Chilean is playing some inspired golf this season, ranking 11th in total strokes gained and SG: tee-to-green. The fact he’s never finished higher than 23rd in a major hurts him, but he has the talent to contend on Sunday.

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