The third golfing major of the year tees off on Friday morning (AEDT) as the 119th US Open gets underway from historic Pebble Beach.
Two-time defending champ Brooks Koepka headlines the betting this year following a thrilling PGA Championship win, joined by Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and three-time champ, Tiger Woods.
2019 US OPEN BEST BET
Rory McIlroy – $9.00
How fitting would it be for the Irishman to win the Canadian Open and the US Open in back-to-back weeks? McIlroy, who won the 2011 US Open, was electric carding a final round 61 to finish a whopping -22 under par at Hamilton last week. The 30-year-old currently ranks first in eagles made, ninth in greens hit and second in driving distance. McIlroy is the complete package and in sparkling form to capture his fourth major trophy.
2019 US OPEN TOP 5 FINISH
Tiger Woods – $3.60
The three-time US Open winner returns to Pebble Beach, the site of his 2000 victory where he carded the largest winning margin in Open history (15 strokes). Woods has been a mixed bag since his win at Augusta, missing the cut at Bethpage before a T9 at The Memorial a fortnight later. The last time Pebble Beach held the US Open in 2010, Woods finished tied for fourth with Phil Mickelson. He may have missed the cut last year, but you’d be wise not to sleep on the 43-year-old, especially at these odds.
2019 US OPEN TOP 10 FINISH
Brooks Koepka – $2.00
The back-to-back champ skipped this year’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am earlier in February, but that doesn’t mean the American isn’t well suited to this historic course. The windy nature of Pebble Beach forces players to rely more on woods and irons, great news considering Koepka ranks 19thin the PGA’s off-the-tee rating. This year’s PGA Championship winner ranks No. 1 in the world for a reason and with Top 3 finishes in each of his last three major starts, you have to figure the 29-year-old will be among the leaders.
Adam Scott – $3.75
The form spells a big weekend ahead for the 38-year-old. Scott’s best performance at the US Open came in 2015 where he tied for fourth, but after back-to-back finishes inside the Top 10, you’d be wise to back the Aussie. Scott’s resurgence with the putter has been nothing short of outstanding, and he also ranks seventh in the PGA’s tee-to-green rating. A T18 at Augusta and T8 at the PGA Championship last month make Scott a huge chance to earn his first win on Tour since 2016.
Phil Mickelson – $5.50
Massive overs. Mickelson eyes off the career grand slam this week after finishing T2 in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2013. Lefty won his fifth Pebble Beach Pro-Am by three strokes earlier this year, so it’s safe to say he knows the ins and outs of this course better than anybody else. For some added drama, a win this weekend would also fall just a day after his 49th birthday.
2019 US OPEN TOP 20 FINISH
Patrick Cantlay – $1.83
Here’s your dark horse. Returns after a two-week layoff following a dazzling win at The Memorial right after an equally impressive T3 at the PGA Championship last month. Cantlay mightn’t be a household name among casual golf fans, but he’s certainly grabbed the headlines after carding two Top 10 finishes at Augusta and Bethpage this year. Cantlay is currently the second-best golfer from tee-to-green according to the PGA’s ratings, so make sure you throw him in for another strong finish.
Jordan Spieth – $2.00
Three straight Top 10 finishes leaves Spieth in prime position to win his second US Open title. We all remember his thrilling one-stroke win in 2015, but it’s been a while since we’ve seen the 25-year-old in the winner’s circle – well over two years to be exact. Spieth should feel confident knowing he won the 2017 Pebble Beach Pro-Am though. He also ranks third in putting on Tour, which should play a factor on the small greens.
2019 US OPEN FIELD
Dustin Johnson – $9.00
No surprise to see Johnson challenging Koepka for favouritism. The 2016 US Open champion finished outright third at Shinnecock last year marking his fifth Top 10 finish at this event. Pebble Beach caused a few problems at the Pro-Am where he tied for 45th, but he’s still found plenty of success at this course in the past. Johnson won the Pro-Am in back-to-back years during 2009/10, while his outstanding putting and short iron play makes him one of many to beat.
Justin Rose – $17.00
It’s been a long few months for the 2013 Open winner after claiming the Farmers Insurance back in January. Rose has fallen outside the Top 50 and missed the cut once since then, but he’ll head to Pebble Beach well-rested after a strong showing at The Memorial a fortnight ago. Rose has already won one tournament on the California coast this year, and if nothing else, he should put on a show teeing off alongside Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods.
Jon Rahm – $26.00
Still searching for that elusive major win. The Spaniard tied for fourth at last year’s PGA Championship followed up by a dazzling T9 performance at Augusta back in April. Missing the cut at Bethpage and the Charles Schwab takes the sting out of Rahm’s hopes, however. He’s only ever finished as high as T23 at the US Open.
Justin Thomas – $26.00
Skipped the PGA Championship last month after picking up a wrist injury at Augusta. Recovery has gone smoothly for the 26-year-old as he now hopes to improve on a Top 20 placing at the Canadian Open last week. Thomas’ short game remains a big threat, and it should suit Pebble Beach. He’ll now hope to recapture some of that 2017 form that saw him tie for ninth at the US Open.
Rickie Fowler – $26.00
Big time sleeper at big-time odds. Fowler tends to fly under the radar at these events for reasons unbeknownst. The 30-year-old hasn’t missed a major start since the 2010 US Open, while he’ll now hope to improve on last fortnight’s T14 finish at The Memorial. Fowler is yet to win a major, but his best result at the US Open came back in his glorious 2014 campaign that saw him tie for second. Currently owns four Top 10 finishes so far in 2019.
Jason Day – $29.00
Jason Day is hoping to become the first Aussie since Geoff Ogilvy (2006) to win the US Open. He’s come close on several occasions, most recently when he tied for second alongside Phil Mickelson back in 2013. Back issues have soured what has otherwise been a strong year for the 31-year-old. Day tied for fifth at Augusta before going on to miss the cut at the Zurich Classic and last fortnight’s Memorial Tournament. On the plus side, Day owns six Top 10 finishes at Pebble Beach.
Hideki Matsuyama – $31.00
Continues to fly under the radar in search of his first ever major win. Tied for second at the 2017 US Open and more recently owns four Top 10 finishes this year. Returns after an outright sixth at The Memorial a fortnight ago, but unfortunately, has next to no experience at Pebble Beach.
Francesco Molinari – $34.00
Tied for fifth at The Masters, but that’s about all you can say for Molinari right now. The Italian won the Arnold Palmer back in March and has since struggled to find consistency with the putter. Fell way outside the Top 40 at Bethpage last month and struggled over all four rounds at the Charles Schwab to tie for 53rd. Maybe the three-week break has done him some good.
Matt Kuchar – $41.00
The FedEx Cup leader continues to flirt with his first win since the Sony Open back in January. Kuchar tied for fourth at the Canadian Open last week – his sixth Top 10 finish this year. Best result at the US Open came way back in 2010 where he tied for sixth and should be helped out by plenty of Pebble Beach familiarity.
