Who will win the 2024 US Open: Best bets and predictions for Pinehurst

If the Masters and the PGA Championship proved anything over the last couple of months, it was that while there’s always room for an outsider or two at the business end of the leaderboard, the cream invariably rises to the top by the time the main contenders are walking up the 72nd fairway on Sunday afternoon.

Top Price On The Planet: Best odds for Scheffler, McIlroy and Schauffele, and 50% back if your bet leads after any round but fails to win

With that in mind, we’ve picked out a selection of our top picks from the top 30 market leaders, some of whom are more obvious usual suspects, but laced with a few less-fancied prospects, who might just be primed to have their day in the North Carolina sun.

Scottie Scheffler (7/2*)

There seems to be no sign of the Scottie Scheffler juggernaut slowing down any time soon, with his hard-earned one-stroke victory at last weekend’s Memorial Tournament his 15th top-ten finish in his last 16 outings (17th at the American Express in January being the only minor exception).

The world number one has now won five of his last eight outings (twice runner-up and eighth at the PGA) and having finished seventh, second and third at the last three US Opens, his current form suggests he is the worthy short-priced favourite to add another Major to his two Green Jackets from Augusta.

*Top Price on the Planet : Scottie Scheffler was 16/5, now 7/2 with PlanetSportBet

Rory McIlroy (12/1*)  

Rory McIlroy won his first Major at this event 13 years ago, but it is now a decade since his fourth and last such success, and despite that fact he still enters every Grand Slam tournament as one of the obvious market leaders.

Back-to-back successes at the Zurich Classic pairs and the Wells Fargo was backed up by his fourth place at the Canadian Open, and although his challenge faded into a tie for 15th at the Memorial, his game is clearly in great shape to improve on last year’s runner-up spot in Los Angeles, which was his fifth straight top-10 US Open finish. 

*Top Price on the Planet : Rory McIlroy was 11/1, now 12/1 with PlanetSportBet

Xander Schauffele (12/1*)  

Xander Schauffele finally landed his maiden Major success at last month’s PGA Championship (and indeed his first win anywhere in two years), and the way he toughed it out to make the top ten at Muirfield Village at the weekend suggests that win might just open the floodgates for more success and possibly even-back-to-back Majors.

The reigning Olympic Champion is certainly another player in great current form, and he is renowned for saving his best for the biggest stage: his record at the US Open is an impressive six top-10s in seven attempts, with his worst a still admirable 14th two years ago. 

*Top Price on the Planet : Xander Schauffele was 11/1, now 12/1 with PlanetSportBet

Collin Morikawa (14/1)  

Collin Morikawa already has two Majors to his name, and a US Open title would put him only a Masters win away from a rare career Grand Slam. That’s quite a leap, of course, but recent signs suggest his game is back on track to be a big player here.

After a sticky early season, Morikawa’s long irons appear to have rediscovered their laser-like precision, and that improvement has been reflected in some competitive performances, kicking off with a third place at Augusta, fourth at the PGA and another three top-10 finishes, including last weekend when he came within one stroke of Scheffler at the Memorial.

Suggested bet (1): Collin Morikawa each-way in the US Open

Viktor Hovland (14/1) 

The biggest golf tournaments are always better for having the talents of Viktor Hovland in full cry, so it was a welcome relief to everyone (including himself, no doubt!) when he put his technical demons behind him to finish third at the PGA, and he was back in the fray again last week before a poor weekend cost him any chance of challenging the leaders at the Memorial.

He is yet to produce the goods at the US Open, where his best-placed 12th came as the lowest amateur in 2019, and while the Norwegian’s skillset might not cope with the demands of this tournament’s more challenging courses, his improving form is hard to dismiss. 

Ludvig Aberg (16/1)  

Having shone when coming second on his Major debut at the Masters in April, the sky appears to be the limit for the blossoming talent of Ludvig Aberg, who was only making his PGA Tour debut around this time last year.

The Swedish sensation proved he still has plenty to learn on the big stage when missing the cut at the PGA a month ago, although a knee injury could possibly be behind that performance, and he certainly looked back to full form and fitness when tying for fifth at the Memorial Tournament.

Bryson DeChambeau (18/1)  

It might surprise some that Bryson DeChambeau has emerged as the chief flagbearer for the LIV Tour in recent Majors, and his more refined approach has reaped dividends since he stopped merely trying to bully courses into submission with his driving distance off the tee.

He still hits the ball further than most, of course, but this subtle change helped earn a sixth place at Augusta followed by a runner-up spot at the PGA (where he also finished fourth last year) and his game has never been in better shape to add to his only Major in this event back in 2020.

Suggested bet (2): Bryson DeChambeau each-way in the US Open

Brooks Koepka (20/1)  

Such are the challenges of the PGA’s toughest golf tournament that only two players have ever defended their US Open crown successfully, and one of those is Brooks Koepka, who, in 2017 and 2018, achieved something that even golfing legends Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have failed to do.

Another LIV representative, Koepka won that tour’s Singapore event last month, and although so far unable to emulate 2023’s Major performances (won the PGA, second at the Masters), he clearly has the mindset and the skillset to make his presence known at Pinehurst.

Tommy Fleetwood (28/1)  

Perhaps a choice of the heart rather than the head, but Tommy Fleetwood’s game has probably been in the best shape it’s ever been so far this year, and he looks well suited to the challenges that Pinehurst puts in front of him.

Fifth in this event last year and the same frame spot at the Masters in March, Tommy Lad looks on the cusp of landing his maiden Tour success, and if that coincides with his first Major title, then it would be a very popular win on both sides of the Pond.

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Others to watch  

We’ve also added a handful of less obvious contenders, all of whom are perfectly capable of rubbing shoulders with the heavyweights listed above.

• Justin Thomas (33/1) - Recent top-ten performances at the Wells Fargo and the PGA gave a glimpse of JT’s obvious capabilities, but he still has plenty of wrinkles to iron out if he is to compete in event that has seen him make the frame just twice in nine attempts.
• Matt Fitzpatrick (35/1) - Not firing on all cylinders in a season that has produced just three top 10s, but his back-door fifth at the Memorial proved he can raise his game on testing courses, which he also did when winning this tournament at Brookline two years ago.
• Tony Finau (40/1) - has been quietly operating on the periphery of things this season, but five top-20s in his last seven events is consistent form, and he provided enough evidence in this eighth-place finish at the Memorial to suggest he could contend again here.
• Wyndham Clark (55/1) - The reigning champion has to be taken seriously, although he needs to reignite last year’s spark, having struggled since winning at Pebble Beach in February and coming second to Scheffler at both the Arnold Palmer and The Players.
• Tom Kim (55/1) - Eighth in LA a year ago, it’s easy to forget that this mercurial crowd-pleaser is still only 21, and this season he’s been showing glimpses of the talent that will surely bring him a Major crown sooner rather than later. 

Suggested bet (3): Matt Fitzpatrick each-way in the US Open

The above list of 14 likely (and arguably less likely) contenders has still barely scratched the surface of such a massive star-studded line-up, who should provide four dramatic days of thrilling golf and maybe just bring us a winning bet or two along the way!

All listed prices are from Planet Sport Bet and are correct at time of article publication, but could be subject to change

 

READ MORE: Ten each-way long shots to follow at the 2024 US Open