Golf majors bring out the best in everyone. It is one of the few times during the season when both the PGA and LIV tours come together in an attempt to win some of the biggest tournaments of the year. Despite all the talented golfers on the links, all eyes will be on Scottie Scheffler at the U.S. Open this weekend.
The best player in the world has lived up to the hype this season. Since March’s Arnold Palmer (which he won), Scheffler has four wins and a pair of second-place finishes. He won the 2024 Masters, and his worst showing was eighth at the PGA Championship. He is playing at a whole other level than anyone else and that is reflected in his short outright odds at the U.S. Open.
Scottie Scheffler to win the U.S. Open
+335
Tiger Woods always draws the attention of bettors at majors, and he has long +25000 to claim his fourth U.S. Open title. He’s also +200 to make the cut.
Canadians in the field
The U.S. Open will be the focal point of a Canadian invasion. A whopping seven players from north of the border will be attempting to win a major. Let’s take a closer look at each of the Canadians in the field and how they stack up against the competition.
Corey Conners (+8000 via Sports Interaction): Conners is the clear favourite of the group. That said, he has teed up five times in the Open and never made the cut. His accuracy is a strong suit here but his short game has to improve if he is going to continue his run of strong finishes.
Mackenzie Hughes (+15000 via NorthStar Bets): Hughes has made the cut at the Open the last three years, though he missed the cut at the Memorial just a week ago. This tournament suits his skills, however. He is 11th in strokes gained around the greens and 12th in strokes gained putting. It could be a recipe for a high finish at the Open.
Adam Svensson (+20000 via NorthStar Bets): Svensson earned a qualifying spot to the U.S. Open after finishing T60 in his debut at the event a year ago. Svensson has had a solid season, making the cut in his last nine starts. With only one finish in the top 25 in his last five starts, making the cut will be his goal.
Nick Taylor (+30000 via Sports Interaction): With four wins on the PGA Tour, Taylor hasn’t exactly been his best at majors. In fact, he hasn’t been his best lately, either, with a pair of cuts in his last five starts. He hasn’t finished with a score under par since the RBC Heritage but his driving and putting could help him make the cut here.
Taylor Pendrith (+30000 via bet365): Appearing in his fourth U.S. Open, Pendrith is hoping for a repeat of 2020, when he finished T23. He is riding high, though, having earned his first tour win back at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in May. He hits the ball well and is one of the best on tour in strokes gained putting. Could a surprisingly high finish be in the cards?
Adam Hadwin (+35000 via bet365): Hadwin dueled against Scheffler recently at Muirfield Village and came up third but has picked up a whopping five top-10 finishes already. Hadwin has a bit more to play for as a solid showing could lock him into a spot on the Canadian Olympic Team in Paris this summer.
Ashton McCullough (+75000 via Sports Interaction): The amateur from Kingston, Ont. is making his major debut just two weeks after making his first start on the PGA Tour. He is the reigning Canadian Men’s amateur champion and qualified at Cherry Hill Club for the event. Just getting here is a big achievement; making the cut would be a dream.
Corey Conners to finish as top Canadian
+200
Best outright odds
| Golfer | Sports Interaction | NorthStar Bets | bet365 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottie Scheffler | +333 | +335 | +300 |
| Rory McIlroy | +1200 | +1200 | +1100 |
| Xander Schauffele | +1100 | +900 | +1100 |
| Collin Morikawa | +1400 | +1600 | +1400 |
| Viktor Hovland | +2000 | +1600 | +1400 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | +2000 | +2000 | +1800 |
| Brooks Koepka | +2200 | +2200 | +2000 |
| Ludvig Aberg | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Jon Rahm | +3300 | +3000 | +2800 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | +3300 | +3500 | +2800 |
| Justin Thomas | +4000 | +4000 | +3500 |
| Cameron Smith | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | +4000 | +4500 | +4000 |
| Max Homa | +5000 | +5000 | +4500 |
| Tiger Woods | +25000 | +25000 | +25000 |
Three golfers to back
Heading into this week’s major, everyone is looking to back the winner. While it is rarely as simple as backing the favourite, that has been the best play when Scheffler is in the field. Let’s take a look at three golfers you should consider backing to a win at the US Open.
Scottie Scheffler: How do you pick against this man? He is on a historic run right now with five wins in his last eight tournaments. Even more impressively, The Masters and the Players are in that run. If he hadn’t gotten arrested at the PGA Championship, he could be competing for a grand slam right now. His confidence is no doubt at an all-time high, which makes him dangerous enough. The focal point of his game is his ball-striking, which is off the charts. That alone will put him in contention for most tournament crowns. Now that he has figured out his putting game, it is hard to go against him. He finished T2 in 2022 and is seeking to continue his dominant, historic season. If he can manage to win the U.S. Open, he will be entering rarified air as we roll into the summer.
Ludvig Aberg +2000 (Sports Interaction): Aberg has been cold of late, finishing 79th at the PGA Championship and missing the cut altogether at The Memorial. Prior to that, he finished 14th or better in four straight tournaments, including second at The Masters. He has yet to nab a win this year but has come close several times. At this point, it feels like a question of when, not if, Aberg will get over the hump and capture a major title. Tournaments like this are when golfers rise to the occasion and bring their best to the table and Aberg’s best is among the best there is. He’s one of the best young golfers in the world. He is 12th in strokes gained tee to green on tour and third in total driving. If he can keep his short game in check, he will be within striking distance of victory when Sunday rolls around. Let’s just hope that the last two starts have been an aberration.
Ludvig Aberg to win the U.S. Open
+2000
Hideki Matsuyama +4500 (NorthStar Bets): If you’re looking for a sleeper in this year’s field, look no further than Matsuyama. He has made seven consecutive cuts at the U.S. Open, finishing in the top five two years ago and runner-up in 2017. He has a good history with this tournament. Matsuyama is also one of the leaders in bogey avoidance, strokes gained around the green, and proximity from over 200 yards. All of those are going to be important at a course like Pinehurst, so his skillset fits well here. He had a hot start to 2024 but has flashed signs that both his health and game are back to 100%. There are a handful of sleepers that stand a genuine chance of making a run at the title but Matsuyama may be the best of the bunch.
