*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
With the PGA Tour’s ‘super season’ continuing apace it is time for Major number five out of six on the calendar, the second edition of the US Open. The host venue for US Open take two is Torrey Pines in San Diego, California.
The course, which is seen on tour every January for the Farmers Insurance Open has hosted the US Open on one occasion before in 2008, when Tiger Woods memorably triumphed here in a Monday play off over Rocco Mediate after playing all five days with a broken leg, thus delivering one of the greatest Major Championship performances of all time.
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Whilst I don’t anticipate this weeks edition giving us anything quite so dramatic the par 71 measuring 7643 yards will undoubtedly provide the players with the stiffest of tests. Situated on the shore of the Pacific Ocean, the winner this week will have to be comfortable playing in the breeze and adept at avoiding the thick rough, while also mastering the firm bumpy poa annua putting surfaces synonymous with California. So, lets take a look at the market leaders.
Jon Rahm
I shall start off by siding with the man who currently sits at the top of the betting, Jon Rahm. Getting the negative out of the way first of all, and Rahm was forced to withdraw from the Memorial tournament just over a week ago, when after posting a sublime 64 to open up a six shot lead he was informed that he had tested positive for Covid. The Spaniard, however, remained asymptomatic and, after tweeting out on Saturday that he had returned two negative tests in 24 hours, he can now concentrate on the week ahead.
An eighth at the PGA Championship recently showed Rahm was getting his focus back following the birth of his first child and his performance at the Memorial prior to his withdrawal rubber stamped this. Rahm memorably bagged his first PGA Tour title at Torrey Pines in 2017 and the fact he has followed this by finishing in the top seven on his last three visits here shows how at home he is on the track.
Second on tour in total driving and 12th in approach play, Rahm’s game should be tailor made for this week and I expect him to make up for the recent disappointment in Ohio by making a big push for his first Major. With Dustin Johnson still looking very up and down, Rory McIlroy still seemingly searching for his swing and Bryson DeChambeau also looking somewhat out of sorts of late, the biggest threat to Rahm from those at the top of the market may well come from Brooks Koepka.
Tempting as he is though, a missed cut last weekend coupled with his struggles on the greens at Kiawah in the PGA are just enough to put me off the four time Major Champion.
Scottie Scheffler
Instead then I will next turn to the player who sits ahead of Rahm in the Total Driving stats on tour this season, Scottie Scheffler. The young Texan’s all round game makes him perfect for Majors, something he showed when finishing eighth and fourth at the last two PGA Championships. Third last time out at the Memorial he looks primed for another big week.
Max Homa
Heading further down the betting and two more who appeal are Max Homa and Branden Grace. Californian Homa, a winner at Riviera earlier this year, is at his best in his home state and having also performed strongly here on his past two visits he should be relishing another trip west.
Brendan Grace
Brendan Grace, meanwhile, is always a threat by the coast and, having played well when we were onboard at the PGA Championship, he deserves another chance on the back of his top five finish at the Memorial and his subsequent effort to come through qualifying for this week.
JJ Spaun
Finally in an event, which has seen plenty of players make the frame at huge odds over the years, and where Paddy are paying to 10 places each way, I am going to take a flyer at huge odds on another player who came through qualifying, JJ Spaun. Spaun went to college in San Diego so he will be delighted to have made it here this week, however as one of the straightest hitters on tour who has also played well here before he will fancy his chances of doing more than simply making up the numbers.
Tips for the US Open
Jon Rahm
Scottie Scheffler
Max Homa
Brendan Grace
JJ Spaun
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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