Golf U.S. Open Betting Preview - Scheffler Has Momentum

The golfing focus switches to Pinehurst No. 2 and the 124th U.S. Open. Going this Thursday through Sunday (June 13th-thru-16th), this will be the third major on the calendar. As the Masters and PGA Championship both delivered on drama, expect the same in North Carolina.   

Provided you’ve not been living under a rock, it’s no surprise that the player who’s dominated the greens is also dominating the odds. Scottie Scheffler, coming off his fifth win in just eight starts in 2024, is the prohibitive choice to lift the Open trophy (which isn’t named).

Here’s a look at the odds ahead of the U.S. Open, along with a Memorial review…

Scheffler at Muirfield

It’s unfair to refer to the Jack Nicklaus-hosted Memorial as a U.S. Open prep, though it was moved on the schedule to the week before Pinehurst.

An array of the best golfers in the world invaded Muirfield Village in Ohio. This wasn’t a vintage Scottie Scheffler performance at the House of Jack, uncharacteristic poor play, especially in the final round. Scheffler limped to the finish line with a four-over 74 Sunday. his worst final-round score on the Tour in over two seasons.

He ended at -8, holding off Collin Morikawa by a shot. Adam Hadwin of Canada was third at -4.

Scheffler buried a clutch putt to finish Sunday, earning a celebratory handshake meet-and-greet with the Golden Bear himself.

Scheffler will hope to have a less-eventful off-the-course week at this major, that after he was arrested before Round 2 at the PGA Championship at Valhalla. He’s never won this tournament.

Morikawa and Hadwin also have confidence heading to Pinehurst in North Carolina, which last hosted the Open a decade ago. It’s the fourth time it’s been played on the No. 2 course.

Here are our choices as to some of the best ways to bet the U.S. Open, along with selections.

Odds to Win

It’s Scottie Scheffler against the field at the U.S. Open. He’s the miniscule 3-1 (+300) choice, according to U.S. Open golf odds. Stay away at those odds, but then go where, exactly?

He had similar odds in the other two majors to date in 2024, winning at Augusta National.

Xander Schauffele, winner of the PGA (Scheffler was T-8th), is co-second choice (with Rory McIlroy) at 11-1 (+1100). The aforementioned Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland are next at 14-1 (+1400), and if you think lightning can strike once again, then last season’’s (at LA) champ, Wyndham Clark, is a 66-1 (+6600) proposition,

Bryson DeChambeau (18-1, [+1800]) and the always-worth-a-look Brooks Koepka (20-1, [+2000]) are two other golfers we’ve officially placed under consideration.

Schauffele, Not Scheffler

Odds to win the U.S. Open can still move. That won’t erase the target on Scottie Scheffler, but don’t take him at those odds. He will definitely be near the top of the leaderboard, but we’re trying to beat him. Scheffler is a puny -125 number to win this tournament, the British Open or both this season, as per golf major odds.

As was mentioned, Xander Schauffele won the PGA at Valhalla. He didn”t play all that well (-1) at the Memorial, and had a unceremonious run-in with a GOAT, but he just might be the second- best golfer on tour. We are endorsing No. 2 at Pinehurst No. 2, taking Xander Schauffele at a very generous 11-1 (+1100) to win the U.S. Open.

Obligatory History Lesson

Here are the previous (since 2000) winners of the U.S. Open…
2023 – Los Angeles Country Club: Wyndham Clark
2022 – The Country Club (Brookline): Matt Fitzpatrick
2021 – Torrey Pines: Jon Rahm
2020 – Winged Foot: Bryson DeChambeau
2019 – Pebble Beach: Gary Woodland
2018 – Shinnecock Hills: Brooks Koepka
2017 – Erin Hills: Brooks Koepka
2016 – Oakmont: Dustin Johnson
2015 – Chambers Bay: Jordan Spieth
2014 – Pinehurst: Martin Kaymer
2013 – Merion: Justin Rose
2012 – Olympic Club: Webb Simpson
2011 – Congressional: Rory McIlroy
2010 – Pebble Beach: Graeme McDowell
2009 – Bethpage Black: Lucas Glover
2008 – Torrey Pines: Tiger Woods
2007 – Oakmont: Angel Cabrera
2006 – Winged Foot: Geoff Ogilvy
2005 – Pinehurst: Michael Campbell
2004 – Shinnecock Hills: Retief Goosen
2003 – Olympia Fields: Jim Furyk
2002 – Bethpage Black: Tiger Woods
2001 – Southern Hills: Retief Goosen
2000 – Pebble Beach: Tiger Woods